Build the Right License Stack Before Checkout
A Montana fishing license purchase may contain three products: a Conservation License, the correct fishing license and an AIS Prevention Pass when the applicant’s age requires it.
This guide explains the complete cost, ALS lookup, online buying, new-year renewal, printing, reprinting, MyFWP display and the mistakes that commonly stop a transaction.
What Do You Need to Do Today?
The correct route changes depending on whether this is a first purchase, a new license-year purchase, a missing copy or a digital-display problem.
Calculate the Complete Montana License Total
The fishing-product price alone may not be the amount charged. This tool adds the Conservation License, age-applicable AISPP and an estimated online transaction service fee of 2.9% plus $0.30.
2026 Montana Fishing License Calculator
Example: the standard adult resident product stack is $31. An estimated 2.9% plus $0.30 online service fee brings the planning total to about $32.20.
Montana Resident and Nonresident Fishing License Prices
Resident Complete Product Totals
| Resident option | Conservation | AISPP | Fishing | Product total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season, age 12–15 | $4.00 | Not priced in the age-16+ chart | $10.50 | $14.50 |
| Season, age 16–17 | $4.00 | $2.00 | $10.50 | $16.50 |
| Season, age 18–61 | $8.00 | $2.00 | $21.00 | $31.00 |
| Season, age 62+ | $4.00 | $2.00 | $10.50 | $16.50 |
| Certified disabled, age 18–61 | $8.00 | $2.00 | $10.50 | $20.50 |
| Two days, age 12–15 | $4.00 | Not priced in the age-16+ chart | $5.00 | $9.00 |
| Two days, age 16–17 or 62+ | $4.00 | $2.00 | $5.00 | $11.00 |
| Two days, age 18–61 | $8.00 | $2.00 | $5.00 | $15.00 |
Nonresident Complete Product Totals
| Nonresident duration | Conservation | AISPP age 16+ | Fishing | Age-16+ product total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full season | $10.00 | $7.50 | $100.00 | $117.50 |
| One calendar day | $10.00 | $7.50 | $14.00 | $31.50 |
| Five consecutive days | $10.00 | $7.50 | $56.00 | $73.50 |
AISPP wording check: FWP’s general fishing page says the pass is required for people who fish, while its 2026 fee chart specifically labels AISPP as age 16+. Follow the current Online Licensing cart for the applicant’s exact age rather than manually forcing an extra product.
After comparing these totals, use the official Montana FWP 2026 licensing-fee PDF to confirm current prices.
Which Montana License Products Do You Need?
| Applicant or trip | Start with | Important warning |
|---|---|---|
| Resident age 18–61, repeated fishing | Conservation + AISPP + season fishing | The season ends with the license year, not 365 days after purchase. |
| Resident two-day trip | Conservation + age-applicable AISPP + two-day fishing | The two fishing days must be consecutive calendar days. |
| Nonresident one-day trip | Conservation + age-applicable AISPP + one-day fishing | The prerequisites make the total higher than the $14 base product. |
| Nonresident five-day visit | Conservation + age-applicable AISPP + five-day fishing | The five days are consecutive and cannot be split across visits. |
| Child age 11 or younger | No state fishing, Conservation or AISPP license | All seasons, limits, methods and water-specific rules still apply. |
| Yellowstone National Park | Yellowstone fishing permit | The Montana state license is not valid or required inside the park. |
One Day, Five Days or Full Season?
One-day visitor
Use the one-day nonresident license only when fishing is limited to one calendar day. The common age-16+ product total is $31.50 before the online service fee.
One continuous vacation
The five-day nonresident option works for a continuous trip. It is not five flexible fishing days that can be separated.
Multiple Montana visits
The season license can be easier when the angler expects several visits before the end of February.
Resident fishing repeatedly
A standard adult resident should compare the $21 season fishing product with repeated $5 two-day products before checkout.
Prepare These Details Before Buying Online
- Applicant’s exact legal name and date of birth
- Current physical and mailing address
- Telephone number and working email address
- Existing ALS number when the person has purchased before
- Montana driver’s license, state ID or accepted Tribal ID for resident purchases
- Last four Social Security number digits when requested for the Conservation License
- Payment card and correct billing details
- Trip dates and the exact waterbody being fished
- Desktop or laptop access when a reliable printed copy is needed
Printing tip from the official guide: printing may not work from an iPad and may fail from some other mobile devices. Use a desktop or laptop when a printed document is important.
