📈 Canada Fishing Licence Cost Index 2026
Annual price index tracking fishing licence costs across all 13 provinces and territories.
Key Findings
$26.57 Avg Resident Annual
$83.19 Avg Non-Resident Annual
13 Provinces Tracked
13 Provinces with Senior Exemptions
2026 Licence Prices by Province
All prices in Canadian dollars (CAD). "Sport" or equivalent annual licence prices shown. Prices sorted by resident cost (lowest first).
| Province | Resident | Can. Non-Res. | Int'l Non-Res. | Youth Free | Senior Free | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ON | $26.57 | $55.81 | $83.19 | Under 18 | Yes | Outdoors Card ($8.57) |
| BC | — | — | — | Under 16 | Yes | Fish & Wildlife ID (FWID) ($0.00) |
| AB | — | — | — | Under 16 | Yes | Wildlife Identification Number (WiN Card) ($8.00) |
| QC | — | — | — | Under 18 | Yes | None |
| SK | — | — | — | Under 16 | Yes | Angling Habitat Certificate ($20.00) |
| MB | — | — | — | Under 16 | Yes | None |
| NB | — | — | — | Under 16 | Yes | NB Outdoors Card ($0.00) |
| NS | — | — | — | Under 16 | Yes | None |
| NL | — | — | — | Under 18 | Yes | None |
| PE | — | — | — | Under 16 | Yes | None |
| YT | — | — | — | Under 16 | Yes | None |
| NT | — | — | — | Under 16 | Yes | None |
| NU | — | — | — | Under 16 | Yes | None |
Notable 2026 Changes
- Saskatchewan: New Angling Habitat Certificate ($20 annual, $5 short-term) required starting April 1, 2026.
- British Columbia: Transition to the new WILD licensing system on April 1, 2026. FWID replaces Angler Number.
- Alberta: WiN Card now available online at a reduced price ($6.00 online vs $8.00 in person, plus GST).
- Ontario: Ontario expanded its free fishing events to include Father's Day Weekend for the first time in 2026.
Methodology
Prices are sourced from each province's official licensing portal as of March 2026. "Annual" refers to the standard 1-year Sport (or equivalent) fishing licence. Where provinces offer both Conservation and Sport tiers, the Sport price is reported. Prerequisite costs (Outdoors Card, WiN Card, etc.) are listed separately and are not included in the licence price.
Sources
- Each province's official Fish & Wildlife / Natural Resources website
- Parks Canada — National Parks Fees
- DFO — Tidal Waters Licence