FishingLicenseCheck

Vermont fishing license

Vermont requires a recreational fishing license from age 15. The state licenses freshwater fishing. The current license year is 2026 (January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026).

Source: Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department · Reviewed July 26, 2026

Your trip in Vermont

Special circumstances that can change the answer

Your likely official license

Yes — a licence is required. For a 1-day non-resident freshwater trip in Vermont, the official match is Nonresident 1 Day Fishing License.

Published cost for this trip$21
  • Nonresident 1 Day Fishing License$21 · Term licence valid for the 1 day indicated on the license only.

What it covers

  • Nonresident 1 Day Fishing License — freshwater. Fee published on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife licence price list and on the 2026 Sporting License Application.

Required add-ons

No stamp or endorsement is attached to this licence for your residency, age and trip length. Check “You may also need” below for requirements that depend on where and what you fish.

You may also need

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department publishes these for the water you selected. Whether one applies depends on what you fish for and where — something this tool does not ask.

  • Wild Baitfish Endorsement — Required on a fishing or combination licence for anglers who want to use, sell, or transport personally harvested wild baitfish beyond the waterbody in which they were harvested. The department describes it as "a free add-on that you must have on your license"; anglers must first pass the wild baitfish certification quiz with a score of 80 percent or better and then reprint their licence. Endorsements expire on a fixed three-year basis - the current period runs 1/1/2026 through 12/31/2028. Anglers under 15 can print a free licence to show the endorsement. You may use personally harvested wild baitfish without an endorsement if accompanied by someone who has one. · No charge

Why this answer

  1. You selected non-resident status, age 35, freshwater fishing, for 1 day.
  2. Nonresident 1 Day Fishing License covers the full trip: Term licence valid for the 1 day indicated on the license only.
Other options you are eligible for
  • Nonresident 3 Day Fishing License — $23 for this trip · Term licence; all dates are inclusive and consecutive from the start date entered at purchase.
  • Nonresident 7 Day Fishing License — $31 for this trip · Term licence; all dates are inclusive and consecutive from the start date entered at purchase.
  • Nonresident Fishing License — $54 for this trip · Annual licence for the 2026 licence year; Vermont annual licences expire December 31.
  • Nonresident Combination License (Fishing and Hunting) — $143 for this trip · Annual licence for the 2026 licence year; "Good for calendar year."Includes fishing, small game, a November buck tag and a late season bear tag.
  • Nonresident 5 Year Fishing License — $264 for this trip · Valid from the date of purchase through the remainder of that calendar year and the next 4 consecutive years.
  • Nonresident 5 Year Combination License (Fishing and Hunting) — $709 for this trip · Valid from the date of purchase through the remainder of that calendar year and the next 4 consecutive years.

Exceptions that may change it

  • Vermont's most recently published free fishing days were January 31, 2026 (Free Ice Fishing Day) and June 13, 2026 (Summer Free Fishing Day); check the agency for the next one. No licence is required on a free fishing day; other rules still apply.
  • Any resident of Vermont who certifies that he or she is serving on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, or is performing or is under orders to perform a homeland defense or state-side contingency operation for a period of 120 or more consecutive days, may obtain at no cost a fishing license or a combination hunting and fishing license. The licence may be kept until it expires whether or not the person continues to serve.
  • A nonresident member of the armed forces of the United States who certifies that he or she is on active duty and stationed at a military, air or naval post, station or base within Vermont may buy a license to fish at the resident fee.
  • The Commissioner may issue to a Vermont resident who is a veteran of the U.S. armed forces, on application and satisfactory proof that the applicant is, or ever has been, sixty percent (60%) disabled as a result of a service-connected disability, a free permanent fishing license, or a free permanent combination hunting and fishing license if the applicant qualifies for a hunting license. A resident of a state which provides a reciprocal privilege for Vermont veterans may receive a free one-year fishing license.
  • This answer covers the licence only. Season, size, bag and waterbody rules still apply and change through the year.
Buy on the official Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department site

We do not sell licenses and take no commission. This goes to the state agency.

Check current Vermont regulations

Seasons, size limits, bag limits and waterbody closures are not covered by this tool and change through the year.

