A Minnesota 1-day fishing license is officially sold as a 24-hour angling license. As of July 28, 2026, the listed base fee is $12 for a resident aged 18 or older and $14 for a nonresident aged 18 or older. The license runs for 24 consecutive hours from issuance, not merely until midnight.
Quick Answer
A Minnesota 24-hour fishing license costs $12 for an adult resident or $14 for an adult nonresident, before applicable transaction or agent fees. It becomes valid when issued and remains valid for 24 consecutive hours. Anglers using a valid 24-hour or 72-hour license do not need Minnesota’s trout-and-salmon stamp validation.
Key Takeaways
- The listed 24-hour fee is $12 for residents and $14 for nonresidents aged 18 or older.
- The nonresident 24-hour fee does not include Minnesota’s $5 nonresident fishing surcharge because this license is exempt from that surcharge.
- Residents and nonresidents aged 16 or 17 use the separate $5 youth angling license rather than the adult 24-hour product.
- A trout-and-salmon stamp is not required while a valid 24-hour or 72-hour license is in effect.
- Buy through the official DNR website, the MN DNR Licensing app, or an approved license agent, and carry the license on paper, as a PDF, or in the app.
At a Glance
| Time Required | Usually 5–10 minutes online or in the mobile app |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Tools Needed | Accepted identification, payment method, and a phone or computer; alternatively, visit an approved agent |
| Cost | $12 resident or $14 nonresident, plus any applicable transaction or agent fees |
Who Needs a 1-Day Fishing License in Minnesota?
Most people aged 16 or older need a valid Minnesota angling license unless a specific exemption applies. However, the correct license depends on the angler’s age and residency.
Residents
- Under age 16: A Minnesota resident may fish without an angling license.
- Ages 16–17: The resident youth angling license costs $5. This is a separate youth product rather than the adult 24-hour license.
- Ages 18–89: An angling license is generally required unless the person qualifies for an exemption or a license issued without a fee.
- Age 90 or older: A Minnesota resident may fish without an angling license.
Nonresidents
- Under age 16: A nonresident child may fish without a license when a parent or guardian has a fishing license. Fish kept by the child count toward the parent’s or guardian’s limit.
- Under age 16 with a separate limit: The child may obtain a youth license or be included under an eligible nonresident family license.
- Ages 16–17: A $5 nonresident youth angling license is required.
- Age 18 or older: The angler may purchase a 24-hour, 72-hour, seven-day, annual, or other eligible nonresident license.
The adult 24-hour license is intended for residents and nonresidents aged 18 or older. Anglers aged 16 or 17 have a lower-cost $5 youth license.
What Counts as a Minnesota Resident?
To qualify for an ordinary resident fishing license, you generally must have maintained a legal residence in Minnesota for at least 60 consecutive days before purchasing the license. Residents aged 21 or older normally must provide a current Minnesota driver’s license or Minnesota public-safety identification number.
Review the Minnesota DNR fishing requirements if your residency recently changed or you have a special military, student, disability, or institutional status.
Cost Breakdown: Resident vs. Nonresident Permits
The following listed fees are current as of July 28, 2026. The DNR notes that license prices may not include additional transaction charges or the $1 agent fee.
| License | Resident Fee | Nonresident Fee | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth angling, ages 16–17 | $5 | $5 | Current license year |
| 24-hour angling, age 18+ | $12 | $14 | 24 consecutive hours from issuance |
| 72-hour angling, age 18+ | $14 | $36 | 72 consecutive hours |
| Seven-day angling, age 18+ | Not listed as a resident product | $43 | Seven consecutive days |
| Individual annual angling, age 18+ | $25 | $51 | Through the end of the applicable license year |
Pro Tip: A resident 72-hour license costs only $2 more than the resident 24-hour license. If you may fish on a second or third day, compare the two products before checking out.
The $5 statutory surcharge that applies to many nonresident fishing licenses does not apply to the nonresident 24-hour license. The listed price for that product is $14 before other possible transaction charges.
