A Minnesota nonresident fishing license costs $14 for 24 hours, $36 for 72 hours, $43 for seven days, or $51 for an annual individual license during the 2026–27 license year. Minnesota also offers a $54 14-day married-couple license, a $68 nonresident family license, and a youth option for qualifying younger anglers.
The best choice depends on how long you will fish, whether you are traveling with a spouse or children, and whether you may return before the license year ends on February 28, 2027. Use the visitor comparison below to choose the most practical option before purchasing through the official Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) licensing system.
BuyFishingLicense.org is an independent informational guide. We are not affiliated with the Minnesota DNR or any government agency and do not sell fishing licenses. Complete all purchases through the official MN DNR Electronic Licensing System.
Minnesota Nonresident Fishing License: Quick Answer
| Your Minnesota Trip | Recommended Starting Option | 2026–27 Fee |
|---|---|---|
| One fishing day | Nonresident 24-hour license | $14 |
| Weekend or three-day trip | Nonresident 72-hour license | $36 |
| Vacation lasting up to seven days | Nonresident seven-day license | $43 |
| Two or more trips during the license year | Nonresident annual individual license | $51 |
| Married couple fishing for up to 14 days | Nonresident 14-day married-couple license | $54 |
| Qualifying parents, spouses, and children | Nonresident family angling license | $68 |
| Younger visitor needing an individual license record | Nonresident youth angling license | $5 |
Best-value rule: The annual nonresident license costs only $8 more than the seven-day license. If there is a reasonable chance you will return to Minnesota later in the same license year, the $51 annual license can provide better value than buying another short-term license.
Minnesota Nonresident Fishing License Cost (2026–27)
Minnesota offers several visitor licenses designed around trip length and family status. Prices below are the base license fees and may not include transaction, convenience, mailing, or the $1 agent fee charged at many in-person locations.
| Nonresident License | Fee | Duration or Use |
|---|---|---|
| Individual annual | $51 | March 1, 2026–February 28, 2027 |
| 24-hour individual | $14 | 24 consecutive hours |
| 72-hour individual | $36 | 72 consecutive hours |
| Seven-day individual | $43 | Seven consecutive days |
| 14-day married couple | $54 | Two qualifying spouses for 14 consecutive days |
| Family annual | $68 | Qualifying nonresident family group |
| Youth angling | $5 | Qualifying nonresident youth |
For a side-by-side breakdown of resident, nonresident, family, couple, youth, trout-stamp, and other fees, see our complete Minnesota fishing license cost guide.
Which Nonresident Minnesota License Should You Buy?
One-Day Fishing Trip
Choose the $14 nonresident 24-hour license when you will fish for only one day. It is the lowest-cost visitor option and is practical for a guided trip, a single resort outing, or one day added to a larger Minnesota vacation.
Weekend or Three-Day Trip
The $36 nonresident 72-hour license is usually the best fit for a cabin weekend or three consecutive fishing days. It also has an important trout-stamp advantage: holders of a nonresident 72-hour angling license are generally exempt from the separate trout/salmon stamp validation.
Week-Long Vacation
The $43 seven-day license works well for a single week-long resort, lake, or Boundary Waters trip. However, compare it carefully with the $51 annual license because the difference is only $8.
Multiple Trips or Seasonal Cabin Stay
The $51 annual individual license is the strongest value for repeat visitors, seasonal cabin users, and anglers who may return later in the year. It remains valid through February 28, 2027, regardless of when it is purchased during the 2026–27 license year.
Married Couple Staying Up to 14 Days
The $54 nonresident 14-day married-couple license can cost less than buying two individual seven-day licenses. Both spouses must have complete customer records, and combination-license purchasing rules can require both records to be verified before the transaction is completed.
Family Fishing Trip
The $68 nonresident family angling license is available for qualifying nonresident married couples and/or parents fishing with children younger than 16. Review who is included, customer-record requirements, and possession-limit rules before choosing the family option.
Can Nonresidents Buy a Minnesota Fishing License Online?
Yes. Visitors can purchase Minnesota fishing licenses through the official MN DNR Electronic Licensing System. Minnesota launched its modernized licensing platform on June 9, 2026. Customers can now buy licenses online, through the MN DNR Licensing mobile app, or from an approved in-person agent.
After purchase, a license can be carried as a printed paper copy, a PDF saved to a device, or a license stored in the MN DNR Licensing app. Phone sales are no longer available.
For account setup, LoginMN help, printing, digital-license use, and checkout troubleshooting, see how to buy a Minnesota fishing license online.
How to Buy a Nonresident License Online
- Visit the official MN DNR sales page. Start at dnr.state.mn.us/buyalicense.
- Sign in or create a LoginMN account. Use an email address you can access throughout the transaction.
- Find or create the correct customer record. Enter your legal name, birth date, address, and requested identification information consistently.
