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Schleswig-Holstein

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Apply for a fishing license

Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Schleswig-Holstein (Linie6Plus)

Service Description

If you want to fish in Schleswig-Holstein, you need a fishing license, with a few exceptions.

If you want to fish in Schleswig-Holstein (as an angler or professional fisherman or woman), you must generally have a valid fishing license and carry it with you. The fishing license is issued for life in Schleswig-Holstein

If you have a valid fishing license from another federal state, this will be recognized in Schleswig-Holstein (for example when on vacation). However, you must also pay the fishing tax of the state of Schleswig-Holstein - regardless of how and where the fishing is to be practiced. This also applies if you have already paid a fishing tax in your home federal state.

Valid fishing licenses from other federal states must be rewritten after a change of main residence (when moving). This does not apply if the fishing license was issued in another federal state with the same security features as in Schleswig-Holstein - in this case a transfer is not necessary and the fishing license remains valid indefinitely.


Process flow

Application to the authorities:

  • After successfully passing the fishing license examination, you can apply for your fishing license at your local regulatory authority (port authority, if applicable) (professional fishermen and women should contact the higher fishing authority).
  • The examining authority has already entered the successfully passed exam in the fishing register.
  • You apply for a fishing license on site.
  • You will need proof of identity for this (e.g. identity card).
  • After paying the administrative fee, the digital fishing license will be issued immediately at the local regulatory authority, printed out if necessary and sent by email on request (for professional fishermen or women at the higher fishing authority).
  • The fishing license in card format will be sent to you by post a few weeks later.

Application via an online service:

  • After a successful fishing license check, log into your Servicekonto Plus in the state's service portal.
  • If you have not yet opened a Service Account Plus, please create a free Service Account Plus first.
  • Select the "Issue fishing license" service and enter the required data.
  • You will need the access code that you received after passing the fishing license test. The online service cannot be used without the access code.
  • After paying the administration fee in the online service, the digital fishing license will be sent to your service account mailbox. This may take a few minutes. The fishing license in cheque card format will be sent to you by post a few weeks later.
Who should I contact?
  • Anglers (non-commercial fishing): Application via local regulatory authorities such as the public order office, citizens' office or harbor office
  • Commercial fishermen or commercial fisherwomen: Application via the upper fisheries authority at the State Office for Agriculture and Sustainable Rural Development
Requirements
  • You can be issued with a fishing license when you reach the age of 12.
  • From the age of 14, you are legally obliged to have a fishing license in order to be allowed to fish.
  • You must have passed a fishing licence examination and present a corresponding certificate from a German federal state or a recognizable certificate (e.g. comparable examination in another EU member state or Switzerland).
  • You must have your sole or main residence in Schleswig-Holstein or live outside the Federal Republic of Germany.
  • You must not have any grounds for refusal (e.g. poaching, cruelty to animals, falsification of documents).
  • You must confirm that you have taken note of the data protection information.
  • If you submit the application online, you will need a Service Account Plus with corresponding authentication via eID.
Which documents are required?

Application to the authority:

  • Fishing license test certificate or other recognizable proof
  • Proof of identity (identity card, passport or similar)
  • For re-registration when moving to Schleswig-Holstein (main residence): Fishing licence from the other federal state or fishing licence examination certificate (corresponding certificates from all German federal states are recognized in Schleswig-Holstein); proof of new residence in Schleswig-Holstein
  • To digitize an existing fishing license: identity card or passport, currently valid fishing license

Application via the online service (only with a passed fishing license examination from 01.10.2025 or for a replacement issue of fishing licenses issued from 01.10.2025):

  • Access code (issued after passing the fishing license test) or identification number of the fishing license issued from 01.10.2025 onwards

What are the fees?

Administration fee: 18,00 - 30,00 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-rechtsprechung.sh.juris.de/bssh/document/jlr-VwGebVSH2018rahmen/part/R
The exact fee structure can be found in the state ordinance on administrative fees (Verwaltungsgebührenverordnung - VerwGebVO) (see URL).

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

Existing fishing licences (old paper models) must be digitized by 31.12.2030. Their validity for fishing ends on this date. Digitization is possible beyond 31.12.2030.

Processing duration

The digital fishing license is handed out directly on site or sent by e-mail on request. The fishing license in card format will be sent by post a few weeks later.

Processing time: 2 - 4 Weeks
Wenn der Fischereischein im Kartenformat per Post übersandt wird, kann es zwei bis vier Wochen dauern.

