Choose, Pay and Save the Correct License
Buying a Virginia fishing license online is fast once you know whether the trip involves freshwater, saltwater, stocked trout, public access land or a special fishing area.
This guide helps you build the right license stack, find an existing account, renew on time, print a replacement and avoid paying for the wrong product.
Check the Official Checkout Before Paying
This guide uses the fees currently published by Virginia DWR. A public-comment period is open from July 7 through August 5, 2026 for proposed fishing, hunting, trapping, boating and other fee changes.
A proposal is not today’s checkout price. Proposed changes require further Board action. Use the current Go Outdoors Virginia cart and DWR fee page as the final price source.
After reviewing the explanation, use the official Virginia DWR fishing-license fee page to verify the latest adopted amount.
Users following the public process can review the official 2026 proposed-regulations page for comment deadlines and Board-meeting information.
Find the Exact License Help You Need
Use the trip selector before buying. Use the account, renewal and reprint sections when you already have a Virginia customer record.
Which Virginia Fishing License Should You Buy?
Select the trip details below. The result is a practical starting point, not a legal eligibility decision. The current official cart and exact water regulations control.
Virginia License Stack Builder
Resident shortcut: a Virginia resident age 16–64 fishing ordinary inland lakes and rivers repeatedly usually starts with the $23 statewide freshwater license. Trout and location permits are separate only when the trip triggers them.
Virginia Fishing License Fees for 2026
DWR states that its issuance fee is included in the published amounts. Resident and nonresident annual licenses are generally valid for one year from purchase unless a product says otherwise.
Virginia Resident Fishing Licenses
| License | Current fee | Best use | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide Freshwater | $23 one year $44 two years $65 three years $86 four years |
Residents fishing inland waters across Virginia. | Add trout privilege when required. |
| County or City Freshwater | $16 | Fishing only in the qualifying county or city of residence. | Not a statewide license; separate local residency rules apply. |
| Five-Day Freshwater | $14 | One short inland-water trip. | Check stocked-trout and location requirements. |
| Annual Freshwater and Saltwater | $39.50 | Residents fishing inland and coastal waters. | Does not automatically include trout. |
| Five-Day Fresh/Saltwater | $24 | A short mixed-water trip. | Not valid in designated stocked trout waters. |
| Saltwater | $17.50 annual $10 ten-day |
Tidal and marine fishing. | Does not cover ordinary inland freshwater fishing. |
| Age 65+ Annual Freshwater | $9 | Qualifying resident seniors. | Saltwater exemption and FIP rules are separate. |
| Resident Trout | $23 | Designated stocked trout waters during the applicable season. | Required in addition to an eligible base license. |
| South Holston Reservoir | $21 | Fishing Virginia and Tennessee portions upstream of the dam. | A valid resident fishing license is also required. |
Virginia Nonresident Fishing Licenses
| License | Current fee | Best use | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Statewide Freshwater | $47 | Repeat inland-water visits. | Trout remains separate when required. |
| One-Day Freshwater | $8 | One ordinary freshwater day. | Not valid in designated stocked trout waters. |
| Five-Day Freshwater | $21 | Up to five consecutive inland-water days. | Add trout and location permits where applicable. |
| Annual Freshwater and Saltwater | $71 | Repeat inland and coastal trips. | Trout privilege remains separate. |
| Five-Day Fresh/Saltwater | $31 | A short mixed-water visit. | Verify stocked-trout eligibility. |
| Saltwater | $25 annual $10 ten-day |
Coastal, Bay and tidal fishing. | Does not cover inland freshwater locations. |
| Nonresident Trout | $23 | Designated stocked trout waters. | Required in addition to an eligible base license. |
County-license warning: the $16 resident county or city product is not simply a cheaper version of the statewide license. It is restricted to the qualifying locality and has stricter local-residency qualifications.
Cheapest Legal Option for Common Virginia Trips
| Trip | Practical starting option | Approximate current cost | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident fishing one inland weekend | Five-day resident freshwater | $14 | Trout and forest permits |
| Resident fishing inland several times | One-year statewide freshwater | $23 | Whether a multi-year term is more convenient |
| Resident fishing fresh and salt water repeatedly | Annual fresh/saltwater combination | $39.50 | Trout and location permits |
| Nonresident fishing one ordinary freshwater day | One-day nonresident freshwater | $8 | Not valid in stocked trout water |
| Nonresident fishing four inland days | Five-day nonresident freshwater | $21 | Trout and access requirements |
| Any angler fishing a stocked trout area | Eligible base license plus trout license | Base fee plus $23 | Season, short-term restrictions and daily fee area |
| Resident age 65+ fishing only freshwater | Senior annual freshwater | $9 | Trout, forest and other permit rules |
Do not optimize only for price. The cheapest product is not legal when it excludes the water, stocked-trout area, date range or access site in the actual trip.