- Select nonresident fishing licenses. Do not choose resident pricing unless you meet Minnesota’s legal residency requirements.
- Choose the correct duration. Compare 24-hour, 72-hour, seven-day, annual, couple, family, and youth products.
- Add any required validation. Trout, salmon, sturgeon, shelter, or other activities can require an additional product.
- Complete payment and verify issuance. Make sure the license appears in your account, app, PDF, email, or printed documents before fishing.
- Save an offline copy. Download the PDF or store the license in the app before traveling to an area with poor service.
What Information Does a Nonresident Need?
The Electronic Licensing System may request information needed to identify you and create or locate your DNR customer record. This can include:
- Legal name
- Date of birth
- Residential and mailing address
- Email address
- Social Security number where required
- Driver’s license or identification information
- Payment information
Enter your name consistently and avoid creating duplicate customer records. If the system cannot locate an existing record, contact the Minnesota DNR License Center before creating another profile.
Minnesota Residency Rules for Out-of-State Anglers
A person generally qualifies for resident pricing only after establishing legal residence in Minnesota for at least 60 consecutive days. Minnesota residents age 21 and older generally must also possess a current Minnesota driver’s license, state-issued identification card, or qualifying application receipt.
Owning property, staying at a cabin, attending a Minnesota event, or visiting family does not automatically make an angler eligible for resident pricing. When you live in another state and do not meet Minnesota’s residency requirements, select a nonresident product.
Nonresident Family Fishing License
Minnesota’s nonresident family angling license is intended for qualifying nonresident married couples and/or parents with children younger than 16. The family license costs $68 for the 2026–27 license year.
Before buying, confirm:
- Which adults and children are included
- Whether each adult has a complete MN DNR customer record
- Whether both spouses must verify their records
- How possession limits apply to each family member
- Whether a child needs a separate youth license for an individual limit or record
- Whether any family member needs a trout/salmon stamp
Combination and family-license transactions can be more complicated than buying an individual license. If the online system cannot locate a spouse or family member, use the DNR’s support resources rather than creating duplicate records.
Nonresident 14-Day Married-Couple License
The 14-day married-couple license costs $54 and covers two qualifying spouses for 14 consecutive days. It can be a strong value for a couple taking an extended Minnesota fishing vacation.
Both spouses must have complete customer records. Minnesota DNR states that combination licenses may be purchased online, including on a mobile device, when both customer records are complete and available in the system.
Do Nonresident Children Need a Minnesota Fishing License?
Youth age rules and possession-limit treatment can differ depending on whether a child fishes under an adult or family license or receives a separate nonresident youth license. Minnesota lists a nonresident youth angling product for ages 0–17.
For many families, the key question is not only whether a child may fish without an individual license, but whether the child’s catch is counted under an adult’s limit or whether the child needs a separate license record. Review the current MN DNR regulations and the exact terms displayed during checkout before relying on an exemption.
See our broader children’s fishing license guide for general age rules across the United States.
Do Nonresidents Need a Minnesota Trout Stamp?
Nonresident anglers ages 18 through 64 generally need a trout/salmon stamp validation when fishing designated trout waters or possessing trout or salmon caught in Minnesota. The validation costs $10.
- 24-hour nonresident license: generally exempt from the separate trout/salmon stamp.
- 72-hour nonresident license: generally exempt from the separate trout/salmon stamp.
- Seven-day or annual license: the stamp may be required when fishing designated trout water or possessing trout or salmon.
- Anglers under 18 or age 65 and older: generally exempt from the stamp validation.
Minnesota distinguishes between inland trout water and Great Lakes trout and salmon requirements. Review our complete Minnesota trout stamp guide before selecting a validation.
Nonresident Fishing in the Boundary Waters
Fishing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness can require two separate authorizations:
- A valid Minnesota nonresident fishing license
- A separate BWCAW entry permit when required for the route and trip type
The fishing license is issued through the Minnesota DNR. BWCAW entry permits are administered separately through the U.S. Forest Service. One does not replace the other.
Download or print your license before entering remote areas. A license stored in the MN DNR Licensing app or as a saved PDF can be displayed without cell service after it has been downloaded to the device.
Nonresident Ice Fishing License and Shelter Rules
A standard nonresident angling license covers ordinary ice fishing. Additional licensing can apply when you use an ice shelter or participate in dark house spearing.
- Nonresident annual ice shelter license: $37
- Nonresident seven-day shelter license: $21
- Nonresident dark house spearing license: $17, in addition to the required angling license unless exempt
Portable shelters removed from the ice nightly may be treated differently from shelters left unattended. Check current shelter identification, licensing, and removal rules before your trip.
Can a Minnesota Nonresident License Be Used on Border Waters?
