| Non-Canadian resident product | 2026 fee before HST | Outdoors Card? |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year Sport Fishing Licence | $83.19 | Yes |
| 1-year Conservation Fishing Licence | $52.71 | Yes |
| 8-day Sport Fishing Licence | $54.38 | Yes |
| 8-day Conservation Fishing Licence | $31.52 | Yes |
| 1-day Sport Fishing Licence | $24.86 | No |
| Outdoors Card | $8.57 | Needed for most longer products |
Are You an Ontario Resident, Canadian Resident, or Non-Canadian Resident?
Ontario uses three residency groups for recreational fishing fees. An Ontario resident has a primary residence in Ontario and has lived there for at least 6 consecutive months during the 12 months before applying. A Canadian resident has a primary residence elsewhere in Canada and meets the same 6-month test. A non-Canadian resident is neither an Ontario resident nor a Canadian resident.
This guide is for the visitor decision. If you live outside Canada, use the non-Canadian resident column. If you live in another Canadian province or territory, use the Canadian resident column. Ontario publishes the residency definitions on its official resident licence page. If the broad Ontario setup is still unclear, check the Ontario fishing licence page first.
What Does an Ontario Non-Canadian Resident Pay in 2026?
For 2026, Ontario lists these non-Canadian resident fishing licence fees before HST:
All Ontario products with a fee are subject to 13% HST. The official Ontario fee table is the source for that tax note and the current 2026 amounts. The Ontario cost guide has the full resident, Canadian resident, and non-Canadian resident price table. This guide stays focused on the visitor path and residency-class choice.
Which Visitor Product Fits a Short Ontario Trip?
For one fixed day, the 1-day Sport licence is the simplest visitor product because it does not require an Outdoors Card. It is tied to the selected calendar day, so wait until the date is firm if weather or travel plans may move.
For several days, compare the 8-day Sport or 8-day Conservation licence. Sport gives full catch and possession privileges. Conservation costs less but uses reduced limits, which matters if you plan to keep walleye, bass, trout, lake trout, pike, or salmon.
For repeated Ontario trips in the same year, compare the 1-year product plus the Outdoors Card. The card is a separate setup cost, but it lasts for 3 calendar years.
When Does an Ontario Visitor Need an Outdoors Card?
Most Ontario fishing licence products other than the 1-day Sport licence require an Outdoors Card. The card is an account and identification layer. It is not the same thing as the licence summary.
After purchase, carry the Outdoors Card when required and carry the current licence summary if the fishing licence is not shown on the card or if the card has not arrived. Ontario says the licence summary can be carried in paper or digital format, such as on a smartphone. Keep the official summary available rather than relying only on a payment email or an unrelated photo.
Check the Ontario Outdoors Card guide for card cost, renewal, replacement, PDF proof, or licence-summary recovery.
Can Non-Canadian Children or Seniors Fish Without Their Own Licence?
Non-Canadian visitors 65 or older still need an Ontario recreational fishing licence unless another published exception applies. The Canadian resident senior exemption does not carry over to non-Canadian residents.
Non-Canadian residents under 18 may fish without their own Outdoors Card and licence if they are accompanied by someone who has a valid Ontario recreational fishing licence. Any fish kept count toward the licensed person's catch and possession limit. A non-Canadian youth may instead buy an Outdoors Card and licence to have their own limits.
Organized youth camp rules can be different, so follow the camp wording in the Ontario regulations summary if that is the actual trip.
What Should a Visitor Check Before Buying?
Do the licence decision in this order:
| Step | Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Residency class | Canadian resident and non-Canadian resident prices are different. |
| 2 | Trip length | One-day, 8-day, and annual products answer different visitor trips. |
| 3 | Sport or Conservation | The cheaper Conservation licence has reduced catch and possession limits. |
| 4 | Outdoors Card | Most longer visitor products need the card before checkout. |
| 5 | FMZ and waterbody | The licence lets you fish only when the species, season, limit, and local rule allow it. |
Once the licence product is clear, buy through Hunt & Fish Ontario or an authorised licence issuer. The official portal links help once the Ontario product is clear; Ontario also lists licence issuers for in-person service.
Where Does This Fit With the Other Ontario Pages?
For visitor residency and product choice, stay with the checks above. The full fee table is in the Ontario cost guide. Card renewal, replacement, and proof questions are covered in the Outdoors Card guide.
Before keeping fish, check the Ontario regulations guide or the Ontario opener guide so the FMZ, species, and waterbody exception are clear.