How Do I Get a Licence?

Most Canadian residents need an Outdoors Card to fish in Ontario if they are at least 18 years old but have not reached their 65th birthday.

If you have never had an Outdoors Card , you can request an application form be mailed to you by phoning the Outdoors Card Centre from anywhere in Canada at 1-800-387-7011 .

Your Outdoors Card is good for three calendar years. You must have a fishing licence tag on the back of a plastic Outdoors Card OR a "Resident Fishing Licence and Outdoors Card Application" in order to have a complete and valid licence for fishing.

If you are a Canadian resident between 18 and 65 years of age and you want to fish in Ontario right away , you can buy a a "Resident Fishing Licence and Outdoors Card Application" from one of more than 2,000 licence issuers across the province. A temporary paper licence is effective immediately and valid until December 31 of the year in which it was purchased.

The fee for a temporary paper licence includes the cost of a three-year Outdoors Card.

If your Outdoors Card will soon expire, or has already expired, the fastest and easiest ways to renew your Outdoors Card are a three year renewal by credit card with a call to 1-800-288-1155 or online at the MNR Store .

Ontario Resident Hunters can also fish under the authority of their Outdoors Card (fishing/hunting version) with the appropriate fishing licence tag.

If you do not live in Canada, you need a non-resident licence to fish in Ontario.

Get more information on the Outdoors Card by calling the Outdoors Card Centre at 1-800-387-7011 . This toll-free number works from all regions of Canada, from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).

Is an Outdoors Card a fishing licence?

No. A complete and valid licence to fish consists of an Outdoors Card plus a fishing licence tag. If you do not have a current Outdoors Card, a temporary paper licence enables you to fish until you receive your Outdoors Card in the mail.

Who needs to purchase an Outdoors Card and Fishing Licence Tag to fish in Ontario?

Most Canadian residents need an Ontario-issued Outdoors Card and fishing licence tag to fish in Ontario if they are at least 18 years old but have not reached their 65th birthday.