Do not assume a Minnesota license is valid on every water shared with Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, or Canada. Border-water agreements and regulations can depend on the exact waterbody, launch location, species, and where the angler is fishing.
Review both jurisdictions’ current rules before crossing a state or international boundary. Our fishing license reciprocity guide explains why a license from one state does not automatically cover another.
When Does a Nonresident Minnesota License Expire?
Short-term licenses expire after their stated consecutive-hour or consecutive-day period. The annual nonresident license follows Minnesota’s fixed license year and expires on the last day of February.
The current 2026–27 annual license remains valid through February 28, 2027. It does not remain valid for 365 days from the purchase date.
Can You Print or Display a Nonresident License on a Phone?
Yes. Minnesota’s modernized system lets visitors carry a printed license, an electronic PDF, or a license stored in the MN DNR Licensing app.
Download the license before leaving reliable internet service. Although cell service is not required to display a license already stored in the app, it is needed to download the app, sign in, and complete the original purchase.
How to Reprint a Nonresident Minnesota License
Sign in to the correct LoginMN account and open the customer record used for the purchase. Locate the issued license, then open or download the PDF and print another copy.
See our detailed guide to reprinting a Minnesota fishing license if the license is missing, the email was deleted, or you need another paper copy.
Can Nonresidents Buy a Minnesota Lifetime Fishing License?
Yes. Minnesota offers nonresident lifetime fishing licenses with age-based fees. These licenses must initially be applied for through the DNR License Center and are not ordinary short-term visitor products.
For application procedures, age brackets, annual authorization, and current pricing, see our Minnesota lifetime fishing license guide.
Common Nonresident License Mistakes
- Buying a seven-day license without comparing the annual option: the annual license costs only $8 more.
- Selecting resident pricing because you own property: property ownership alone does not establish Minnesota residency.
- Assuming every family member is automatically included: verify family-license eligibility and customer records.
- Skipping a trout validation: a seven-day or annual angler may need the stamp depending on age, water, and species.
- Confusing a fishing license with a BWCAW permit: these are separate requirements.
- Waiting until reaching a remote lake to download proof: save the license offline before traveling.
- Assuming phone sales still exist: Minnesota now directs customers to online, app, or in-person purchasing.
- Using a generic receipt instead of an issued license: verify the actual license before fishing.
Official Minnesota Nonresident License Links
- Buy a Minnesota fishing license — official MN DNR
- Minnesota fishing license products and fees
- Official MN DNR online license sales
- Electronic Licensing System help
- Find an authorized Minnesota license agent
- Current Minnesota fishing regulations
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Minnesota nonresident fishing license?
A nonresident license costs $14 for 24 hours, $36 for 72 hours, $43 for seven days, or $51 for an annual individual license during the 2026–27 license year.
What is the best Minnesota fishing license for a weekend?
The $36 nonresident 72-hour license is usually the best fit for a weekend or three consecutive fishing days. It is also generally exempt from the separate trout/salmon stamp validation.
Should I buy the seven-day or annual nonresident license?
The seven-day license costs $43 and the annual license costs $51. Choose the annual option when you may return later in the same license year because it costs only $8 more.
Can a nonresident buy a Minnesota fishing license online?
Yes. Visitors can buy through the official MN DNR Electronic Licensing System, use the MN DNR Licensing mobile app, or purchase from an authorized agent.
Does Minnesota have a nonresident family fishing license?
Yes. The nonresident family angling license costs $68 and is available to qualifying nonresident married couples and/or parents with children younger than 16.
Do nonresidents need a trout stamp?
Nonresident anglers ages 18 through 64 may need a $10 trout/salmon validation when fishing designated trout waters or possessing trout or salmon. Holders of 24-hour and 72-hour nonresident licenses are generally exempt.
Can I show a Minnesota nonresident license on my phone?
Yes. A valid PDF saved to a device or a license stored in the MN DNR Licensing app can be displayed during a license check.
When does an annual Minnesota nonresident license expire?
The 2026–27 annual license expires February 28, 2027. Minnesota annual licenses use a fixed license year rather than a rolling 365-day period.
Related Minnesota Fishing License Guides
- Minnesota fishing license overview
- Purchase and manage a Minnesota license online
- Complete Minnesota fishing license prices
- Minnesota license renewal instructions
- Print another copy of a Minnesota license
- Minnesota trout and salmon validation rules
- Minnesota lifetime license options
About This Minnesota Visitor License Guide
This page helps out-of-state anglers compare Minnesota short-term, annual, couple, family, youth, trout, ice-fishing, and lifetime options. License prices, system features, exemptions, and regulations can change. Verify the product and final checkout amount through the official Minnesota DNR before fishing.
BuyFishingLicense.org is an independent informational website. We do not sell licenses and are not affiliated with the Minnesota DNR, LoginMN, PayIt, or any government agency.