ALS Number and MyFWP Login Are Not the Same
ALS number
The Automated Licensing System number identifies the person’s FWP licensing record. It appears at the top of previous licenses and permits.
MyFWP account
The MyFWP username and password provide access to the web account and app. The ALS record must be linked to that account.
Duplicate-record prevention: someone who has purchased or applied in Montana before should look up the existing ALS number instead of creating another customer record.
How to Buy a Montana Fishing License Online
Use the Applicant’s Exact Identification Details
Enter the person’s legal name, birth date and current contact information. A Montana resident should have a Montana driver’s license, state ID or accepted Tribal ID ready.
Find the Existing ALS Number
The official lookup uses date of birth, phone number, ZIP code and residency status. Check an old license first because the ALS number appears near the top.
When it is still missing, use the official Montana ALS-number lookup.
Choose Start a New Order or Buy Items Again
Both choices enter the purchasing area. Buy Items Again can preselect items bought or applied for during the prior year.
Do not treat preselection as automatic renewal. Items currently available may be selected by default. Remove products that are not needed and check whether regulations or districts changed.
Build the Complete Fishing Stack
- Select the Conservation License when required.
- Select the correct season or short-term fishing product.
- Confirm whether AISPP is added for the applicant’s age.
- Check for special permits required by the destination or species.
Verify Demographics Before Payment
FWP’s guide says the telephone number and address should be current for system verification, and an email address is required. Correct the record before paying when the information belongs to an old residence.
Check the Service Fee and Submit Payment Once
The portal states that online purchases include a 2.9% plus $0.30 per-transaction service fee. Review the complete total before submitting.
The official guide instructs card users to enter the expiration date as four digits in MMYY format without extra symbols.
Frozen-page warning: do not immediately submit a second payment. Check email, the account and card activity first. Contact Licensing when the first transaction’s status is uncertain.
Save the Payment Receipt
The final transaction page is titled Payment Receipt. Print or save it and use the license-and-application-details option to review what was issued.
After choosing the correct products, open the official Montana FWP Online Licensing Service to complete the transaction.
Nightly maintenance: the portal reports scheduled maintenance from 11:45 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. Try again after 5:00 a.m. rather than repeatedly restarting the transaction.
How to Renew a Montana Fishing License Online
“Renew” means purchasing the appropriate products for the new Montana license year. The old license is not extended for another 365 days.
- Enter Online Licensing with the existing ALS record.
- Select Buy Items Again.
- Review the products selected from the prior license year.
- Remove every product not needed this year.
- Confirm Conservation License and AISPP requirements.
- Check the new license-year dates.
- Review the service fee and submit the transaction.
- Save the Payment Receipt.
- Open MyFWP and confirm the new license appears.
Late-season purchase warning: the full-season fishing license still ends at the end of February even when purchased late in the license year.
When Not to Use Buy Items Again
Start a carefully reviewed new order or contact Licensing when residency changed, the ALS record contains an error, a discount requires certification or the expected fishing product does not appear.
How to Print or Reprint a Montana Fishing License
Print or Save the Purchase Record Immediately
- Remain on the Payment Receipt page after payment.
- Confirm the applicant’s name and issued products.
- Open the license-and-application details.
- Use the print command or save the page as a PDF.
- Open the saved file and confirm it is readable.
- Keep the file somewhere accessible before the trip.
Use Reprint Items for Another Copy
- Return to Online Licensing.
- Enter the Buy and Apply area with the correct ALS record.
- Select Reprint Items.
- Select the license or permit that needs another copy.
- Choose the replacement reason from the dropdown.
- Follow the remaining prompts.
- Print or save the resulting document.
Paper backup
Helpful when the phone may lose power, the screen breaks or the app account cannot be opened.
MyFWP display
Helpful for carrying the current license after the correct ALS record has been linked and tested.
Micro-check: verify that the printed or saved copy shows the correct person, current license year and every purchased fishing product. A receipt for the wrong customer is not useful in the field.
How to Use the MyFWP App Without Cell Service
MyFWP can store and display current licenses and permits in or out of cellular service. It cannot sell the fishing license.
| Task | Online Licensing | MyFWP app |
|---|---|---|
| Buy a fishing license | Yes | No |
| Use Buy Items Again | Yes | No |
| Use Reprint Items | Yes | Not the reprint route |
| Display a current license | Print or save | Yes |
| Display without service | Not designed as the field app | Yes, after login |
Set Up the App Before Leaving Town
- Install the current MyFWP version.
- Log into the correct MyFWP account.
