FishingLicenseCheck

Virginia fishing license

Virginia requires a recreational fishing license from age 16. The state licenses freshwater and saltwater fishing. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources runs licenses from the date of purchase rather than on a license year: Valid for one year from the date of purchase.

Source: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources · Reviewed July 30, 2026

Your trip in Virginia

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 Virginia, the official match is Nonresident 1-Day Freshwater Fishing License.

Published cost for this trip$8
  • Nonresident 1-Day Freshwater Fishing License$8 · One-day freshwater licence.

What it covers

  • Nonresident 1-Day Freshwater Fishing License — freshwater. Fee for the Nonresident 1-Day Freshwater Fishing License as published in the Virginia DWR fishing licence fee table: $8.00.Limits on this license: A separate nonresident trout licence is required to fish designated stocked trout waters between October 1 and June 15.

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

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

  • Trout License (October 1 – June 15) — Required in addition to a freshwater fishing licence to fish designated stocked trout waters from October 1 through June 15. "From June 16 through September 30 anglers can fish in stocked trout waters without a trout license." Same $23.00 price for residents and nonresidents; a lifetime nonresident trout licence is $555.00. · $23

Why this answer

  1. You selected non-resident status, age 35, freshwater fishing, for 1 day.
  2. Nonresident 1-Day Freshwater Fishing License covers the full trip: One-day freshwater licence.
Other options you are eligible for
  • Nonresident 5-Day Freshwater Fishing License — $21 for this trip · Five-day freshwater licence.A separate nonresident trout licence is required to fish designated stocked trout waters between October 1 and June 15.
  • Nonresident 5-Day Fresh/Saltwater Fishing License — $31 for this trip · Five-day combined fresh and saltwater licence.
  • Nonresident State Freshwater Fishing License — $47 for this trip · Valid for one year from the date of purchase.A separate nonresident trout licence ($23) is required to fish designated stocked trout waters between October 1 and June 15.
  • Nonresident State Fresh/Saltwater Fishing License — $71 for this trip · Valid for one year from the date of purchase.A separate nonresident trout licence is required to fish designated stocked trout waters between October 1 and June 15.

Exceptions that may change it

  • Virginia's most recently published free fishing days were June 5, 2026 (Free Freshwater Fishing Days 2026 (day 1)), June 6, 2026 (Free Freshwater Fishing Days 2026 (day 2)) and June 7, 2026 (Free Freshwater Fishing Days 2026 (day 3)); check the agency for the next one. No licence is required on a free fishing day; other rules still apply.
  • Nonresident 1-Day Freshwater Fishing License: A separate nonresident trout licence is required to fish designated stocked trout waters between October 1 and June 15.
  • "Fishing from a public fishing pier with a VMRC-issued license that allows pier anglers to fish without license." Persons fishing on a commercial fishing pier holding a valid Virginia recreational fishing licence do not need to buy their own saltwater licence.
  • "Fishing from a licensed headboat or charter boat (FIP not required)." No individual saltwater licence is needed.
  • Passengers fishing from a private boat that holds a Virginia saltwater recreational boat licence may fish without an additional paid licence.
  • "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."
  • "Resident, active-duty members of the armed forces while on official leave are not required to purchase a license to fish, unless fishing for trout in designated waters."
  • "Legally blind persons" are exempt from the freshwater licence requirement, as is "Any person not fishing but aiding a disabled license holder".
  • This answer covers the licence only. Season, size, bag and waterbody rules still apply and change through the year.
Buy on the official Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources site

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

Check current Virginia regulations

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

Validity
Valid for one year from the date of purchase.
Reviewed
July 30, 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 Freshwater Fishing License

$8

Resident for the season

Adult Virginia resident · freshwater · all year

Resident State Freshwater Fishing License (1-year)

$23

Visiting for a saltwater day

Adult visiting from another state · saltwater · one day

Nonresident 10-Day Temporary Saltwater Fishing License

$10

Age and residency rules

Who counts as a resident. Virginia DWR: "Individuals who, for two or more months immediately prior to purchasing a license, have been a domiciliary resident of Virginia and who execute a certificate of residency" qualify as residents. Active-duty members of the armed forces stationed in Virginia, their spouses and dependents also qualify.

