How much is a fishing license in Virginia?
Fishing licenses in Virginia can range from about $5.00 for a Resident Annual Lifetime Senior fishing license to about $500.00 for a Non Resident Lifetime Saltwater fishing license. Take a look below for all the resident and non resident fishing licenses and prices.
Page Contents:
Resident Freshwater Licenses >
Resident Lifetime Freshwater Licenses >
Resident Freshwater Fishing Permits >
Resident Lifetime Saltwater Licenses >
Non Resident Freshwater Licenses >
Non Resident Freshwater Fishing Permits >
Non Resident Saltwater Licenses >
Non Resident Lifetime Saltwater Licenses >
PRICES DISCLOSURE: We do our best to stay current, but prices can change without notice to us. The prices below may or may not be the exact current prices for the license(s) listed.
How much does a fishing license cost in Virginia?
Virginia Resident 5-Day Freshwater Fishing License: 5 consecutive days
$14.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Annual Sportsman’s License | Ages 16 and older: Includes hunting license, bear license, deer/turkey license (valid July 1–June 30), archery license, muzzleloader license, freshwater fishing license and trout license
$100.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Annual County/City Resident Freshwater Fishing License: For county or city of residence only and a valid trout license (annual or lifetime) is required in addition to other resident licenses only if you are fishing in designated stocked trout waters (October 1–June 15)
$16.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident 5-Day Combo Fresh/Saltwater Fishing License: 5 consecutive days
$24.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Annual Combo Fresh/Saltwater Fishing License:
$39.50 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Annual South Holston Reservoir Fishing License: Allows fishing in both Tennessee and Virginia waters of South Holston Reservoir upstream of the dam. A valid resident fishing license is also required.
$21.00 BUY NOW
NOTE 1: For the Annual and multi-year Freshwater Licenses below, a valid trout license (annual or lifetime) is required in addition to other resident licenses ONLY if you are fishing in designated stocked trout waters (October 1–June 15).*
Virginia Resident Annual Freshwater Fishing License | Ages 16 and older*:
$23.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Annual Freshwater Fishing License | Ages 65 and older:
$9.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident 2-Year Freshwater Fishing License | Ages 16 and older*:
$44.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident 3-Year Freshwater Fishing License | Ages 16 and older*:
$65.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident 4-Year Freshwater Fishing License | Ages 16 and older*:
$86.00 BUY NOW
How much is a lifetime fishing license in Virginia?
NOTE: The Lifetime licenses listed below require qualifying anglers to complete an application and have it sent into the Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries. That application can be found here.
Virginia Resident Lifetime Freshwater Fishing License | Ages under 45:
$265.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Lifetime Freshwater Fishing License | Ages 45 – 50:
$215.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Lifetime Freshwater Fishing License | Ages 51 – 55:
$165.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Lifetime Freshwater Fishing License | Ages 56 – 60:
$115.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Lifetime Freshwater Fishing License | Ages 61 – 64:
$65.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Lifetime Freshwater Fishing License | Ages 65 and Older:
$25.00 BUY NOW
How much is a fishing permit in Virginia?
Virginia Resident Daily Fishing Permit: Required at Clinch Mountain, Crooked Creek, and Douthat State Park Fee Fishing Areas and is in addition to regular resident, resident 5-day license, nonresident, or nonresident 1-day or 5-day license.
$8.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident National Forest Permit: For fishing in the National Forest, this permit is required along with the required fishing licenses (exceptions: residents and nonresidents under the age of 16 and individuals over the age of 65).
$4.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident State Forest Permit: For fishing in the National Forest, this permit is required along with the required fishing licenses (exceptions: residents and nonresidents under the age of 16 and individuals over the age of 65).
$16.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Access Permit: The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) requires visitors to obtain an an Access Permit for department-owned Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and public fishing lakes, who are age 17 and older, unless they possess a valid Virginia hunting, freshwater fishing, or trapping license, or a current Virginia boat registration, or are otherwise waived.
PRICES VARY BUY NOW
Virginia Resident County Dip Net Permit: Required to take shad, herring, and mullet (not in saltwater)
$4.50 BUY NOW
How much is a saltwater fishing license in Virginia?
Virginia Resident Annual Saltwater Fishing License:
$17.50 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident 10-Day Saltwater Fishing License: 10 consecutive days
$10.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Tidal Boat Sport Fishing License:
$126.00 BUY NOW
How much is a lifetime saltwater fishing license in Virginia?