How to Buy a Virginia Fishing License Online
Go Outdoors Virginia is DWR’s approved and sole online licensing provider. Avoid websites that imitate the state portal, charge an unnecessary service fee or send buyers to another state.
Identify the Exact Water and Activity
Decide whether the trip involves freshwater, saltwater, both, designated stocked trout water, National Forest land, a state forest or a fee-fishing area.
Confirm Residency and Age
Select resident status only when the angler meets Virginia’s legal residency requirements. Check youth, senior, landowner, military and disability rules before choosing a standard adult product.
Find the Existing Customer Record
A returning buyer can locate the account using date of birth, last name and a DWR Customer ID, the last four digits of the Social Security number or the last four digits of a U.S. driver’s license.
Choose the Duration and License Stack
Compare one-day, five-day, ten-day, annual and multi-year products. Add trout or location permits only when the trip requires them.
Review the Cart Before Payment
- Correct legal name and date of birth
- Correct resident or nonresident status
- Correct freshwater, saltwater or combination product
- Correct term and starting date
- Trout license included when required
- Forest, access or fee-area permit included when required
- No duplicate, lifetime or unrelated product added accidentally
Pay and Save Confirmation
Complete checkout and keep the order confirmation. The portal states that the customer receives an email with the license attached after the transaction is completed.
Open, Print or Sync the Active License
Confirm that the issued document shows the correct holder, license products and expiration dates. Print it or sync it in the mobile app before leaving for the water.
After choosing the correct stack, use the official Go Outdoors Virginia customer portal to log in, enroll or purchase.
Privacy warning: enter Social Security or driver’s-license information only inside the verified official portal. Do not email or text sensitive identifiers to a person claiming to sell a fishing license.
Find the Correct Go Outdoors Virginia Account
Creating another profile can separate a new purchase from older licenses and account history. Returning customers should try every available lookup method before enrolling again.
Never purchased before
Create a new individual account using the angler’s accurate legal name, birth date, residency and contact information.
Previous Virginia customer
Use the customer lookup even when the old license, password or Customer ID has been lost.
Information to Try During Account Lookup
- Date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format
- Last name printed on the earlier license
- DWR Customer ID
- Last four digits of the Social Security number
- Last four digits of a U.S. driver’s license
- Older confirmation email or license document
When the Portal Requests Additional Information
The official portal may request a full Social Security number as an additional verification step in some situations. Check that the browser is on the official Go Outdoors Virginia licensing domain before entering it.
Name-change tip: try the surname, suffix or hyphenation printed on the prior license. Contact customer service when a legal name change prevents the old record from matching.
How to Renew a Virginia Fishing License Online
Most annual Virginia fishing licenses are valid for one year from purchase. The safest renewal date is the expiration date printed on the active document—not January 1 or the beginning of the fishing season.
Read the current expiration date
Open the active license in the account, email attachment, printed copy or mobile app.
Rebuild the next trip’s stack
Check whether the next term still needs freshwater, saltwater, trout or location permits.
Buy and verify the next term
Complete checkout, then open the new license and check its products and dates.
Check Auto-Renew Settings
The Go Outdoors account and mobile app may offer renewal-management features for eligible products. Do not assume auto-renew is active merely because a payment method is stored.
- Confirm the product is eligible for auto-renew.
- Confirm enrollment is turned on.
- Update an expired or replaced payment card.
- Check the account email and address.
- Confirm trout and saltwater products are still appropriate.
- Open the renewed license after payment.
Remote-trip tip: renew before driving to a mountain trout stream, remote reservoir or low-signal boat ramp. A saved cart is not an active license.
How to Print or Reprint a Virginia Fishing License
A required angler must carry the license and display it immediately when requested. Virginia accepts an electronic copy, printed paper copy or annual hard card.
Print Immediately After Buying
- Complete the official checkout.
- Open the issued license or email attachment.
- Check the holder’s name and active products.
- Use the browser print option or save the document as a PDF.
- Confirm that the expiration date is readable.
Reprint an Existing License
- Log in to Go Outdoors Virginia.
- Open “Manage Your Account.”
- Locate the active licenses and permits.
