NWT Fishing License Guide: Rules & Fees

Northwest Territories 2026–2027 • Official fees • Special waters

NWT Fishing Licence, Validation and Waterbody Rules Made Easy

A Northwest Territories fishing trip starts with four decisions: who is fishing, how long the trip lasts, where the hook enters the water and whether that location needs an additional validation or federal permit.

This guide turns those decisions into a practical route. Choose the licence, complete any special-area requirement, carry valid proof and check the exact species limit before keeping fish.

Season ends March 31 One-day visitor total: $12.93 Barbless hooks required Great Bear Lake requires M1

Checked against current GNWT and federal sources on August 3, 2026. The current regulation period is April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027.

Answer first

Who Needs an NWT Sport Fishing Licence?

Most anglers need a valid NWT sport fishing licence.

An NWT or Canadian resident who is under 16 or 65 years of age or older may fish ordinary NWT waters without buying the standard paid licence.

A non-resident younger than 16 may fish without their own ordinary licence only while accompanied by a person who holds a valid sport fishing licence.

Special waters change the answer. Great Bear Lake and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region require a valid licence and the appropriate authorization for every age.

One-day Canadian or international visitor $12.93 Total including published GST

1 day Visitor licence option

3 days Consecutive-day option

Season Expires March 31

Special areas Extra validation possible

Do not assume “season” means 12 months. Every seasonal NWT sport fishing licence expires on March 31, even when purchased late in the licence year.

Five decisions

Complete This Route Before Paying

1 Identify angler Age, citizenship and residence

2 Choose duration One day, three days or season

3 Name the water Exact lake, river or park boundary

4 Add validation M1, I1 or federal permit

5 Check fish rules Species, limit, size and closure

Best preparation: decide the exact waterbody before purchasing. “Great Slave Lake,” “Great Bear Lake” or “a national park” can lead to different licence and catch-limit routes.

2026–2027 fee table

Northwest Territories Fishing Licence Prices

The totals below include the GST amount published by the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Class	Licence	Fee	GST	Total	Valid for
F1	NWT resident season	$12.31	$0.62	$12.93	Until March 31
F2	Canadian resident season	$24.63	$1.23	$25.86	Until March 31
F3	Non-resident season	$49.27	$2.46	$51.73	Until March 31
F4	Eligible Canadian resident age 65+	Free	—	Free	Season licence class
F5	Eligible Canadian resident under 16	Free	—	Free	Season licence class
F6	Canadian resident three-day	$18.47	$0.92	$19.39	Three consecutive days
F7	Non-resident three-day	$36.95	$1.85	$38.80	Three consecutive days
F9	Canadian resident one-day	$12.31	$0.62	$12.93	One day
F10	Non-resident one-day	$12.31	$0.62	$12.93	One day

Visual Price Comparison

NWT season

$12.93

Visitor one-day

$12.93

Canadian three-day

$19.39

Canadian season

$25.86

Visitor three-day

$38.80

Visitor season

$51.73

Prices and taxes can be updated. The product and total shown by the official GNWT purchase system control the transaction.

Verify Official Fees Open 2026–2027 Fishing Guide

Trip-value calculator

One Day, Three Days or a Season?

Angler and trip	Products to compare	Published total	Most practical choice
NWT resident	F1 season	$12.93	The listed NWT-resident option is the season licence.
Canadian visitor — one day	F9	$12.93	Choose the one-day product.
Canadian visitor — two or three consecutive days	F6	$19.39	Cheaper than buying two one-day licences.
Canadian visitor — four or more days	F2 season	$25.86	Cheaper than combining F6 with another day.
International visitor — one day	F10	$12.93	Use the one-day visitor product.
International visitor — two days	Two F10 licences	$25.86	Cheaper than the F7 three-day product.
International visitor — three consecutive days	F7 or three F10 licences	$38.80 versus $38.79	F7 costs one cent more but creates one continuous three-day licence.
International visitor — four days	F3 or F7 + F10	Both $51.73	The season licence offers more date flexibility for the same total.
International visitor — five or more days	F3 season	$51.73	The season product is normally the clearer value route.

Three-day means consecutive days. The licence begins on the printed start date and cannot be divided across unrelated weekends.

Residency and age

Choose the Correct Licence Class

NWT

NWT resident

A resident Canadian who has lived continuously in the Northwest Territories for the three months immediately before beginning to fish.

CAN

Canadian resident

A Canadian citizen or permanent resident who does not meet the three-month NWT-residency requirement.

INT

Non-resident

A person who is not a resident Canadian. Most visitors from outside Canada use this category.

Angler	Ordinary NWT waters	Special management area or ISR
NWT or Canadian resident under 16	May fish without buying the standard paid licence.	Needs the valid no-fee F5 class and the required authorization.
NWT or Canadian resident age 16–64	Needs the applicable paid licence.	Needs the paid licence plus M1 or I1.
NWT or Canadian resident age 65+	May fish without buying the standard paid licence.	Needs the valid no-fee F4 class and the required authorization.
Non-resident under 16	May fish when accompanied by a valid NWT licence holder.	Special-area requirements apply to every age.
Non-resident age 16+	Needs F3, F7 or F10.	Needs the visitor licence plus the required authorization.

