- February 9, 2026: FWID registration opens — you can create your account ahead of the April launch.
- March 31, 2026: Last day of the 2025–2026 licence year. All existing licences purchased under the old system expire at midnight.
- April 1, 2026: The 2026-2027 freshwater licence year begins, and new freshwater purchases move through WILD.
BC WILD Login 2026: FWID Registration and Freshwater Licence Access
Log in to BC WILD to register the free Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) required for freshwater licences. Check the old Angler Number change, proof rules, water type, and product access before checkout.
Find the WILD or FWID Blocker
The account and freshwater setup layer covers BC WILD, FWID, Fish and Wildlife ID, Angler Number, and account setup questions. In B.C., WILD is the freshwater account setup path, not a separate licence type. Price, tidal water, visitor class, and final buying-path questions belong on the matching page before another checkout attempt.
| Question or situation | Best fit | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| BC WILD, FWID, Fish and Wildlife ID, Angler Number, or account setup | Work through the WILD setup steps below. | Follow the setup steps below |
| BC freshwater licence, freshwater proof, stamps, or licence-year question | Confirm FWID setup, then read the freshwater licence guide. | BC freshwater WILD and FWID guide |
| BC tidal, saltwater, ocean, harbour, shellfish, or DFO licence | WILD applies to provincial freshwater products, not tidal water. | BC tidal fishing licence guide |
| BC visitor, non-resident, American visitor, child rule, or mixed freshwater and tidal trip | Use WILD only for the freshwater part after the visitor class is clear. | BC non-resident guide |
| BC licence cost, one-day, 8-day, annual, senior price, or salmon-stamp budget | Compare prices once the freshwater account blocker is clear. | BC cost guide |
| Paid already, cannot find proof, duplicate account, or portal login problem | Treat this as proof recovery or account troubleshooting before buying again. | Website troubleshooting |
| Ready to buy after FWID, water type, residency, and product are clear | Go to the official portal links after the B.C. path is settled. | Official portal links |
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Register for a free Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) through the WILD system before buying a 2026-27 freshwater licence. Basic BCeID is the fastest starting option and is available whether you live in B.C., elsewhere in Canada, or outside Canada. A BC Services Card Account is an additional option for people who live in Canada.
Register for your FWID in WILDTip: Old Angler Numbers retired after March 31, 2026 and are not treated as FWIDs. Set up the FWID before you try to buy the freshwater product.
The BC government WILD login page handles provincial freshwater products. The 2026-27 licence year runs April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, and freshwater sales now run through WILD.
Go to the WILD login pageTip: Use WILD for freshwater. If your trip is tidal or saltwater, use the federal DFO tidal licence path instead.
Your Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) is the profile identifier WILD uses for freshwater licences. Returning anglers should register if they do not already have an FWID.
Check your profile for your FWID
Tip: For most basic freshwater products, FWID plus photo ID is the main proof. Keep the right copy for any product that needs catch recording.
Select your freshwater licence type based on residency and trip length. Options include annual, 8-day, and 1-day licences for residents, Canadian non-residents, and non-Canadian visitors. If you plan to retain salmon in freshwater, add the provincial salmon conservation stamp.
Review freshwater licences in WILD
Tip: If WILD says a product is not available, check four things before you try again: FWID setup, residency category, 2026-27 licence year, and freshwater versus tidal water. A tidal or saltwater product will not appear in the freshwater WILD shop.
Add any conservation surcharge or special freshwater product your trip needs. Salmon retention, steelhead, white sturgeon, and some Classified Waters trips can require more than the base licence.
Review and add stamps to your order
Tip: Some products require a retention record. Save or print the version you can use on the water.
Complete the purchase online if WILD lets you proceed. If WILD not available or product-not-available messages remain after the FWID, residency, licence-year, and water-type checks, use FrontCounter BC, Service BC, or a participating vendor for help with the purchase path.
Complete payment or use an in-person purchase path
Tip: Save offline proof before travelling. Cell service can be weak around many lakes and rivers.
What Is the WILD Transition?
British Columbia freshwater licence sales moved into WILD for the 2026-27 licence year. The important step for anglers is the Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID), a free profile identifier used before buying provincial freshwater products.
Basic BCeID is the fastest starting option for a first WILD login and is available whether you live in B.C., elsewhere in Canada, or outside Canada. A BC Services Card Account is an additional option for people who live in Canada. The official WILD page provides the current login eligibility table and quick-reference guides; check those before creating a second account. If the online path blocks the purchase, FrontCounter BC, Service BC, and participating vendors remain practical in-person routes.
WILD is for provincial freshwater products. Tidal and saltwater fishing in British Columbia uses the separate federal DFO licence path. If a product is not showing as available, confirm the water type first, then check FWID setup, residency category, and licence-year choice before trying an in-person purchase path.
Key Dates for the WILD Transition
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BC's WILD system?
WILD is British Columbia's provincial licensing system for freshwater fishing, hunting, and trapping products. For freshwater fishing, it is the place to set up an FWID and buy the provincial freshwater licence products that fit your trip.
Do I need a BC Services Card to use WILD?
No. Basic BCeID is available for WILD users in B.C., elsewhere in Canada, and outside Canada. A BC Services Card Account is an additional option for people who live in Canada. If the online path does not work, FrontCounter BC, Service BC, and participating vendors can help with in-person purchases.
Why does WILD say a freshwater licence is not available?
If WILD says not available, check the product in this order: FWID setup, residency category, 2026-27 licence year, and freshwater versus tidal water. WILD is for provincial freshwater products, so tidal or saltwater licences are in the DFO system instead. If the product still will not show, FrontCounter BC, Service BC, a participating vendor, or the official WILD support path can help with the purchase.
Do I still need to carry a physical licence in BC?
For most basic freshwater products, FWID plus photo ID is the main proof. If you hold a conservation surcharge or other product with a retention record, keep the copy that lets you record your catch.
What happens to my old Angler Number?
Old Angler Numbers retire after the previous licence year and should not be treated as FWIDs. Returning anglers should register for an FWID if they do not already have one.
Last updated: October 22, 2026. Check the current BC WILD portal before you register or buy.