- Select the view or print option.
- Save a new paper or electronic copy.
Agent or phone purchase: DWR says a license originally purchased from a retail agent, online or by phone can be reprinted through the online account. An agent or DWR headquarters can also help when online access fails.
Prepare the Mobile App Before Leaving Home
The Go Outdoors Virginia app can purchase, renew, sync and download supported licenses. Open it while connected and confirm the correct active customer document is available.
Electronic license
Useful when the charged device can immediately display the correct active document.
Printed backup
Useful for low-signal areas, dead batteries and wet-weather phone problems.
Annual hard card
A durable optional format, but the angler must still hold every required active privilege.
Use the official Go Outdoors Virginia mobile-app page for current app-store links and functions.
Freshwater, Saltwater or Combination License?
Choose by the actual water and regulated activity, not only by the closest city. Tidal rivers can create saltwater or FIP obligations even when the water appears inland.
| Trip plan | Starting product | Extra check |
|---|---|---|
| Inland lake, reservoir, stream or river | Freshwater license | Trout, forest, access and fee-area permits |
| Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay or marine waters | Saltwater license | VMRC species limits and exemptions |
| Freshwater and saltwater during the same term | Combination license | Trout remains separate |
| Tidal freshwater targeting striped bass or another marine species | Check freshwater/saltwater line and FIP rules | Marine-species registration may apply above the visible salt line |
| Passenger on a properly licensed tidal boat | Boat license may cover fishing privilege | Passenger FIP registration may still apply |
Tidal-river mistake: a freshwater license does not automatically resolve every marine-species or tidal registration requirement. Check the official freshwater/saltwater demarcation and target species.
Virginia Saltwater License and FIP Registration
The Virginia Fisherman Identification Program is a free annual registration for saltwater anglers who are legally exempt from buying a saltwater license. It is not a free substitute for a license that the angler is required to purchase.
| Angler situation | Saltwater license | FIP registration |
|---|---|---|
| Age 16–64 with no legal exemption | Generally required | Automatically handled through the license purchase |
| Age 65+ and legally exempt | Generally not required | Generally required annually |
| Fishing from a licensed public pier | May be covered by the pier license | Generally required for the exempt angler |
| Passenger on a private boat with a qualifying boat license | May be covered | Generally required for the exempt passenger |
| Paying customer on a licensed charter or head boat | Covered through the licensed operation | Not required for the paying customer |
| Under age 16 | Not required | Not required |
What FIP Registration Requests
The online registration asks for basic contact and angler information and provides an identification number to carry as proof.
- Name and date of birth
- Mailing address
- Telephone number
- Email address when available
- General area where the person fishes
- Annual registration confirmation number
Optional Lifetime Saltwater License for Residents 65+
VMRC lists an optional $5 lifetime saltwater license for a Virginia resident age 65 or older. A holder of that optional lifetime license does not need to complete annual FIP registration.
Online-only process: VMRC states that operator-assisted telephone FIP registration was discontinued. An angler can register online personally or have another person complete the online registration.
After confirming that the person is legally exempt from buying a saltwater license, use the official Virginia FIP information and registration page.
When a Virginia Trout License Is Required
An annual or lifetime trout license is required in addition to an eligible base fishing license when fishing designated stocked trout waters from October 1 through June 15.
Annual trout add-on
DWR currently lists the resident and nonresident annual trout license at $23.
Base license still required
The trout product does not replace the applicable freshwater license.
Six Checks Before Buying Trout Privilege
- Confirm the water is listed as designated stocked trout water.
- Check whether the fishing date is October 1 through June 15.
- Confirm the chosen short-term base license is valid there.
- Check whether the water is on National Forest land.
- Check for a separate fee-fishing-area daily permit.
- Read special lure, bait, catch-and-release and stocking rules.
Short-term restriction: the nonresident one-day freshwater license is not valid in designated stocked trout waters. The resident five-day fresh/saltwater product is also listed as not valid there.
Youth and Military Exceptions
Residents and nonresidents under age 16 generally do not need the trout license. A resident active-duty service member fishing while on official leave remains subject to the trout-license requirement in designated stocked waters.