Do not choose the NWT-resident price based only on an address. The sport-fishing definition includes three continuous months of territorial residence.

Online buying route

How to Buy the NWT Fishing Licence

Name the exact fishing water

Decide whether the trip is on ordinary territorial water, Great Bear Lake, the ISR, Edéhzhíe or inside a national park boundary.
Open the official GNWT service

Use the GNWT eServices page rather than an unofficial information or payment website.
Choose the correct residency category

Select NWT resident, Canadian resident or non-resident using the legal residency definitions.
Choose the required duration

Select one day, three consecutive days or season. Confirm the printed start and expiry dates.
Add the special authorization

Great Bear Lake requires M1. The ISR requires I1. Federal protected waters may require a separate federal permit.
Review the named angler and total

Check the licence class, age category, residency, dates, GST and every validation before payment.
Save and print the issued proof

Carry a readable licence and every validation. Keep an offline copy for travel outside cellular coverage.

Open Official GNWT eServices Read Official Licence Instructions

The free beneficiary F8 licence and some documentation-based validations may require help from a regional office or authorized issuing location rather than normal online checkout.

Special-water navigator

Where a Standard NWT Licence Is Not Enough

Great Bear Lake

Every angler needs a valid standard sport fishing licence plus the paid M1 Special Management Area authorization.

Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Every angler needs a valid sport fishing licence plus the free I1 validation. Private-land registration may also be required.

NWA

Edéhzhíe

An NWT sport fishing licence and a separate National Wildlife Area permit may be required before access and fishing.

PARK

National parks

The territorial sport fishing licence is not valid inside national parks, park reserves or national historic sites.

Thaıdene Nëné

Check whether the fishing location lies in the territorial protected area or the national park reserve because the permit route differs.

LAND

Settlement private land

A licence does not replace access permission, beneficiary registration or land-owner approval.

Check Special-Area Requirements Find a Regional Office

Call script for a complicated location

“I plan to fish at [exact lake, river, lodge or coordinates]. I am a [residency category] and age [age]. Which standard licence, validation, federal permit and land-access permission must I obtain?”

Special authorization table

Licence and Permit Matrix

Fishing area	Territorial licence	Extra authorization	Important action
Ordinary NWT territorial water	Standard NWT licence or applicable age exemption	Usually none	Check species, possession, size and closure rules.
Great Bear Lake Special Management Area	Valid sport fishing licence required for every age	M1 — $12.93 total	Confirm M1 appears on the issued proof.
Inuvialuit Settlement Region	Valid sport fishing licence required for every age	I1 — free	Complete documentation and private-land registration when applicable.
Edéhzhíe National Wildlife Area	NWT licence	Federal NWA permit	Apply before travel; permission is not automatic.
National park or park reserve	NWT licence not valid	Parks Canada fishing permit	Follow the site-specific park fishing regulations.
Settlement private land	Applicable licence	Registration or permission	Contact the appropriate Indigenous or land-management organization.

Boundary risk: protected areas can contain territorial and federal sections. The name of the destination alone may not identify the correct licence; verify the fishing coordinates.

Animated gear guide

NWT Fishing Gear Rules at a Glance

Open water

Use no more than one fishing line or one rod and line. Keep the line attended.

Ice fishing

Use no more than two lines or rods and remain within 50 metres of the lines.

Barbless hooks

Hooks attached to an angling line must be barbless. A pressed barb must remain against the shaft.

Maximum two hooks

No fishing line may carry more than two hooks.

BAIT

No live fish bait

Live fish cannot be used as bait while sport fishing.

No snagging

Do not intentionally hook a fish in the body rather than through normal angling.

GAFF

No gaff

Using or possessing a gaff while sport fishing is prohibited.

LIGHT

No attraction lights

Do not use lights to attract fish for capture.

LINE

No unattended gear

A fishing line with hooks attached cannot be left unattended.

Read GNWT General Regulations Open Federal NWT Fishery Regulations

Catch accounting

Daily Catch and Possession Are Not the Same

1 day Daily catch

Daily catch limit

The number of fish of one species an individual may catch and retain from one midnight to the next.

All fish Possession

Possession limit

The total number possessed anywhere, including fish at camp, in a lodge freezer, in transport or at home.

No group fishing: catch and possession limits belong to individual anglers. A group cannot pool limits or place fish under another person’s unused allowance.

Check Exact Fish Limits

Waterbody check

Do Not Apply a General Fish Limit to a Named Water

Confirm the exact water

Use the full lake, river, tributary, bay, channel or lodge location—not only the nearest community.

Identify the species

Check that the fish is correctly identified before applying a catch or possession limit.

Read named exceptions

A named water, management area or protected boundary can replace the general territorial limit.

Check size rules

Fork-length restrictions and large-fish possession rules apply in certain waters.

Check closure dates

Some waters or river-mouth zones close seasonally or remain closed year-round.

Save the rule offline

Keep the exact species row, map and closure information available without internet access.