Check the official Minnesota DNR fishing-license list immediately before purchasing because fees and products can change.
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Where and How to Buy a Daily Fishing License
Minnesota launched a new Electronic Licensing System for hunting and fishing on June 9, 2026. You now have three main ways to purchase a 24-hour angling license.
- Official DNR website: Start through the Minnesota DNR online license page.
- MN DNR Licensing mobile app: Download the official app, create or access your account, and purchase the license from your phone.
- Approved license agent: Use the official DNR agent finder to locate a participating retailer.
Telephone license sales are no longer available. Online and app users can generally access the purchased license immediately after completing the transaction.
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What You Need to Make the Purchase
Be prepared to provide the identifying information required to create or locate your DNR customer record and a valid payment method. Online and mobile-app users also need an email address for account access. Minnesota residents aged 21 or older normally need a current Minnesota driver’s license or Minnesota public-safety ID number to qualify for resident pricing.
Warning: Purchase online licenses only through the Minnesota DNR website or the official MN DNR Licensing app. The DNR has reported cases in which people reached unofficial sites, failed to receive a license, or were charged more than expected.
How to Carry Your License
The current licensing system allows you to carry acceptable proof in one of three formats:
- A paper license printed at home or by a license agent
- A PDF stored on your phone or printed on paper
- The license stored in the MN DNR Licensing app
You need internet service to download the app, log in, and complete a purchase. Once the license is stored in the app, it can be displayed without cell service. Keep your license proof available while fishing and while traveling from the fishing area with fish in your possession.
Stamps, Tags, and Additional Requirements for Short-Term Licenses
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Trout-and-Salmon Stamp
Minnesota charges $10 for a trout-and-salmon stamp validation when it is required. However, state law provides a specific exception for anglers fishing under a valid 24-hour or 72-hour angling license.
That means you do not need to add the trout-and-salmon stamp while your 24-hour or 72-hour license is valid, including when fishing designated trout water or possessing trout or salmon taken during that short-term license period.
Note: The short-term stamp exemption does not remove seasons, possession limits, size limits, gear restrictions, or water-specific rules. It only removes the separate trout-and-salmon stamp requirement during the valid short-term period.
Voluntary Walleye Stamp
The Minnesota walleye validation costs $5 and is voluntary. You do not need it to fish for or keep walleye. The money supports Minnesota’s walleye stocking work. A pictorial collector’s stamp costs an additional $0.75.
Lake Sturgeon Harvest Validation
If you intend to harvest lake sturgeon during an open harvest season, purchase the required $5 sturgeon tag or validation before keeping the fish. Follow the current electronic or paper harvest-validation and registration instructions provided by the DNR. Catch-and-release opportunities and harvest rules vary by water and season.
Ice Fishing and Shelter Licenses
A valid 24-hour angling license may be used for lawful open-water or ice fishing. However, an angling license is separate from any fish-house, dark-house, or shelter license that may be required for the shelter you use. Check the current DNR license list and ice-fishing regulations before placing or leaving a shelter on the ice.
Before fishing, review the current Minnesota fishing regulations and any lake-specific rules. A base angling license does not override closed seasons, special limits, protected slots, seasonal closures, or border-water regulations.
Exemptions and Special Cases for Daily Fishing Permits
Some people may fish without purchasing a daily permit, but each exemption has specific eligibility conditions. Do not assume that an exemption applies based only on age, military service, disability, or location.
Residents Under 16 and Residents Aged 90 or Older
Minnesota residents under age 16 may fish without an angling license. Minnesota residents aged 90 or older also may fish without one.
Qualifying Military Residents
A Minnesota resident serving in the U.S. armed forces who is stationed outside Minnesota may fish without a license while back in Minnesota on leave if the resident carries official military leave papers. Separate rules cover recently discharged residents, military spouses, Camp Ripley personnel, and service members stationed within Minnesota.