NOTE: The Lifetime licenses listed below require qualifying anglers to complete an application and have it sent into the Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries. That application cane be found here.
Virginia Resident Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License | Ages under 45:
$276.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License | Ages 45 – 50:
$132.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License | Ages 51 – 55:
$99.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License | Ages 56 – 60:
$60.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License | Ages 61 – 64:
$35.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License | Ages 65 and older:
$5.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Resident Lifetime Disabled Saltwater Fishing License:
$10.00 BUY NOW
How much is a non resident fishing license in Virginia?
Virginia Non Resident Annual Freshwater Fishing License | Ages 16 and older: Required if you are fishing in designated stocked trout waters (October 1–June 15).
$47.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident Trout Fishing License: October 1–June 15
$47.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident 1-Day Freshwater Fishing License: Required if you are fishing in designated stocked trout waters (October 1–June 15).
$8.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident 5-Day Freshwater Fishing License: 5 consecutive days. Required if you are fishing in designated stocked trout waters (October 1–June 15).
$21.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident 5-Day Combo Fresh/Saltwater Fishing License: 5 consecutive days. Required if you are fishing in designated stocked trout waters (October 1–June 15).
$31.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident Annual Combo Fresh/Saltwater Fishing License: Required if you are fishing in designated stocked trout waters (October 1–June 15).
$71.00 BUY NOW
How much is a non resident fishing permit in Virginia?
Virginia Non Resident Daily Fishing Permit: Required at Clinch Mountain, Crooked Creek, and Douthat State Park Fee Fishing Areas and is in addition to regular resident, resident 5-day license, nonresident, or nonresident 1-day or 5-day license.
$8.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident National Forest Permit: For fishing in the National Forest, this permit is required along with the required fishing licenses (exceptions: residents and nonresidents under the age of 16 and individuals over the age of 65).
$4.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident State Forest Permit: For fishing in the National Forest, this permit is required along with the required fishing licenses (exceptions: residents and nonresidents under the age of 16 and individuals over the age of 65).
$16.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident Access Permit: The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) requires visitors to obtain an an Access Permit for department-owned Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and public fishing lakes, who are age 17 and older, unless they possess a valid Virginia hunting, freshwater fishing, or trapping license, or a current Virginia boat registration, or are otherwise waived.
PRICES VARY BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident County Dip Net Permit: To take shad, herring, and mullet (not in saltwater)
$4.50 BUY NOW
How much is a non resident saltwater fishing license in Virginia?
Virginia Non Resident Annual Saltwater Fishing License:
$25.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident 10-Day Saltwater Fishing License: 10 consecutive days. Required if you are fishing in designated stocked trout waters (October 1–June 15).
$10.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident Tidal Boat Sport Fishing License:
$201.00 BUY NOW
How much is a non resident lifetime saltwater fishing license in Virginia?
Virginia Non Resident Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License | Ages under 45:
$500.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License | Ages 45 – 50:
$240.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License | Ages 51 – 55:
$180.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License | Ages 56 – 60:
$120.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident Lifetime Saltwater Fishing License | Ages 61 – 64:
$60.00 BUY NOW
Virginia Non Resident Lifetime Disabled Saltwater Fishing License:
$10.00 BUY NOW
Where can I buy a fishing license?
Here are some of the best places to fish in Virginia.
All information listed above can also be seen on the freshwater fishing license and saltwater fishing license websites for the state of Virginia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: At what age do you need to have a fishing license in Virginia?
Answer: All anglers 16 years of age and older are required to possess a valid fishing license in Virginia.
Question: Do I need to have a fishing license to fish on my own property in Virginia?
Answer: Resident or nonresident landowners, their spouses, their children and grandchildren and the spouses of such children and grandchildren, or the landowner’s parents, resident or nonresident, do NOT need a license to hunt, trap, or fish within the boundaries of their own lands and inland waters.
Question: If I am vision impaired, do I have to have a fishing license in Virginia?
Answer: No. Any person proven to be blind is NOT required to have a valid fishing license to fish in the state of Virginia.
Question: Do US military veterans qualify for discounted rates for fishing license?
Answer: Virginia resident veterans rated 70% or greater service-connected by the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Administrative Office may apply for a discounted annual fishing license.
Question: Are annual fishing licenses in Virginia good for a full year or calendar year?
Answer: Annual and longer term fishing licenses in Virginia are valid from purchase date, not a fixed calendar date.