Great Slave Lake example: the lake contains management areas and connected tributary rules. “Fishing Great Slave Lake” is not specific enough to determine every lake-trout, pike or inconnu limit.

Open Waterbody Catch Limits Check Closures and Permit Areas

Cleaning and transport

Keep Retained Fish Identifiable and Countable

Keep enough skin for species identification
Do not hide the number of fish in one frozen block
Keep head and tail when a size rule must be verified
Do not shorten fish before lawful measurement
Separate fillets so the number can be counted
Include stored fish in possession calculations
Label transported or externally stored packages when required
Do not waste fish suitable for human consumption

Federal rules prohibit possessing recreationally caught fish that have been skinned, cut or packed so the species, number, weight or applicable size cannot be readily determined.

Remote-trip dashboard

Licence Complete? Finish the Northern Safety Check

Licence and validations saved offline
Identification and land permission packed
Barbs removed or fully compressed
Correct catch-limit table saved
Closure coordinates checked
Approved PFD available for every person
Weather and wind reviewed before launch
Trip plan left with a reliable contact
Satellite or emergency communicator tested
Ice thickness tested at multiple locations
Bear-safe food and fish storage arranged
Fish-consumption guidance checked

Remote northern weather, cold water, wind and ice can change quickly. A fishing licence does not replace boating equipment, land-access permission, a communication plan or local knowledge.

Read NWT Fishing Safety Guidance

In-person help

Where to Buy or Resolve a Complicated Licence

ECC

Regional ECC office

Use an office for documentation-based licences, beneficiary status, special validations and uncertain protected-area boundaries.

SHOP

Authorized private vendor

Use GNWT’s current vendor list and call the exact location before travelling because hours and services can change.

Vendor call script

“Do you issue the [licence class] NWT sport fishing licence, and can you also issue the [M1 or I1] authorization for my fishing location?”

Find an NWT Licence Vendor View Regional Contacts Call GNWT: 1-844-698-3474

Mistake prevention

Common NWT Fishing Licence Errors

Wrong residency class

The NWT-resident rate requires three continuous months of territorial residence.

Expecting 12 months

Season licences expire March 31 regardless of their purchase date.

Splitting three days

A three-day product covers consecutive days and cannot be divided across separate trips.

Missing Great Bear M1

Every Great Bear Lake angler needs M1, including youth and seniors.

Assuming I1 is automatic

The free ISR validation must still be issued and may require supporting documentation.

Using NWT proof in a park

A Parks Canada fishing permit is required inside applicable national-park waters.

Using a barbed hook

Hooks attached to sport-fishing lines must be barbless.

Applying a general limit

Named waters and special management areas may have different fish limits.

Ignoring private land

A sport fishing licence does not grant access to settlement private lands.

Packaging fish incorrectly

Fish must remain identifiable, countable and measurable when a size rule applies.

Depending on mobile service

Download licences, maps, limits, permits and contacts before leaving coverage.

Skipping closure coordinates

River-mouth and channel closures may be defined by exact mapped boundaries.

Direct answers

Northwest Territories Fishing Licence FAQs

How much is an NWT fishing licence in 2026–2027?

The published season totals including GST are $12.93 for an NWT resident, $25.86 for a Canadian resident and $51.73 for a non-resident. Canadian and international visitor one-day licences total $12.93.

When does an NWT season fishing licence expire?

Every seasonal NWT sport fishing licence expires on March 31. It is not valid for 12 months from the purchase date.

Who can fish without buying the standard licence?

NWT and Canadian residents under 16 or age 65 and older may fish ordinary NWT waters without buying the standard paid licence. Special management areas and the ISR require valid licence documentation for every age.

Can an international child fish without their own licence?

A non-resident under 16 may fish ordinary NWT waters while accompanied by someone who holds a valid sport fishing licence. Special-area requirements may still apply.

Can I buy an NWT fishing licence online?

Yes. Standard licences are available through GNWT eServices. Documentation-based beneficiary licences and some validations may require a regional office or issuing vendor.

Is the three-day licence valid on any three dates?

No. It covers three consecutive days beginning on the printed start date.

Are barbless hooks mandatory in the NWT?

Yes. A hook attached to an angling line must be barbless. An existing barb may be pressed so it remains fully against the shaft.

What is required for Great Bear Lake?

Every angler needs a valid standard NWT sport fishing licence plus the M1 Great Bear Lake Special Management Area authorization. The published M1 total is $12.93 including GST.

What is required in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region?

Every angler needs a valid sport fishing licence plus the free I1 validation. Fishing on Inuvialuit private land may also require registration or permission.

Does an NWT licence cover national parks?

No. An NWT sport fishing licence is not valid inside national parks, national park reserves or national historic sites. Obtain the applicable Parks Canada fishing permit.

Does Great Slave Lake require another validation?

GNWT does not list a separate lake-wide Great Slave Lake validation, but management areas, protected boundaries, named tributaries and local catch limits still need to be checked.

How many fishing lines can I use?

In open water, use no more than one line or rod and line. When ice fishing, use no more than two lines or rods and remain within 50 metres of them.

Official verification