Validity
2026 · January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
Reviewed
July 26, 2026

Answers at a glance

Common trips, answered from the same official record the checker uses. These assume an adult with no special circumstances — set your own age, water and trip above.

Visiting for a day

Adult visiting from another state · freshwater · one day

Nonresident 1 Day Fishing License

$21

Resident for the season

Adult Vermont resident · freshwater · all year

Resident Fishing License

$28

Age and residency rules

Who counts as a resident. You must have lived in Vermont for at least six months at the time you purchase your license to qualify as a resident. You must also not be claiming residency in any other state for any purpose. Owning land or a house in Vermont does not qualify you as a Vermont resident. The department's sporting licence application requires resident applicants to initial: "I have resided in Vermont for the six months immediately prior to the date of making this license application and have not during that period claimed a residence in any other state for any purpose."

Age-based rules

  • No fishing license is needed under age 15. The department states "Kids under 15 fish for free, and youths 15-17 can purchase a youth fishing license."

License options

LicenseWhoWaterValid forPrice
Resident Fishing LicenseResidentThe department's licence note for this product reads "Ages 18 and older"; anglers 15-17 buy the Youth Fishing licence.freshwaterAnnual licence for the 2026 licence year; Vermont annual licences run on the calendar year and expire December 31.$28
Resident 5 Year Fishing LicenseResidentAges 18 and older.freshwaterValid from the date of purchase through the remainder of that calendar year and the next 4 consecutive years.$134
Resident Youth Fishing License (ages 15-17)ResidentYouth Fishing license is required for anyone that is 15 years of age or older fishing in the State of Vermont. Ages 15-17.freshwaterAnnual licence for the 2026 licence year; Vermont annual licences expire December 31.$8
Resident 3 Day Fishing LicenseVermont publishes no resident 1-day or 7-day fishing licence; those term licences are nonresident-only.ResidentNo fishing licence is needed under age 15.freshwaterTerm licence; all dates are inclusive and consecutive from the start date entered at purchase.$11
Resident Combination License (Fishing and Hunting)A combination licence includes fishing, small game, a November buck tag and a late season bear tag. A hunting or combination licence also requires proof of hunter education or a previous hunting licence.ResidentThe department's licence note for the 5-year combination product reads "Ages 18 - 65 years of age" for residents.freshwaterAnnual licence for the 2026 licence year; "License is good for calendar year."$47
Resident 5 Year Combination License (Fishing and Hunting)Includes fishing, small game, a November buck tag and a late season bear tag.ResidentAges 18 - 65 years of age.freshwaterGood from the date of purchase and the remainder of that current year and the next 4 consecutive years.$229
Resident Youth Combination License (Fishing and Hunting, under age 18)ResidentPublished as "Youth Combination (Fishing and Hunting) (under age 18)"; a fishing licence is not needed under age 15.freshwaterAnnual licence for the 2026 licence year; Vermont annual licences expire December 31.$12
Permanent License for Vermont Seniors (age 66 or older)Available to Vermont residents only. Waterfowl stamps and moose/antlerless lottery entries are not included. A second archery deer licence must be purchased separately.ResidentThe eligible age is 66.freshwaterA permanent license allows the holder to hunt or fish without purchasing additional licenses for the rest of their life. Permanent licenses must be renewed every year, free of charge, and can be updated on January 1st of each year.$60
Nonresident Fishing LicenseNon-residentThe department's licence note for this product reads "Ages 18 and older"; anglers 15-17 buy the Youth Fishing licence.freshwaterAnnual licence for the 2026 licence year; Vermont annual licences expire December 31.$54
Nonresident 5 Year Fishing LicenseNon-residentAges 18 and older.freshwaterValid from the date of purchase through the remainder of that calendar year and the next 4 consecutive years.$264
Nonresident Youth Fishing License (ages 15-17)Non-residentRequired for anyone that is 15 years of age or older fishing in the State of Vermont. Ages 15-17.freshwaterAnnual licence for the 2026 licence year; Vermont annual licences expire December 31.$15
Nonresident 1 Day Fishing LicenseNon-residentNo fishing licence is needed under age 15.freshwaterTerm licence valid for the 1 day indicated on the license only.$21
Nonresident 3 Day Fishing LicenseNon-residentNo fishing licence is needed under age 15.freshwaterTerm licence; all dates are inclusive and consecutive from the start date entered at purchase.$23
Nonresident 7 Day Fishing LicenseNon-residentNo fishing licence is needed under age 15.freshwaterTerm licence; all dates are inclusive and consecutive from the start date entered at purchase.$31
Nonresident Combination License (Fishing and Hunting)Includes fishing, small game, a November buck tag and a late season bear tag.Non-residentAges 18 and older.freshwaterAnnual licence for the 2026 licence year; "Good for calendar year."$143
Nonresident 5 Year Combination License (Fishing and Hunting)Non-residentAges 18 and older.freshwaterValid from the date of purchase through the remainder of that calendar year and the next 4 consecutive years.$709
Nonresident Youth Combination License (Fishing and Hunting, under age 18)Non-residentPublished as "Youth Combination (Fishing and Hunting) (under age 18)"; a fishing licence is not needed under age 15.freshwaterAnnual licence for the 2026 licence year; Vermont annual licences expire December 31.$30