Extra Permits for Forests and Fishing Access
A fishing license is not always the final document. Land ownership, access-site management and special fee areas can add another permit.
| Permit | Current fee | When it may apply | Exception or warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Forest Permit | $4 | Fishing on most National Forest lands. | Virginia residents under 16 or over 65 and nonresidents under 16 are exempt. |
| State Forest Use Permit | $16 | Fishing on a Virginia state forest for a person age 16 or older. | Walking, hiking and boating alone do not require it. |
| Fee-Fishing-Area Daily Permit | $8 | Clinch Mountain, Crooked Creek and Douthat State Park fee areas. | Required in addition to the appropriate regular fishing license. |
| DWR Access Permit | $4 daily or $23 annual | Using a DWR facility or boat access site without another qualifying exemption. | A valid freshwater fishing license, DWR boat registration or age under 17 generally satisfies the access requirement. |
| PALS Access | $18 | Participating Public Access Lands for Sportsmen properties. | Read property-specific access terms before arriving. |
National Forest Waters That DWR Lists as Permit Exceptions
The National Forest Permit is not required on several specifically listed waters, including the North and South Fork of the Shenandoah River, James River, Skidmore Lake, North Fork Pound Reservoir, Lake Moomaw, Jackson River below Gathright Dam and Wilson Creek below Douthat Lake.
Access-site tip: a saltwater-only license is not listed as a standard exemption from the DWR access permit. Check whether the boat registration, another qualifying license or the angler’s age covers access.
Virginia Age, Residency and License Exceptions
State Resident Qualification
A person can generally buy the state resident license after being a domiciliary resident of Virginia for at least two months immediately before purchase and signing the residency certification.
County or City License Qualification Is Different
The lower-priced county or city license has separate locality rules. DWR lists qualifications such as six months of residence in that locality, legal voter status or qualifying student enrollment.
Do not select resident status only because the person owns Virginia property. Residency is a legal certification and the selected product must match the person’s actual qualification.
Military Resident Eligibility
An active-duty U.S. armed-forces member, spouse and dependents may qualify when the service member resides in Virginia, is on active duty and is stationed at a Virginia base or aboard a ship based in Virginia.
Common Freshwater-License Exceptions
- Virginia residents under age 16
- Nonresident children under age 16
- Qualifying landowners and listed family members on their own inland property
- Tenants fishing land they rent and occupy with written owner permission
- Guests fishing in an individually owned private pond
- Legally blind persons
- Certain qualifying tribal members carrying accepted proof
- Resident active-duty service members on official leave, subject to the trout exception
An exemption is not a universal pass. Saltwater FIP, trout, access, proof, possession and location-specific rules can still apply.
Virginia generally exempts resident and nonresident children under 16. Compare that threshold with other states in our fishing-license age requirements guide.
A License Does Not Set Your Catch Limit
Buying the correct license makes the angler eligible to fish; it does not determine the number or size of fish that may be kept at a particular lake or river.
| Species example | General 2026 freshwater rule shown in the DWR PDF | Why another check is required |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | Five per day in aggregate; no statewide length limit | Many major lakes and rivers have slot, minimum-length or reduced-harvest exceptions. |
| Crappie | Twenty-five per day in aggregate; no statewide length limit | Several reservoirs have minimum lengths or different daily limits. |
| Trout | Six per day; seven-inch minimum | Stocked, special-regulation and South Holston waters can use different rules. |
| American shad | No possession; catch and immediate release only | Tidal and anadromous regulations involve VMRC as well as DWR. |
| Northern snakehead | No statewide daily or length limit | A retained fish must be killed immediately and DWR notification rules apply. |
Posted rules control: the official PDF states that posted regulations at smaller lakes, streams, ponds and boat access areas are in effect. Do not rely only on a statewide limit table.
Before keeping fish, open the official 2026 DWR creel and length-limit PDF and then check the exact water’s posted rules.
For the complete current rule system, use the Virginia freshwater fishing regulations hub.
Virginia Fishing License Troubleshooting
| Problem | Check first | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Existing account not found | DOB, old last name, Customer ID, last four SSN and driver’s-license digits | Contact DWR before creating another account. |
| Payment succeeded but license is missing | Email attachment, spam folder, purchase history and active-license area | Save the order number and contact licensing support. |
| Wrong product appears in the cart | Water type, duration, residency, trout and location selections | Remove the product before paying; do not assume support can change it afterward. |
| License will not print | Browser pop-up settings, PDF viewer and downloaded files | Save the file first, then print from the device’s PDF application. |
| Mobile app shows an old license | Correct customer account, internet connection and sync status | Refresh while connected and confirm the new expiration date. |
| Unsure whether water is fresh or salt | DWR freshwater/saltwater line and target species | Ask DWR or VMRC before buying or fishing. |
Official Online and In-Person Actions
Buy or Manage a License
Use this to purchase, view active documents and manage the customer record.
