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Title: Fishing Licenses
Alternate Title:
Description: All residents of Minnesota, age 16 to 89, must have a current Minnesota fishing license unless an exemption applies. All non-residents need a license except those age 15 and younger do not need a license if a parent or guardian is licensed. Licenses are issued by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Subject: Fish
Fishing
Creation Date: 9/11/2008 2:13:17 PM
Modification Date: 7/6/2023 12:21:46 PM
Agency Name: Natural Resources (DNR), Minnesota Department of
Agency URL: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us
Agency Description: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages the state's natural resources, hunting, fishing, state forests, state parks, lakes, rivers, streams, boating and water safety, trails, snowmobiling, skiing, education, enforcement, wildlife management, lands and minerals.
Agency Phone: 651-296-6157
888-646-6367
Agency Fax: Agency URL: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us
Agency Address: Natural Resources (DNR), Minnesota Dept. of
500 Lafayette Rd.

St. Paul
MN 55155

Unit Name: Licensing Center
Unit URL:
Unit Description:
Unit Phone: Unit Fax: Contact person(s): info.dnr@state.mn.us
Unit URL:
Audience: Recreation Application URL: https://jc.activeoutdoorsolutions.com/mn_customer/app/customerSearch.do?method=init
Renewal URL:
Versa URL:
Requirements:

To legally fish in Minnesota, all residents of Minnesota, age 16 to 89, must have a current Minnesota fishing license unless an exemption applies (see ‘Who doesn’t need a fishing license?’). You must carry your license when traveling from an area where you were fishing. All non-residents need a license except those age 15 and younger do not need a license if a parent or guardian is licensed. 

Who doesn't need a fishing license?

  • Residents younger than 16
  • Residents 90 and older
  • Minnesota residents enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces, stationed outside the state, and home on leave (you must carry leave or furlough papers while fishing or transporting fish)
  • A Minnesota resident who has served in federal active service outside the U.S. during the preceding 24 months and is now discharged from overseas duty (you must carry discharge papers while fishing or transporting fish)
  • An in-patient of a U.S. Veterans Administration hospital (form needed to filled out)
  • A resident of a Minnesota licensed nursing or boarding care home

ID number required:
Electronic License System (ELS) requires that Minnesota residents 21 years of age and older furnish a driver's license number, public safety identification number as proof of residency. Minnesota residents who do not have one of these identification numbers would be considered a non resident and must obtain one before purchasing a hunting, fishing or other license from the MN Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR).

Minnesota Residents are:

  • People who maintain a legal residence in Minnesota for at least 60 consecutive days prior to purchasing a license and if older than 21 must present a current Minnesota Driver’s License or ID card 
  • A person younger than 21 who is a child of a resident.
Non-residents: Non-residents include anyone who does not meet the definition of a resident.


Stamps and Licenses:
The actual pictorial stamp is not required for waterfowl and pheasant hunting, trout and salmon fishing or for turkey hunting. Anglers or hunters are required to purchase the terminal-issued stamp endorsement. Pictorial stamp may be purchased for an additional $0.75.

See: 2023 Minnesota Fishing Regulations for more detailed information. 

Contact the MN Dept. of Natural Resources Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367 or refer to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources information Fish Minnesota


Rules:
Statutes:
Forms:

See requirements or refer to Fishing licenses


Fees:

Fishing licenses are valid March 1 through Feb. 28 of the following year.

Resident Licenses                                      Fees

Angling - 24-hour Code 110 (r)                     $12.00

Angling - 3 year Individual - Code 141 (r)     $71.00

Angling - 72 Hour - Code 140 (r)                   $14.00

Angling - combination (Married Couple) (r) - Code 112   $40.00

Angling - dark house rental (r) - Code 120     $30.00

Angling - dark house shelter (r) - Code 119    $15.00

Angling - individual (r) - Code 111                   $25.00

Angling - military (r)                                           None

Angling - Netting white tulibee herring (r) - Code 115   $10.00

Angling - spearing from dark house (r) - Code 113  $6.00

Angling Dark House 3 Year Rental (r) - Code 132   $87.00

Angling Dark House 3 Year - Code 131             $42.00

Angling Youth Ages 16 to 17 - Code 138 (r)         $5.00

Conservation combo angling (r) - Code 106        $27.00

Conservation individual angling (r) - Code 105    $17.00

Disability permit - angling/spearing permanent (r)  None

Disability permit - angling/spearing special annual (r) - Code 107  None

Fishing tournament license

Lifetime angling renewal (r) - Code 411  None

Lifetime Resident Angling/Deer/Small Game/Sports/Spearing   Varies

Sports - combination (r) - Code 217                    $57.00

Sports - individual (r) - Code 216                         $41.00

Stamp - trout (validation & pictorial) - Code 129   $10.75

Stamp - trout validation - Code 128                      $10.00

Stamp - walleye pictorial- voluntary - Code 135     $5.75

Stamp - walleye validation- voluntary - Code 134   $5.00

Stamps (collectable)  Varies

Sturgeon tag (r) - Code 130                                    $5.00

Super Sports Combination - Code 143               $126.00

Super Sports Individual - Code 142                    $100.00


Non-Resident Licenses                            Fees

Angling - 14-day couple (nr) -Code 125   $54.00

Angling - 24-hour Code 139 (nr)              $14.00

Angling - 7-day (nr)- Code 126                $43.00

Angling - 72-hour (nr)- Code 127             $36.00

Angling - family (nr) - Code 124               $68.00

Angling - individual (nr) - Code 121         $51.00

Angling - shelter (nr) - Code 116              $37.00

Angling - shelter 7-day (nr) - Code 117    $21.00

Angling - spearing from dark house (nr) - Code 118   $17.00

Angling - Youth Ages16 to 17 or Youth own limit (nr) - Code 205   $5.00

Lifetime angling renewal (nr) - Code 415   None

Lifetime NR Angling/Small Game               Varies

Stamp - trout (validation & pictorial) - Code 129   $10.75

Stamp - trout validation - Code 128                      $10.00

Stamp - walleye pictorial- voluntary - Code 135     $5.75

Stamp - walleye validation- voluntary - Code 134   $5.00

Stamps (collectable)                                                Varies

Sturgeon tag (nr) - Code 130                                  $5.00


Period of Issuance:

Angling licenses are valid from March 1 through February 28 of the following year.


Length of Determination: Immediate for most licenses.
Other Info:
Activity: Fishing
Recreation
License Detail URL:

Fish Minnesota

DNR License Agents

Online License Sales 

PHONE:
Call 888-665-4236 (1-MN-LICENse), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

IN PERSON:
License agent searches, by county, may be made at Where to buy a license, then scroll down to Agents.

MAIL-IN applications:
Some licenses may be obtained by mail.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
License Center/Angling License
500 Lafayette Rd
St. Paul, MN 55155-4026


Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

DNR Mobile Web Pages

Social Media Community

 


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