- Link the applicant’s existing ALS record.
- Open the license while connected to internet service.
- Confirm the applicant’s name and current license year.
- Remain logged in before entering a no-service area.
- Carry a charged phone, power bank or paper backup.
Family-account tip: confirm which person’s ALS record is being displayed before handing the phone to an officer. Do not assume the first record shown belongs to the angler holding the rod.
After purchasing through OLS, use the official MyFWP app instructions to link the ALS record and prepare offline access.
Fix Residency, Identification and ALS Problems
Montana Residency Requires More Than an Address
FWP’s guidance generally requires 180 consecutive days of physical Montana residence before purchasing a resident license. It also addresses Montana vehicle registration, resident tax filing when required and resident privileges held elsewhere.
Property ownership does not create resident status. An absentee property owner paying Montana property tax is not automatically eligible for resident fishing-license prices.
Resident Identification Must Match the FWP Record
Online resident verification uses the Montana driver’s license or ID record. A misspelled name, changed surname or incorrect birth date may block verification.
Montana ID Issued Less Than 180 Days Ago
FWP may require additional proof. Its current guidance says a person whose Montana license is less than 180 days old must update residency in person at an FWP regional office.
Changing an Existing Nonresident ALS Record
Do not create a new ALS record after becoming a Montana resident. Contact Licensing or a regional office to update the existing record.
Resident Without a Social Security Number or Accepted ID
The FWP licensing guide directs residents who otherwise meet residency requirements but do not have the standard Social Security number or identification information to contact a regional office or Licensing before purchasing.
Residency or ALS Help Script
“Hello, I am trying to buy a Montana fishing license online. My legal name is [name], my birth date is [date], and my ALS number is [number, if known]. My problem is [lost ALS number, ID mismatch, recent move, old nonresident record or residency verification]. What update or supporting document is required before I purchase?”
Use the official Montana FWP residency guidance to verify the legal requirements before selecting resident pricing.
A Montana State License Does Not Complete Every Trip
| Trip or activity | Additional action | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone National Park | Obtain the separate Yellowstone permit and read park rules. | Assuming the Montana state license works inside the park. |
| Tribal or reservation waters | Check the governing tribal authority’s licensing requirements. | Assuming FWP products replace a tribal fishing license. |
| Intentional bull-trout fishing | Use only an authorized water and obtain the water-specific catch card. | Targeting bull trout in waters closed to intentional fishing. |
| Paddlefish | Review the applicable area, tag, season and reporting requirements. | Treating the base fishing license as the complete paddlefish authorization. |
| Any Montana river or lake | Check the district standard rule and the exact waterbody exception. | Reading only a statewide summary. |
Yellowstone Requires Its Own Permit
Montana fishing licenses are not valid or required inside Yellowstone National Park. Anglers age 16 or older need a Yellowstone fishing permit.
Use the official Yellowstone fishing page when the fishing location is inside park boundaries.
Use the Exact Waterbody Rule
- Identify the Eastern, Central or Western Fishing District.
- Read the district’s Standard Regulations.
- Search the exact river, stream, lake or reservoir.
- Apply the water-specific exception when one is listed.
- Check restrictions and emergency closures before departure.
After buying the license, use the official Montana fishing-regulations page and FishMT waterbody search to verify the destination.
Who May Qualify for a Different License Process?
Resident Youth and Seniors
Montana provides lower resident Conservation and fishing prices for ages 12–17 and residents age 62 or older. The customer’s correct age should produce the applicable product in the cart.
Certified Resident With a Disability
A permanently and substantially disabled resident may qualify for discounted fishing after certification. The lower price should not be selected without completing the FWP qualification process.
Resident Lifetime Fishing License for a Blind Applicant
FWP lists a $10 lifetime fishing license for a qualifying blind Montana resident. A separate application and medical certification are required, and the normal Conservation License is not a prerequisite for that lifetime license.
Nonresident Native, College Student or Active-Military Route
The official licensing guide notes that some nonresident Native Montana, college-student and active-military options require supporting documentation and licensing review before the products are released.
Allow extra time: a certification or document-review product may not be available for immediate purchase on the morning of the fishing trip.
Fix Common Montana Online License Problems
Wait until after the stated 5:00 a.m. maintenance end time before restarting the order.
Search using the original phone, ZIP code, birth date and residency status, then call Licensing rather than creating duplicates.
Compare the FWP entry with the Montana identification record exactly. A recent ID may require an office visit.
Uncheck each product that is not needed before continuing to payment.