Age-based rules

  • "Residents under 16 years of age (also do not need a trout license)" and "Nonresident children under 16 years of age (also do not need a trout license)" are exempt from the freshwater licence requirement.
  • "Anglers younger than 16 years of age: No paid license or FIP registration required."
  • "Persons 65 years of age or older do not need a saltwater license but must comply with the Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) requirements." Still required: Must obtain a no-cost Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) registration before fishing.

License options

LicenseWhoWaterValid forPrice
Resident State Freshwater Fishing License (1-year)A separate trout licence is required to fish designated stocked trout waters between October 1 and June 15.ResidentResidents under 16 years of age do not need a freshwater fishing licence.freshwater"Resident and nonresident licenses are valid for one year from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted."$23
Resident 5-Day Freshwater Fishing LicenseA separate trout licence is required to fish designated stocked trout waters between October 1 and June 15.ResidentfreshwaterFive-day freshwater licence.$14
Resident State Fresh/Saltwater Fishing LicenseA separate trout licence is required to fish designated stocked trout waters between October 1 and June 15.Residentfreshwater and saltwaterValid for one year from the date of purchase.$39.50
Resident 5-Day Fresh/Saltwater Fishing LicenseA separate trout licence is required to fish designated stocked trout waters between October 1 and June 15.Residentfreshwater and saltwaterFive-day combined fresh and saltwater licence.$24
Resident Individual Saltwater Fishing LicenseRequired in Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries and Virginia ocean waters unless fishing on a licensed pier, licensed charter boat or licensed private boat, or otherwise exempt.ResidentPersons under 16 need no licence; persons 65 and older need no paid saltwater licence but must hold a no-cost FIP registration.saltwaterValid for one year from the date of purchase.$17.50
Resident 10-Day Temporary Saltwater Fishing LicenseResidentsaltwaterTen-day temporary saltwater licence.$10
Resident Saltwater Recreational Boat LicenseBlanket boat licence: passengers fishing from a boat holding a Virginia saltwater licence may fish without an additional paid licence, but must hold a no-cost FIP registration if age 16 or older.ResidentsaltwaterAnnual boat licence issued by VMRC.$48
Resident Tidal Boat Sport Fishing License"Covers all passengers on board the owner's boat when fishing in Virginia tidal waters (to river Fall Lines) and saltwater only when the registered boat owner is present. There are no decals issued under this license and the VMRC Fisherman Identification Program rules apply."Residentfreshwater and saltwaterValid for one year from the date of purchase.$126
Resident 65 and Over Annual Freshwater Fishing LicenseA valid trout licence is still required to fish designated stocked trout waters between October 1 and June 15.ResidentResident anglers 65 years of age and older.freshwaterValid for one year from the date of purchase.$9
Sportsman's LicenseIncludes hunting, bear, deer/turkey, archery, muzzleloader, freshwater fishing and trout licences.Resident16 years or older.freshwaterValid for one year from the date of purchase.$100
Nonresident State Freshwater Fishing LicenseA separate nonresident trout licence ($23) is required to fish designated stocked trout waters between October 1 and June 15.Non-residentNonresident children under 16 years of age do not need a freshwater fishing or trout licence.freshwaterValid for one year from the date of purchase.$47
Nonresident 1-Day Freshwater Fishing LicenseA separate nonresident trout licence is required to fish designated stocked trout waters between October 1 and June 15.Non-residentfreshwaterOne-day freshwater licence.$8
Nonresident 5-Day Freshwater Fishing LicenseA separate nonresident trout licence is required to fish designated stocked trout waters between October 1 and June 15.Non-residentfreshwaterFive-day freshwater licence.$21
Nonresident State Fresh/Saltwater Fishing LicenseA separate nonresident trout licence is required to fish designated stocked trout waters between October 1 and June 15.Non-residentfreshwater and saltwaterValid for one year from the date of purchase.$71
Nonresident 5-Day Fresh/Saltwater Fishing LicenseNon-residentfreshwater and saltwaterFive-day combined fresh and saltwater licence.$31
Nonresident Individual Saltwater Fishing LicenseRequired in Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries and Virginia ocean waters unless fishing on a licensed pier, licensed charter boat or licensed private boat, or otherwise exempt.Non-residentPersons under 16 need no licence; persons 65 and older need no paid saltwater licence but must hold a no-cost FIP registration.saltwaterValid for one year from the date of purchase.$25
Nonresident 10-Day Temporary Saltwater Fishing LicenseNon-residentsaltwaterTen-day temporary saltwater licence.$10
Nonresident Saltwater Recreational Boat LicenseBlanket boat licence: passengers fishing from a boat holding a Virginia saltwater licence may fish without an additional paid licence, but must hold a no-cost FIP registration if age 16 or older.Non-residentsaltwaterAnnual boat licence issued by VMRC.$76
Nonresident Tidal Boat Sport Fishing LicenseCovers all passengers on board the owner's boat when fishing in Virginia tidal waters (to river Fall Lines) and saltwater only when the registered boat owner is present. VMRC Fisherman Identification Program rules apply.Non-residentfreshwater and saltwaterValid for one year from the date of purchase.$201

