Do I need a licence to fish?
Conditional, but you need a licence — and there are two regimes. Recreational fishing at sea is the DGRM's domain (DL 246/2000) and in inland waters (rivers, reservoirs) the ICNF's (Law 7/2008) — not interchangeable. 2026 prices (updated yearly): maritime — shore €2/day, €4/month, €8/year; boat €5/€12/€50; spearfishing €3/€10/€25. Inland — annual national ~€20.52; regional ~€12.31. You get the licence at the ATM (Service Payments → State → recreational-fishing licensing), on gov.pt or at DGRM/ICNF counters. There are catch limits (at sea, 10 kg/fisher/day) and minimum sizes. In short: yes, with the right licence depending on sea or inland.
📋 The rules
- Sea: DGRM licence; inland: ICNF licence
- The licences are not interchangeable
- Maritime: from €2/day (shore)
- Inland annual: ~€20.52 (national), ~€12.31 (regional)
- Catch limit (sea): 10 kg/fisher/day
🔓 Exceptions
- Minors (under ~16) accompanied: often exempt (varies by zone)
- Boat/spearfishing: their own licences and prices
- Madeira and Azores: separate regional rules
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Fishing without the required licence is punished with a fine of €200 to €2,000 (individuals) and up to €20,000 (legal persons), under DL 246/2000. The licence prices are set by order and updated yearly. Beware myths: "one licence covers all fishing" — false (sea ≠ inland); and Brazil's "amateur fishing licence" (ICMBio/SINPESCA) does not apply. At sea there are also catch limits (10 kg per fisher/day, plus one over-limit specimen) and minimum sizes by species. To stay compliant: get the right licence (DGRM for sea, ICNF for inland) at the ATM or on gov.pt, respect the catch limits and minimum sizes, and check the regional rules if you fish in Madeira or the Azores.
📎 Official sources
- DGRM — recreational sea fishing →
- ICNF — inland-water fishing →
- Decree-Law 246/2000 — recreational fishing →
❓ Frequently asked
Do I need a licence to fish?
Yes. Recreational fishing requires a licence, and there are two separate regimes: sea fishing, under the DGRM, and inland-water fishing, such as rivers and reservoirs, under the ICNF. The licences aren't interchangeable: you need the right one depending on whether you fish at sea or inland.
How much does a fishing licence cost?
It depends on the type. At sea, the shore licence costs about €2 a day, €4 a month or €8 a year, and there are separate prices for boat and spearfishing. Inland, the national annual licence is around €20.52 and the regional one €12.31. Prices are updated every year.
Where do I get the licence?
You can get the recreational-fishing licence at the ATM, under Service Payments, State, recreational-fishing licensing, on the gov.pt portal or at DGRM and ICNF counters. There's also a specific portal for foreign anglers. At sea, since 2015, you needn't carry a paper licence.
Are there catch limits?
Yes, especially at sea. The general limit is 10 kg of fish per fisher per day, with one specimen allowed over the limit. Per boat, the higher of 15 kg or 10 kg per licensed angler aboard applies. There are also minimum sizes by species to respect.
What's the fine for fishing without a licence?
Fishing without the required licence is punished with a fine of €200 to €2,000 for individuals, up to €20,000 for legal persons. It's a myth that one licence covers all fishing: the sea and inland ones are separate. Brazil's amateur fishing licence doesn't apply in Portugal.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “recreational fishing licence portugal”
- “sea fishing licence dgrm”
- “inland fishing licence icnf”
- “fishing without licence fine”
- “fishing licence atm”
- “catch limit fishing 10 kg”