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Fishing licence in Denmark: what anglers need

From 18 you need a state angling licence (lystfiskertegn) to fish with a rod, both in the sea and in fresh water (over 67 exempt). In fresh water you also need the owner's permission.

Checked on 13.10.2026 against official sources. Not legal advice.

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Do you need a licence for sea fishing in Denmark?

With a rod, jig or spear you need an angling licence in Danish salt water. For nets, traps and longlines there is the recreational licence (fritidsfiskertegn), which also works as an angling licence.

Source: fisketegn.dk, Questions and answers, ohne Seitendatum, abgerufen 13.10.2026

Do you need a licence for freshwater fishing in Denmark?

In natural fresh waters you need the angling licence and the owner's permission. In put-and-take lakes (trout ponds) you need no angling licence.

Source: fisketegn.dk, Questions and answers, abgerufen 13.10.2026

How much is a fishing licence in Denmark?

Angling licence: 1 day DKK 46, 1 week DKK 150, 1 year DKK 214. Recreational licence (nets, traps): DKK 300 per year on the English page, DKK 347 on the Danish home page.

Source: fisketegn.dk (dänisch und englisch), Preise ohne Datum, abgerufen 13.10.2026

Where do you buy a fishing licence for Denmark?

You buy the licence on fisketegn.dk and get a receipt and a fishing number by email. The MitFisketegn app shows the licence on your phone.

Source: fisketegn.dk, abgerufen 13.10.2026

What about children, teens and seniors?

Under 18 and over 67 you need no angling licence. The recreational licence is available from age 12, with no upper age limit.

Source: fisketegn.dk, Questions and answers, abgerufen 13.10.2026

What applies to visitors from abroad?

Visitors need the same angling licence. A Danish CPR number is not required to buy it. When fishing, carry your fishing number and ID. The licence is personal, family members may not use it.

Source: fisketegn.dk (englisch), abgerufen 13.10.2026

Which catch and take-home rules apply?

You may not sell your catch. Eel fishing is completely banned for recreational anglers. In 2026 you may not keep cod in the Baltic (subdivisions 22 to 26, including around Funen, East Jutland, most of Zealand and Bornholm). Salmon in subdivisions 22 to 24: at most one fin-clipped salmon per person per day, at least 60 cm, then stop salmon fishing for the day.

Source: Landbrugs- og Fiskeristyrelsen, Ingen torsk, kun én laks om dagen i 2026

What else should you know?

You may not fish closer than 500 m to the mouths of streams and to narrows in the sea or fjords, for mouths under 2 m wide this only applies from 16 September to 15 March. Since January 2026: if you catch a protected species in salt water, you must be registered as a recreational angler on fisketegn.dk and log the catch in the RecFishing app, even if you release it. Since July 2026 the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (Miljøstyrelsen) is responsible for fisheries.

Source: DTU Aqua, fiskepleje.dk, Fiskeriregulering, aktualisiert 05.02.2026

Not confirmed yet

Recreational licence price is inconsistent (DKK 300 in English, DKK 347 in Danish). fisketegn.dk does not list which species count as protected. After the move to Miljøstyrelsen (July 2026) web addresses may change.

Do you know more or have an official source? Let us know.

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Sources (4)

Not legal advice. Rules and prices change; the linked authority and the local water permit are what count. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

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