North Dakota Fishing License 2026: Certificate Fees, April–March Season

North Dakota fishing licenses are never sold alone — every angler age 16+ must also buy the Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate ($2 for residents, $5 for nonresidents, one per person per year), and every license runs on an April 1 to March 31 license year, not the calendar year.

Sources: North Dakota Game and Fish Department resident and nonresident licensing pages, and the fishing licensing overview.

Certificate and Season Rules

The Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate is the mandatory add-on the base license row hides. Residents pay $2 and nonresidents pay $5, and it is purchased only once per calendar license-year per person, even if that person buys multiple licenses (fishing, hunting, furbearer) in the same year.

The license year is fixed at April 1 through March 31 of the following year. Officials specifically flag this at renewal time each spring, reminding anglers that the prior year’s license expires March 31 and a new one is required starting April 1 — this is a recurring local news item, not a one-off rule.

Fee Breakdown by Path

• Resident standard fishing license: $27 base + $2 certificate = $29 total; add the $20 General Game and Habitat license only if also hunting.
• Resident married couple fishing license: $42 + $2 certificate = $44 total.
• Resident senior citizen (65+), totally/permanently disabled, and veteran with 50%+ service-related disability: each priced at $10 + $2 certificate = $12 total.
• Resident paddlefish tag: $15 + $2 certificate = $17, but a standard fishing license is required in addition — paddlefish tag is not a stand-alone substitute.
• Nonresident individual season fishing: $68 + $5 certificate = $73 total.
• Nonresident married couple season fishing: $108 + $5 certificate = $113 total.
• Nonresident 3-day fishing: $48 + $5 certificate = $53; 10-day fishing: $58 + $5 certificate = $63.
• Nonresident paddlefish tag: $35 + $5 certificate = $40, again on top of a required base fishing license.
• Combination license (fishing + general game/habitat + small game + furbearer, residents only, 16+): $62 + $2 certificate, plus $5 waterfowl restoration stamp if also hunting waterfowl.

Eligibility and Residency

Someone qualifies for resident pricing after actually living in or maintaining legal residence in North Dakota for the past six months, without claiming residency elsewhere; applicants 18+ must supply a North Dakota driver’s license or non-driver photo ID number.

A Waiver of Residency lets a person with a genuine intent to become a resident buy non-lottery licenses (fishing, small game, furbearer) at resident rates even before hitting six months, and a similar waiver exists for military personnel on duty or leave in the state. North Dakota residents on leave from active duty can fish without any license at all, and nonresident full-time students at North Dakota colleges may also qualify for resident-rate fishing licenses.

Common Pitfalls at Checkout

• Treating the listed license price as the final price — the certificate fee ($2 resident / $5 nonresident) is a separate, mandatory line item added at checkout, not optional.
• Assuming the paddlefish tag replaces a fishing license — it does not; both the base fishing license and the tag are required to snag paddlefish.
• Renewing on the calendar new year instead of April 1 — North Dakota licenses expire March 31 regardless of purchase date, so a license bought in December still expires the following March 31.
• Missing the $10 discounted senior/disabled/veteran tier, which still requires the standard $2 certificate on top and proof of eligibility (disability or discharge documentation).
• Buying a nonresident short-trip license (3-day or 10-day) without checking that the $5 certificate is charged separately even on short trips.

Official Purchase and Reference Links

• Resident Licenses and Requirements — official resident fee table
• Nonresident Licenses and Requirements — official nonresident fee table
• North Dakota Fishing License overview — season dates and general rules
• Residency Eligibility — waiver of residency, military, and student rules
• Buy and Apply portal — official checkout entry point
• Direct online account login: apps.nd.gov/gnf/onlineservices/lic/public/myGNF.htm (linked as “MyAccount” on gf.nd.gov)

FAQs

Do I still need the certificate after buying a fishing license?

Yes. The Fishing, Hunting, Furbearer Certificate is mandatory on top of every fishing license, priced at $2 for residents and $5 for nonresidents, and purchased only once per year.

When does the North Dakota season start and end?

The license year runs April 1 through March 31 of the following year; a license bought at any point during that window still expires on March 31.

Where do paddlefish tags fit?

A paddlefish tag ($15 resident / $35 nonresident, plus the certificate) is required to snag paddlefish, but it does not replace the standard fishing license — anglers need both.

Who qualifies for the $10 fishing license?

North Dakota residents age 65+, totally or permanently disabled residents, and veterans with a 50%+ service-related disability each qualify for the $10 fishing license, plus the standard $2 certificate.