How much is a non-resident North Dakota fishing license?

A non-resident annual North Dakota fishing license costs $68 — $41 more than the $27 resident price. North Dakota also sells 5 shorter or alternate options to out-of-state anglers: Married Couple Season Fishing License ($108), 3-Day Fishing License ($48), 10-Day Fishing License ($58), Paddlefish Tag ($35), Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate ($5).

Which state has the cheapest non-resident fishing license?

Of the 12 states we track, Illinois has the lowest non-resident annual fishing license at $31.50. North Dakota ranks 9 of 12 at $68.

Where can I buy a North Dakota fishing license?

North Dakota Game and Fish Department licenses can be purchased online at https://gf.nd.gov/buy-apply, at any authorized license agent (sporting goods stores, bait shops), or at any DNR office.

The bow of a canoe on flat evening water, a spruce and birch shoreline ahead, in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

North Dakota Fishing License Cost 2026-27: $27 Resident, $68 Nonresident

Q: How much is a North Dakota fishing license in 2026-27?

A resident annual fishing license in North Dakota costs $27. A non-resident annual license costs $68. North Dakota also requires the once-yearly Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate ($2 resident / $5 nonresident), so a first purchase totals $29 resident and $73 nonresident. Short-term, senior, and combination licenses cost less — the full North Dakota Game and Fish Department fee table is on this page.

A resident annual fishing license in North Dakota costs $27. Non-residents pay $68 for an annual license. North Dakota also requires the once-yearly Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate ($2 resident / $5 nonresident), so a first purchase totals $29 resident and $73 nonresident. Short-term, senior, and combination licenses are listed below, and where to buy.

North Dakota fishing licenses are issued by North Dakota Game and Fish Department, with separate resident and non-resident pricing and short-term options for visiting anglers. The full current fee table is below, drawn from the agency's published schedule.

Statewide species rules cover most North Dakota waters, but special regulations on individual lakes take precedence where they exist; the official regulations digest is the authoritative reference. Pair this fee information with LakeQuality's North Dakota lake pages — each one carries the lake's water-quality grade, clarity readings, and trend data, which is useful context when deciding where that license gets used.

2026-27 License Fees

License Type	Resident	Non-Resident	Notes
Fishing License (resident, ages 16+) / Individual Season Fishing (nonresident)	$27	$68	Annual license, valid April 1 - March 31. A Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate ($2 resident / $5 nonresident) is also required once per year with the first license purchase, so first-purchase totals are $29 resident / $73 nonresident.
Married Couple Season Fishing License	$42	$108	Covers both spouses for the season; the official fee table lists the annual Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate ($2 resident / $5 nonresident) alongside this license (certificate is purchased once per year per licensee).
3-Day Fishing License	—	$48	Nonresident short-term option only; plus $5 certificate. No resident short-term license exists.
10-Day Fishing License	—	$58	Nonresident short-term option only; plus $5 certificate.
Senior Citizen Fishing License (65 or older)	$10	—	Resident only; plus $2 certificate. Same $10 rate applies to totally/permanently disabled residents and veterans with a 50 percent service-related disability.
Paddlefish Tag	$15	$35	Required in addition to a valid fishing license for paddlefish snagging (May 1 - 21). Required for all ages, including under 16.
Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate	$2	$5	Mandatory once-annually base certificate purchased with the first license of the license year. Not required for youth anglers: residents under 16 and accompanied nonresidents under 16 need no fishing license or certificate (the official fee table lists the certificate as n/a for under-16 fishing).

Trout Stamp

North Dakota does not require a separate trout or salmon stamp — a standard fishing license covers trout where seasons are open. Check the North Dakota Game and Fish Department regulations for water-specific trout rules.

How much is a non-resident (out-of-state) North Dakota fishing license?

$68 for an annual non-resident license — $41 more than the $27 residents pay. North Dakota also sells 5 shorter or alternate options to out-of-state anglers, which is usually the cheaper choice for a single trip.

Married Couple Season Fishing License — $108 · Covers both spouses for the season; the official fee table lists the annual Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate ($2 resident / $5 nonresident) alongside this license (certificate is purchased once per year per licensee).
3-Day Fishing License — $48 · Nonresident short-term option only; plus $5 certificate. No resident short-term license exists.
10-Day Fishing License — $58 · Nonresident short-term option only; plus $5 certificate.
Paddlefish Tag — $35 · Required in addition to a valid fishing license for paddlefish snagging (May 1 - 21). Required for all ages, including under 16.
Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate — $5 · Mandatory once-annually base certificate purchased with the first license of the license year. Not required for youth anglers: residents under 16 and accompanied nonresidents under 16 need no fishing license or certificate (the official fee table lists the certificate as n/a for under-16 fishing).

Non-resident license cost by state

North Dakota ranks 9 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	$25	$51	2026
6	Missouri	$14	$57	2026
7	Indiana	$23	$60	2026-27
8	Pennsylvania	$27.97	$60.97	2026
9	North Dakota (this page)	$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?

Residents and nonresidents age 16 and older need a fishing license. Residents under 16 may take and possess a limit of fish without a license; nonresidents under 16 may also take and possess a limit of fish without a license when accompanied by an individual possessing a valid fishing license. Residents 65 or older qualify for a reduced $10 Senior Citizen Fishing License, and residents who are totally/permanently disabled or veterans with a 50 percent service-related disability also pay $10.

Season & Regulations

Fishing is effectively open year-round: the hook-and-line season is open in all waters open to fishing from April 1 through March 31 of each fishing year, which is also the license year. Dated exceptions include darkhouse spearfishing (Nov 15 - Mar 15), paddlefish snagging (May 1 - 21, 7 am - 7 pm CT, separate tag required), and salmon snagging (Sep 25 - Oct 31).

For complete bag limits, slot limits, and water-specific rules, see the North Dakota fishing regulations ↗.

Where to Buy

Online: https://gf.nd.gov/buy-apply ↗
In person: Sporting goods stores, bait shops, and county auditor / clerk offices that act as license agents.
At DNR offices: Any North Dakota Game and Fish Department office.

Fees current as of 2026-27. License pricing can change each fiscal year — always confirm with the official North Dakota Game and Fish Department fishing license page before purchase. LakeQuality is independent and not affiliated with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Source: North Dakota Game and Fish Department, 2026-27.