Fishing in Minnesota State Parks
The state-park exemption is limited to Minnesota residents. When no trout-water restriction applies, a resident may fish without an angling license:
- From shore or while wading on state-owned land inside a Minnesota state park
- Through the ice on qualifying park water
- From a boat or float when the water body is completely enclosed within the state park’s statutory boundary
The exemption does not apply to nonresidents, state recreation areas, city or county parks, regional parks, or national parks. It also does not apply on water where a trout stamp would otherwise be required. A vehicle permit may still be required to enter the state park.
Disability and Institutional Provisions
Some Minnesota residents with qualifying disabilities may receive a free annual license or a permanent angling license. Certain residents of approved hospitals, correctional facilities, nursing or boarding-care homes, adult-day programs, and treatment programs may fish without a license when the statutory written-consent requirements are met.
Review the DNR’s fishing exemptions and no-fee license guidance before relying on one of these provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a Minnesota 1-day license online on the same day I fish?
Yes. You can purchase through the official DNR online system or the MN DNR Licensing app and access the license after completing the transaction. Buy it before you begin fishing. The 24-hour period starts when the license is issued.
Do I need to carry the license when fishing from a boat?
Yes. Each angler who is required to have a license must possess acceptable proof of that individual license. The angling license belongs to the person, not the boat. Watercraft registration and angling licenses are separate requirements.
Does a 24-hour license cover ice fishing?
Yes. It can cover lawful ice fishing and open-water angling during its valid 24-hour period. A separate fish-house or shelter license may still be required depending on the shelter and how it is used.
Can I upgrade a 24-hour license and receive a refund or credit?
Do not assume that the daily-license payment can be credited toward an annual license. The Minnesota DNR states that it does not have legislative authority to provide refunds for game and fish licenses. Compare the 24-hour, 72-hour, and annual prices before purchasing.
What identification should I carry with a daily permit?
Carry acceptable proof of your license in paper, PDF, or app form. A conservation or peace officer may also request identification when verifying an electronic license record or license number. Residents aged 21 or older normally need a current Minnesota driver’s license or public-safety ID when establishing resident eligibility.
Do I need a trout stamp with a Minnesota 1-day fishing license?
No. A person fishing under a valid Minnesota 24-hour or 72-hour angling license is exempt from the trout-and-salmon stamp validation during that license period. All other trout-water seasons, limits, and restrictions still apply.
Does the license expire at midnight?
No. It remains valid for 24 consecutive hours from its time of issuance. For example, a license issued at 2 p.m. remains valid until 2 p.m. the following day, subject to lawful fishing seasons and hours.
Can everyone fish without a license in a Minnesota state park?
No. The exemption is for Minnesota residents and applies only in the locations and situations defined by state law. It does not apply to nonresidents or waters where the trout-water restriction applies.
Conclusion
A Minnesota 24-hour fishing license is a practical option for an adult who plans to fish for only one day. The listed base cost is $12 for a resident or $14 for a nonresident, and the license runs for 24 consecutive hours from issuance. Anglers aged 16 or 17 should use the $5 youth license instead.
Purchase through the official DNR website, mobile app, or an approved agent. Keep your paper, PDF, or app-based license available, and check the current season, possession limit, size limit, and lake-specific rules before casting a line. A 24-hour or 72-hour angling license does not require the separate trout-and-salmon stamp, but sturgeon harvest validation, shelter licensing, or other special requirements may still apply.
Sources
- Minnesota DNR Fishing Licenses — current license products, listed fees, stamps, tags, and agent-fee notice.
- Minnesota DNR Online License Sales — official purchase routes, storage options, and licensing-system guidance.
- Minnesota DNR Electronic Licensing System — mobile-app, paper, PDF, offline display, and harvest-validation information.
- Minnesota Fishing Regulations — current statewide and water-specific fishing rules.
- Minnesota Statutes §97A.475 — statutory license fees and nonresident surcharge exception.
- Minnesota Statutes §97C.305 — trout-and-salmon stamp requirements and the 24-hour and 72-hour license exemption.
