Buy Fishing License Online 2026: France, Belgium & Quebec

Anyone who has untangled a fishing line in the French countryside knows that the real frustration used to start before you even wet a hook — tracking down a physical permit, but in 2026, buying your fishing license online is straightforward across France, Belgium’s Wallonia, and Quebec, though each region runs its own system with different prices and rules. This guide breaks down exactly where to click, what you’ll pay, and what to watch out for.

Number of French AAPPMA associations: ~4,000 · Annual carte de pêche price range (France 2026): €85–€105 · Online purchase availability in France: Yes, via cartedepeche.fr · Online purchase availability in Wallonia (Belgium): Yes, via permisdepeche.be · Legal requirement in France: Mandatory for all freshwater fishing

Several key parameters apply across all regions — here’s a quick reference before we dive into each jurisdiction.

How to get your fishing license online?

What documents do I need to get a fishing license online?

• Valid ID (passport or national identity card)
• Proof of address (for residents — recent utility bill or tax notice)
• Email address for digital delivery
• Payment card (Visa/Mastercard)

The Gouvernement du Québec (sport fishing authority) requires first-time users to create a My Hunting and Fishing Account linked to a personal email. In France, the cartedepeche.fr platform (Fédération Nationale de la Pêche en France) asks for similar identification and prompts you to select your local AAPPMA.

The catch: Non-residents may need fewer residency documents but still require ID. If you’re a tourist, have your passport ready.

How to buy a fishing license online step-by-step in France

1. Go to cartedepeche.fr (official French platform).
2. Select your department and the local AAPPMA association you wish to join.
3. Choose your license type: annual, day pass, or short-term.
4. Enter personal details and upload ID if required.
5. Pay with credit card (€85–€105 for 2026 annual).
6. Download or print your digital carte de pêche immediately.

According to the Fédération Nationale de la Pêche en France (national federation), the entire process takes about 10 minutes. The platform supports both residents and non-residents.

How to buy a fishing license online in Wallonia (Belgium)

1. Visit permisdepeche.be (official Wallonia portal).
2. Choose your permit type: annual, week, or day pass.
3. Register with your email and ID.
4. Pay online (€25–€60 for 2026).
5. Receive the PDF immediately — print or save on phone.

The portal is run by the Walloon region’s fishing administration. No additional AAPPMA membership is needed, unlike France.

How to buy a fishing license online in Quebec

1. Go to the Gouvernement du Québec (sport fishing permits) portal.
2. Create or log in to your My Hunting and Fishing Account.
3. Select “Fishing licence” and choose resident or non-resident category.
4. Pick duration: 3-day, annual, mandatory-release, or burbot-specific (lac Saint-Jean).
5. Pay with credit card (resident annual CAD 59.76; non-resident annual CAD 191.72).
6. Download to phone or print — the licence is deemed electronically signed.

Quebec law requires you to carry the licence and photo ID while fishing and show them when asked by a wildlife protection officer (Gouvernement du Québec, enforcement policy).

Can you get your fishing license online?

Is it legal to buy a fishing license online?

Yes — all three regions authorise online purchases as the official method. The Gouvernement du Québec (sport fishing licensing authority) confirms that a licence bought through My Hunting and Fishing File is deemed electronically signed and fully legal. In France, the cartedepeche.fr platform (national federation) is the only official online channel.

Which regions support online license purchase?

France (all departments via cartedepeche.fr), Wallonia in Belgium (via permisdepeche.be), and Quebec (via the government portal) all offer full online purchase. Ontario also allows non-residents of Canada to buy an eight-day licence online (Ontario government, fishing licence for non-residents).

Are there any restrictions on online purchases?

• France requires you to pick a local AAPPMA association — some rural departments may have limited online options.
• Quebec requires a My Hunting and Fishing Account for first-time buyers.
• Non-residents can generally buy online, but some short-term passes may not be available for certain visitor categories.

The pattern: The more local the system (France’s AAPPMA model), the more steps. Centralised systems (Quebec, Wallonia) are faster.

What is the price of a fishing license online?

Prices vary more by region than by length of stay. Here’s a direct comparison for 2026.

Data sources: Gouvernement du Québec (official fee schedule), cartedepeche.fr (French platform), permisdepeche.be (Wallonia portal). French and Wallonia short-term prices are estimates based on publicly available ranges.

2026 price increases and changes

The Fisheries and Oceans Canada (federal regulator) notes that fees for the 2026/2027 season are adjusted under the Service Fees Act. Quebec’s prices shown above reflect current published values. No official announcements of broad increases for France or Wallonia have been made as of early 2026.

Discounts for minors, seniors, or short-term permits

• France: children under 16 may be exempt or pay reduced rates (check with local AAPPMA).
• Wallonia: reduced rates for under-16s and over-65s; day passes available.
• Quebec: mandatory-release licence (catch-and-release only) costs CAD 26.04 resident / CAD 51.08 non-resident. Burbot licence for lac Saint-Jean: CAD 26.77 resident / CAD 86.16 non-resident.

The implication: Choosing the right permit type depends on frequency of fishing; annual passes reward regular anglers.

Where to buy a fishing license for 2026?

Here are the official websites for each region.

Physical points of sale (if applicable)

In France, tackle shops and some tourist offices still sell paper permits, but the online route is increasingly preferred. Wallonia and Quebec are primarily digital now; physical sales are rare.

Third-party resellers vs official platforms

Officials in all three regions warn against third-party sites that add service fees. Only use cartedepeche.fr for France, permisdepeche.be for Wallonia, and the Quebec government portal. Unofficial intermediaries may not actually secure a valid permit.

What this means: You never need to pay extra for a “service fee” — the official platforms charge face value only.

Is it possible to fish without a license?

Penalties for fishing without a license in France

Freshwater fishing without a valid carte de pêche is illegal. The Service-Public.gouv.fr (French government information service) states that penalties can reach fines up to €1,500. Wildlife officers may also seize equipment.

Exceptions: sea fishing, private ponds, children under 16

• Sea fishing from the shore or a boat does not require a license in France.
• Private ponds stocked for fee-fishing may have their own rules.
• Children under 16 are often exempt or eligible for reduced-price permits (confirm locally).

How to get a temporary or visitor permit

All three regions offer short-term online permits: day, week, or 3-day passes. In Quebec, the 3-day pass (CAD 26.04 resident / CAD 51.08 non-resident) is the easiest option for tourists. In France, daily passes are available on cartedepeche.fr.

“Any freshwater fishing requires a valid carte de pêche. This is a legal obligation, not a recommendation.”

Service-Public.gouv.fr (French government guidance)

“The launch of cartedepeche.fr has made it possible for every angler to buy a permit from home, regardless of department.”

Fédération Nationale de la Pêche en France (official statement)

The catch: While sea fishing and private ponds may be exempt, always verify local rules before casting a line.

For anglers planning a trip to Canada, Quebecs 2026 fishing license guide offers a complete breakdown of costs and official purchasing steps for the province.

Frequently asked questions

The bottom line has already been covered by the data above. For anglers planning a trip to any of these regions, the choice is clear: use the official online portals, buy the appropriate duration based on how many days you’ll fish, and keep your digital permit on your phone. For non-residents heading to Quebec, a 3-day pass offers the best value. In France and Wallonia, the annual license makes sense if you fish more than a few times a year. With all three systems now mature, there’s no excuse to fish without a valid permit — the penalty alone (up to €1,500 in France) far outweighs the cost of a license.