Licence required from age 14 — and the licence alone is not enough on private waters

Updated July 2026

🎣 Can I fish without a licence in Luxembourg?

Quick answer

No — fishing requires a licence from the age of 14 in Luxembourg's inland waters. The framework is set by the amended law of 28 June 1976 and the Grand-Ducal regulation of 7 March 2019. The ordinary licence costs 18 euros a year (or 4 euros a month), the special licence A 30 euros and the special licence B 40 euros, depending on whether you fish from the bank or from a boat and in which waters. But beware: the state licence alone does not give you the right to fish everywhere. On category-2 (private) waters, you also need the written authorisation of the holder of the fishing right (the lease-holder of the lot). The myth: "I paid for my licence, so I fish where I like" — false: the licence is a state permit, but the fishing right belongs to the State or to the riparian owners, and without the right-holder's consent you are in breach.

📋 The rules

Licence required: anyone aged 14 or over must hold a licence to fish in inland waters (amended law of 28 June 1976).
Prices: ordinary licence 18 euros/year (4 euros/month), special A 30 euros/year, special B 40 euros/year, according to the waters and the fishing method (Grand-Ducal regulation of 7 March 2019).
Two categories of water: category 1 (public navigable waters, fishing right of the State) and category 2 (private waters, right belonging to the riparian owners).
Right-holder's authorisation: on category-2 waters, you also need the written consent of the lease-holder of the fishing lot — the licence alone is not enough.
Inspection: if checked, you must prove your identity and, on private water, produce the right-holder's authorisation.

🔓 Exceptions

Under 14: a child under 14 may fish without a licence, using a single hand line; casting and the artificial fly are allowed.
Licence-free ponds: in certain ponds and lakes (Echternach, Weiswampach, Kockelscheuer and others), fishing is possible without a licence but against payment of a fee.
Border waters: fishing in the border waters with Germany falls under a specific licence, separate from the inland-waters one.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Fishing without a licence, or without the right-holder's authorisation on private water, is an offence under the fishing legislation, established by officers of the Water Management Administration, the Nature and Forest Administration or the police. The usual penalty is a fine, together with seizure of the tackle and the catch. Aggravating circumstances pile on: fishing during a closed season, taking protected species or fish below the legal size, using prohibited gear — each a separate offence that pushes the bill up. Established poaching can lead to tougher prosecution and to loss of the right to obtain a licence. Finally, fishing on someone else's lot without consent exposes you to a civil claim by the holder of the fishing right for the loss suffered. Better to buy the licence online on MyGuichet, for a few euros.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

From what age do you need a fishing licence?

A licence is required from the age of 14 to fish in Luxembourg's inland waters, and you must be able to show it if checked. Below that age a child may fish without a licence, but only with a single line held in the hand, and casting and the artificial fly are allowed.

Does the licence let me fish in any river?

No: on category-2 waters, which are private, you also need the written authorisation of the lease-holder of the fishing lot. The state licence is a permit, but the fishing right belongs to the State or the riparian owners depending on the water's category.

How much does a fishing licence cost in Luxembourg?

The ordinary licence costs 18 euros a year or 4 euros a month, the special A 30 euros and the special B 40 euros a year. The price depends on the waters concerned and on whether you fish from the bank or from a boat.

Where can I buy my licence?

The licence is obtained online on MyGuichet.lu, with or without authentication, and is issued as a PDF. It is also available at certain offices of the Registration Duties, Estates and VAT Authority.

Is there anywhere you can fish for free?

Yes, in certain designated ponds and lakes, fishing is possible without a licence but against payment of a fee to the manager. Elsewhere, in flowing waters, the licence and, on private water, the right-holder's consent remain mandatory.

🔎 Common searches

What people search to land here:

“fishing licence luxembourg required”
“fishing without permit luxembourg fine”
“fishing licence price luxembourg”
“inland waters fishing licence luxembourg”
“fishing minimum age licence luxembourg”
“fishing lot authorisation luxembourg”