Minnesota Fishing License Cost 2026: $25 Resident, $51 Nonresident
A resident annual fishing license in Minnesota costs $25. Non-residents pay $51 for an annual license. Short-term, senior, and combination licenses are listed below, plus current trout stamp prices, and where to buy.
A Minnesota fishing license is the document that puts you on the right side of game-and-fish law statewide. Walleye, northern pike, and bass have their own season and bag-limit rules layered on top, and the DNR updates those rules annually.
On most Minnesota lakes, the species-specific season and bag-limit rules apply uniformly statewide. Some lakes carry special regulations — those override the statewide rules and are documented on the per-lake regulation pages. For each lake page on LakeQuality, we surface the relevant special regulations from the MN DNR LakeFinder dataset, so you can see at a glance whether a specific lake imposes lower bag limits, slot restrictions, or unique seasons.
2026 License Fees
| License Type | Resident | Non-Resident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual angling | $25 | $51 | |
| 72-hour angling | $14 | $36 | |
| 24-hour angling | $12 | $14 | |
| 7-day angling | — | $43 | |
| Senior angling (65+) | $13.50 | — | Resident only |
| Married-couple combination | $40 | $67 | |
| Lifetime angling (age 16-50) | $478 | — | One-time purchase |
Trout Stamp
Resident: $10 · Non-resident: $10
Required to fish for or possess trout, salmon, or to fish in a designated trout stream or lake.
How much is a non-resident (out-of-state) Minnesota fishing license?
$51 for an annual non-resident license — $26 more than the $25 residents pay. Minnesota also sells 4 shorter or alternate options to out-of-state anglers, which is usually the cheaper choice for a single trip.
- 72-hour angling — $36
- 24-hour angling — $14
- 7-day angling — $43
- Married-couple combination — $67
Non-resident license cost by state
Minnesota ranks 5 of 12 on non-resident price among the states we carry verified fee tables for. Each agency sets its own fees and license year, so this compares annual non-resident prices as published.
| # | State | Resident | Non-resident | License year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $15 | $31.50 | 2026 |
| 2 | Iowa | $22 | $48 | 2026 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | $20 | $50 | 2026 |
| 4 | New York | $25 | $50 | 2026 |
| 5 | Minnesota (this page) | $25 | $51 | 2026 |
| 6 | Missouri | $14 | $57 | 2026 |
| 7 | Indiana | $23 | $60 | 2026-27 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $27.97 | $60.97 | 2026 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $27 | $68 | 2026-27 |
| 10 | Michigan | $26 | $76 | 2026 |
| 11 | Ohio | $25 | $76.96 | 2026-27 |
| 12 | South Dakota | $31 | $80 | 2026 |
Headline prices only. Several states add a mandatory stamp or certificate on top — South Dakota's Habitat Stamp and North Dakota's Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate both apply to the figures above, and each state page notes its own add-ons.
Who Needs a License?
Anglers under 16 are not required to have a license. Residents age 90+ also exempt.
Season & Regulations
The Minnesota walleye, northern pike, and bass season opens the Saturday two days before Mother's Day. Most other species are open year-round.
For complete bag limits, slot limits, and water-specific rules, see the Minnesota fishing regulations ↗.
Where to Buy
- Online: https://www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense ↗
- In person: Sporting goods stores, bait shops, and county auditor / clerk offices that act as license agents.
- At DNR offices: Any Minnesota Department of Natural Resources office.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 2026.