Freshwater and saltwater

Virginia licenses freshwater and saltwater fishing. Check which waters your license covers before you fish — a freshwater license does not cover saltwater unless the option explicitly says it does.

State license vs federal registry. NOAA Fisheries lists Virginia among the exempted states. VMRC states the Fisherman Identification Program was created so that "Virginia anglers don't have to register directly with the federal government and pay a federal registration fee": licensed saltwater anglers and FIP registrants do not enrol in the National Saltwater Angler Registry.

Stamps, endorsements and report cards

  • Trout License (October 1 – June 15) — Required in addition to a freshwater fishing licence to fish designated stocked trout waters from October 1 through June 15. "From June 16 through September 30 anglers can fish in stocked trout waters without a trout license." Same $23.00 price for residents and nonresidents; a lifetime nonresident trout licence is $555.00. · $23
  • Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) registration — "Registration with the Virginia Fisherman Identification Program is required for anglers age 16 and older who are exempt under state law from having to buy a saltwater fishing license." It is a no-charge annual state registration, not a priced stamp. · No charge · this is a report card or registration, not a paid stamp

Exemptions worth knowing

  • "Fishing from a public fishing pier with a VMRC-issued license that allows pier anglers to fish without license." Persons fishing on a commercial fishing pier holding a valid Virginia recreational fishing licence do not need to buy their own saltwater licence. Still required: FIP registration is required for anglers age 16 and older fishing under this exemption.
  • "Fishing from a licensed headboat or charter boat (FIP not required)." No individual saltwater licence is needed.
  • Passengers fishing from a private boat that holds a Virginia saltwater recreational boat licence may fish without an additional paid licence. Still required: FIP registration is required for anglers age 16 and older fishing under this exemption.
  • "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."
  • "Resident, active-duty members of the armed forces while on official leave are not required to purchase a license to fish, unless fishing for trout in designated waters."
  • "Legally blind persons" are exempt from the freshwater licence requirement, as is "Any person not fishing but aiding a disabled license holder".
  • "Free Freshwater Fishing Days: June 5–7, 2026." No fishing licence of any kind is required for recreational rod and reel fishing on those days, and DWR fee fishing areas still require their fee.

Free fishing days

  • Free Freshwater Fishing Days 2026 (day 1) — June 5, 2026. DWR fee fishing areas still require a fee. All other fishing regulations remain in effect.
  • Free Freshwater Fishing Days 2026 (day 2) — June 6, 2026. DWR fee fishing areas still require a fee. All other fishing regulations remain in effect.
  • Free Freshwater Fishing Days 2026 (day 3) — June 7, 2026. DWR fee fishing areas still require a fee. All other fishing regulations remain in effect.

Where this comes from

Primary source
Fishing License Information & Fees | Virginia DWR — Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
Retrieved
July 26, 2026
Reviewed
July 30, 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 Virginia license does not carry its own rules across the border, so if your trip crosses one, check both states.

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