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Fishing licence in Portugal: what anglers need

In Portugal you need a licence even for shore fishing; at sea it starts at 2 € per day. Visitors apply for the sea licence online through the BMar portal at least 5 working days in advance.

Checked on 13.10.2026 against official sources. Not legal advice.

Go to the official licence page
Sea
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Freshwater
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Do you need a licence for sea fishing in Portugal?

Recreational fishing (pesca lúdica) is only allowed with a licence. You are exempt only when gathering by hand without gear (apanha lúdica) and as a child under 16 accompanied by a licence holder. The DGRM licence is valid on the mainland, not on Madeira or the Azores, and not for freshwater managed by the nature authority ICNF.

Source: DGRM, FAQ Pesca Lúdica 2026_08 (Dateiname, abgerufen 13.10.2026)

Do you need a licence for freshwater fishing in Portugal?

For inland waters you need the licença de pesca lúdica e desportiva. It is valid for one calendar year and covers the whole country, a region or one municipality. You get it at a Multibanco ATM from 1 January or from ICNF from mid December of the previous year.

Source: gov.pt, Obter licença de pesca desportiva em águas interiores, aktualisiert 27.05.2026

How much is a fishing licence in Portugal?

Sea, per person: shore (apeada) 2 € per day, 4 € per month, 8 € per year. Boat (embarcada, includes shore) 5 €, 12 €, 50 €. Spearfishing 3 €, 10 €, 25 €. All types (lúdica geral) 20 € per month, 70 € per year. Urgent BMar requests cost double. The DGRM web page lists only monthly and annual licences for BMar.

Source: DGRM, FAQ Pesca Lúdica 2026_08

How much is freshwater fishing in Portugal?

According to Portaria 385-A/2017: national licence 20 €, regional licence (north, centre, south) 12 €, non-resident licence 7 days 15 €, 30 days 20 €, one year 50 €. Many zones add a day permit from the operator. not confirmed yet

Source: Portaria n.º 385-A/2017 vom 28.12.2017, Art. 4, gelesen über informador.pt

Where do you buy a fishing licence for Portugal?

Sea: foreigners and Portuguese citizens living abroad apply online through BMar and pay by bank transfer. Allow at least 5 working days, or at least 3 for urgent requests. With a Portuguese card you can use a Multibanco ATM, or go to a DGRM counter. The licence is digital, you need no paper. Freshwater: Multibanco or ICNF.

Source: DGRM, Seite Licença de pesca lúdica

What about children, teens and seniors?

Sea: children under 16 need no licence of their own if they fish with a licence holder. No age rule for freshwater could be found in an official source.

Source: DGRM FAQ 2026_08 (Decreto-Lei 246/2000, Art. 12)

What applies to visitors from abroad?

BMar is the route for visitors: register, choose Pesca Lúdica, pay by transfer, upload the receipt. For freshwater there are separate non-resident licences (see freshwater costs).

Source: DGRM, Seite Licença de pesca lúdica (abgerufen 13.10.2026)

Which catch and take-home rules apply?

Sea: at most 10 kg of fish and cephalopods per day, the largest specimen does not count (spearfishing 15 kg). At most 3 rods or lines with 9 hooks in total, only 2 in some rivers. Prohibited species include eel, sunfish, groupers and bluefin tuna (exception only on authorised charter boats). Since January 2026 you report bluefin tuna, marlins and sea bass via RecFishing. No fishing within 100 m of harbours, docks and marked sewage outlets; keep 5 m from other shore anglers.

Source: DGRM FAQ Pesca Lúdica 2026_08

What else should you know?

Protected areas such as Arrábida, Costa Vicentina, Berlengas or Ria Formosa have no-fishing zones and extra rules. Outside 1 June to 30 September, boat fishing in some natural park marine areas is only allowed Thursday to Monday and on public holidays. Madeira and the Azores have their own regional authorities.

Source: DGRM FAQ Pesca Lúdica 2026_08

Not confirmed yet

Freshwater prices only from Portaria 385-A/2017 via a mirror site; validity in 2026 not officially confirmed. Freshwater age rules are missing. Daily sea licences appear in the FAQ but not on the BMar info page. Rules for Madeira and the Azores were not checked.

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

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Sources (5)

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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