Stamps, endorsements and report cards

  • Wild Baitfish Endorsement — Required on a fishing or combination licence for anglers who want to use, sell, or transport personally harvested wild baitfish beyond the waterbody in which they were harvested. The department describes it as "a free add-on that you must have on your license"; anglers must first pass the wild baitfish certification quiz with a score of 80 percent or better and then reprint their licence. Endorsements expire on a fixed three-year basis - the current period runs 1/1/2026 through 12/31/2028. Anglers under 15 can print a free licence to show the endorsement. You may use personally harvested wild baitfish without an endorsement if accompanied by someone who has one. · No charge

Exemptions worth knowing

  • Vermont's annual, statewide Summer Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 13, 2026, giving resident and nonresident anglers the opportunity to go fishing in Vermont for the day without a license.
  • Vermont holds a Free Ice Fishing Day on the last Saturday in January every year - Saturday, January 31, 2026 - when anyone, resident or nonresident, may fish legal Vermont waters without a fishing license.
  • Any resident of Vermont who certifies that he or she is serving on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, or is performing or is under orders to perform a homeland defense or state-side contingency operation for a period of 120 or more consecutive days, may obtain at no cost a fishing license or a combination hunting and fishing license. The licence may be kept until it expires whether or not the person continues to serve. Still required: This is a no-cost licence, not a licence-free exemption: the angler must still obtain the licence and certify eligibility, through the Montpelier office, online, or a license agent.
  • A nonresident member of the armed forces of the United States who certifies that he or she is on active duty and stationed at a military, air or naval post, station or base within Vermont may buy a license to fish at the resident fee. Still required: This is a reduced fee, not a waiver: the angler must still purchase a licence, at the resident fee ($28 for the annual fishing licence).
  • The Commissioner may issue to a Vermont resident who is a veteran of the U.S. armed forces, on application and satisfactory proof that the applicant is, or ever has been, sixty percent (60%) disabled as a result of a service-connected disability, a free permanent fishing license, or a free permanent combination hunting and fishing license if the applicant qualifies for a hunting license. A resident of a state which provides a reciprocal privilege for Vermont veterans may receive a free one-year fishing license. Still required: Must apply: submit a VA notification or awards letter specifically stating 60% or more service-connected disability, together with a completed and signed VT Sporting License Application. Vermont shares reciprocity with New Hampshire and Maine residents; a New Hampshire resident may submit their NH disabled veteran license in lieu of VA documents.

Free fishing days

  • Free Ice Fishing Day — January 31, 2026. The last Saturday in January every year; anyone, resident or nonresident, may fish legal Vermont waters without a fishing license.
  • Summer Free Fishing Day — June 13, 2026. Vermont's annual, statewide Summer Free Fishing Day; resident and nonresident anglers may fish in Vermont for the day without a license.

Where this comes from

Primary source
License Price List, Information, and other Requirements - Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department — Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
Retrieved
July 26, 2026
Reviewed
July 26, 2026
Also consulted

Found something out of date? Email corrections@fishinglicensecheck.com and tell us which figure and which page — see corrections.

Nearby states

Licenses are issued state by state — a Vermont license does not carry its own rules across the border, so if your trip crosses one, check both states.

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