Check the account, email and card activity before attempting another payment.
Save the page as a file or repeat the print process from a desktop or laptop.
Confirm that MyFWP is linked to the same ALS record used in Online Licensing.
Update eligible fields during the transaction or contact Licensing when the residency classification must change.
Prepare before calling: have the legal name, date of birth, ALS number, purchase date, exact error message and last four card digits available. Do not email a full Social Security number or full payment-card number.
Official Montana FWP Links and Contact Help
This is an independent guide and is not operated by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Use the following official resources for the final transaction and legal rules.
Buy or Renew Online
Use this after identifying the correct products and preparing the ALS information.
Check Fishing Products
Use this to confirm ages, license durations, prerequisites and special fishing options.
Review the 2026 Fee PDF
Use this to see complete resident and nonresident product totals.
Read Purchase and Reprint Instructions
Use the official licensing guide for ALS creation, Buy Items Again, payment and Reprint Items.
Find an ALS Number
Use the lookup before creating another customer record.
Find In-Person Help
Use this when a printer, computer or staff-assisted purchase is needed.
MyFWP and Licensing Help
Phone: (406) 444-2950Email: fwplic@mt.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Mountain Time, except holidays
Montana FWP Main Contact
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks1420 East Sixth Avenue
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620-0701
Phone: (406) 444-2535
Email: fwpgen@mt.gov
Call before driving: some area offices do not provide license sales or certifications, and a few offices list shorter counter hours than regional headquarters.
Use the official FWP contact and regional-office page before planning an in-person visit.
Montana Fishing License Online FAQs
Can I buy a Montana fishing license completely online?
Yes. Montana FWP’s Online Licensing Service sells resident and nonresident fishing licenses online. The MyFWP mobile app displays licenses but does not complete license purchases.
How much is a Montana resident fishing license in 2026?
For a resident age 18–61, the official full-season product stack is $31 before the online transaction service fee: an $8 Conservation License, $2 AIS Prevention Pass and $21 fishing license.
How much is a Montana nonresident fishing license in 2026?
For a nonresident age 16 or older, the official product totals before the online service fee are $117.50 for a season license, $31.50 for one day and $73.50 for five consecutive days.
Do I need a Conservation License and AIS Prevention Pass?
Most anglers age 12 or older need a Conservation License and base fishing license. The 2026 fee chart prices the AIS Prevention Pass for anglers age 16 or older. The official online cart controls the final required products.
How do I renew a Montana fishing license online?
Purchase a license for the new Montana license year through Online Licensing. Returning customers can use Buy Items Again, review the preselected products, remove anything not needed and complete a new transaction.
How do I print or reprint a Montana fishing license?
Print or save the Payment Receipt after checkout. For another copy, return to Online Licensing, enter Buy and Apply, select Reprint Items, choose the applicable license and replacement reason, and complete the prompts.
How long is a Montana season fishing license valid?
The full-season Montana fishing license is valid from March 1 through the end of February of the following year. It is not a rolling 365-day license.
At what age is a Montana fishing license required?
A fishing license is generally required for anyone age 12 or older fishing Montana state waters. Anglers age 11 or younger are exempt but must follow all fishing regulations.
Can I show my license in the MyFWP app without cell service?
Yes. MyFWP can display linked licenses in or out of cellular service. Log in and confirm the correct ALS record and license are visible before leaving service.
Does a Montana fishing license work inside Yellowstone National Park?
No. Montana state fishing licenses are not valid or required inside Yellowstone National Park. Anglers age 16 or older need a separate Yellowstone fishing permit.
Final Montana Online License Checklist
- The correct existing ALS record is being used.
- The applicant’s legal name and birth date match identification.
- Resident or nonresident status has been selected correctly.
- The correct season or short-term fishing duration is selected.
- The Conservation License is included when required.
- The AIS Prevention Pass is included when the official cart requires it.
- Every unwanted Buy Items Again selection has been removed.
- The address, phone and email are current.
- The product total and online service fee have been reviewed.
- Payment was submitted only once.
- The Payment Receipt was printed or saved.
- The current license is visible in MyFWP when digital display will be used.
- The phone is charged or a readable paper backup is packed.
- The exact waterbody regulation has been checked.
- Yellowstone, tribal, paddlefish or bull-trout requirements have been checked when relevant.
- Current restrictions and closures were reviewed before departure.
Final authority: the FWP Online Licensing cart, official ALS record, current fee publication and fishing regulations control over every third-party summary.