Locate an Authorized Agent
Use an agent when online payment, account access or printing is not practical.
Check Current Fees
Use this immediately before payment because proposed changes are under review in 2026.
Check Freshwater Regulations
Use this for trout waters, limits, methods, reciprocal waters and special locations.
Use the Mobile App
Sync and download the license before travelling to a low-signal location.
Register for FIP
Use this only when the saltwater angler is legally exempt from buying a license but must register.
License Customer Service
Virginia DWR License Customer ServicePhone: 1-866-721-6911
Availability: Monday–Friday during business hours, except listed holidays
DWR Headquarters / Phone Purchase Help
Phone: (804) 367-1000
Use during regular business hours for phone purchase or reprint help
Do not drive to a regional office to buy a license. DWR states that licenses are not sold at its regional offices. Use Go Outdoors Virginia, an authorized agent, a participating Circuit Court clerk or DWR headquarters.
Account-Recovery Phone Script
“Hello, I need help locating an existing Go Outdoors Virginia account. The customer’s legal name is [name], date of birth is [date], and the old Customer ID is [number, if available]. I tried [Customer ID, last four SSN or driver’s-license lookup], but the account was not found. Please help me locate the existing record before I create another account.”
Fishing outside Virginia requires another state’s license check. Use our state-by-state fishing-license cost and online-buying guide before a multi-state trip.
Virginia Fishing License Online FAQs
Where can I buy a Virginia fishing license online?
Buy through Go Outdoors Virginia, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources’ approved and sole online licensing provider. Returning customers should locate their existing record before creating another account.
How much is a Virginia resident freshwater fishing license in 2026?
Virginia DWR currently lists the resident statewide freshwater license at $23 for one year, $44 for two years, $65 for three years and $86 for four years. Check the official portal because 2026 fee changes have been proposed but were not yet final at the time of this update.
How long is a Virginia annual fishing license valid?
Resident and nonresident annual licenses are generally valid for one year from the purchase date unless the product states a different term.
How do I renew a Virginia fishing license online?
Log in to the existing Go Outdoors Virginia account, check the active license expiration date, choose the next term, review any trout or saltwater products and complete checkout. Then open and save the newly issued license.
How do I print or reprint my Virginia fishing license?
Log in to Go Outdoors Virginia, open Manage Your Account and view or print the active license. A license originally bought online, by phone or from a retail agent can also be reprinted through the online account.
Can I show my Virginia fishing license on my phone?
Yes. Virginia accepts an electronic copy, printed paper copy or annual hard card. Sync the correct active license in the Go Outdoors Virginia app before travelling to a low-signal area.
Do I need a separate Virginia trout license?
A $23 annual trout license is required in addition to an eligible base fishing license when fishing designated stocked trout waters from October 1 through June 15. Short-term licenses can have additional stocked-water restrictions.
Do I need a Virginia saltwater license or FIP registration?
Most saltwater anglers age 16 through 64 need an applicable saltwater license. An angler who is legally exempt from buying the saltwater license may need free annual Fisherman Identification Program registration instead. FIP is not a substitute when a license is required.
Do children need a Virginia fishing license?
Virginia residents and nonresidents under age 16 generally do not need a basic freshwater or trout license. Location permits, saltwater rules, possession limits and adult participation can still affect the trip.
What should I do if Go Outdoors Virginia cannot find my account?
Try the returning customer’s date of birth, last name and a DWR Customer ID, last four digits of the Social Security number or driver’s license number. Do not create a duplicate record when the person has previously purchased a Virginia license. Contact DWR customer service if the account still cannot be located.
Final Virginia Online License Checklist
- The browser is on the official Go Outdoors Virginia portal.
- The existing customer account has been located when applicable.
- The angler’s name and date of birth are correct.
- Resident or nonresident status is accurate.
- Freshwater, saltwater or combination privilege matches the trip.
- The duration and starting date are correct.
- The current official cart price has been reviewed.
- The trout license is included when required.
- National Forest, state forest, access and fee-area permits have been checked.
- FIP registration has been checked for a legally exempt saltwater angler.
- No duplicate or unrelated product is in the cart.
- The confirmation and emailed license have been saved.
- The active license displays the correct expiration date.
- A phone copy or printed backup is ready.
- The exact water’s current limits and posted rules have been checked.
Final authority: the Go Outdoors Virginia checkout, current DWR fee page, Virginia freshwater regulations and VMRC saltwater rules control over any third-party summary.