Legal basis
Appeal

If the higher fishing authority does not issue the fishing license, it will send you a rejection notice. In this case, you can lodge an appeal. How to do this is described in your rejection notice.

What else should I know?

Fishing licenses from other federal states are also valid in Schleswig-Holstein as long as you do not have your main residence in Schleswig-Holstein (e.g. on vacation). If you move your main residence to Schleswig-Holstein, you must apply for a Schleswig-Holstein fishing license for angling or fishing.

However, this does not apply if your fishing license has the same security features as a current Schleswig-Holstein fishing license. In this case, you do not need to apply for a new license and your fishing license remains valid indefinitely.

Even if you have already paid a fishing tax in your home federal state, you must pay the fishing tax again in Schleswig-Holstein if you wish to fish here.

Children who have not yet reached the age of 14 and do not have a fishing license can fish if they are supervised by an adult with a fishing license.

In Schleswig-Holstein, there are exemptions from the fishing license requirement in accordance with the State Ordinance on the Implementation of the Fishing Act. The most frequently used exemption option is the so-called "vacation fishing license". Anyone who wants to fish or go fishing can apply for this. It is valid for 28 days and can be extended once per calendar year for a further 28 days.

If you want to fish at commercial fishing ponds or on commercial fishing boats, you do not need a fishing license. The prerequisite for this is that the commercial provider ensures that all animal welfare and fishing regulations are complied with through supervision. However, you must still pay the fishing tax in these cases.

If you have a physical or mental impairment and are therefore unable to take a fishing license test, you can apply to the higher fishing authority for a fishing license with accompaniment. This entitles you to fish in the company of an adult fishing license holder.

A fishing license is not required for private small water bodies, pond farms and fish production facilities.

Compliance with the fishing license requirement is monitored by the police and the fisheries inspectorate.

If you wish to fish in inland waters and in certain coastal waters that are subject to an independent fishing right (Eider, Schlei, Lübeck Bay), you also require a permit under private law from the respective fishing right holder. In the other coastal waters of Schleswig-Holstein, however, you may fish freely if you have a fishing license or vacation fishing license.

Weiterführende Informationen
Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Teaser

If you want to fish in Schleswig-Holstein, you need a fishing license, with a few exceptions.

Process flow

Application to the authorities:

  • After successfully passing the fishing license examination, you can apply for your fishing license at your local regulatory authority (port authority, if applicable) (professional fishermen and women should contact the higher fishing authority).
  • The examining authority has already entered the successfully passed exam in the fishing register.
  • You apply for a fishing license on site.
  • You will need proof of identity for this (e.g. identity card).
  • After paying the administrative fee, the digital fishing license will be issued immediately at the local regulatory authority, printed out if necessary and sent by email on request (for professional fishermen or women at the higher fishing authority).
  • The fishing license in card format will be sent to you by post a few weeks later.

Application via an online service:

  • After a successful fishing license check, log into your Servicekonto Plus in the state's service portal.
  • If you have not yet opened a Service Account Plus, please create a free Service Account Plus first.
  • Select the "Issue fishing license" service and enter the required data.
  • You will need the access code that you received after passing the fishing license test. The online service cannot be used without the access code.
  • After paying the administration fee in the online service, the digital fishing license will be sent to your service account mailbox. This may take a few minutes. The fishing license in cheque card format will be sent to you by post a few weeks later.

Who should I contact?

  • Anglers (non-commercial fishing): Application via local regulatory authorities such as the public order office, citizens' office or harbor office
  • Commercial fishermen or commercial fisherwomen: Application via the upper fisheries authority at the State Office for Agriculture and Sustainable Rural Development

Requirements

  • You can be issued with a fishing license when you reach the age of 12.
  • From the age of 14, you are legally obliged to have a fishing license in order to be allowed to fish.
  • You must have passed a fishing licence examination and present a corresponding certificate from a German federal state or a recognizable certificate (e.g. comparable examination in another EU member state or Switzerland).
  • You must have your sole or main residence in Schleswig-Holstein or live outside the Federal Republic of Germany.
  • You must not have any grounds for refusal (e.g. poaching, cruelty to animals, falsification of documents).
  • You must confirm that you have taken note of the data protection information.
  • If you submit the application online, you will need a Service Account Plus with corresponding authentication via eID.

Which documents are required?

Application to the authority:

  • Fishing license test certificate or other recognizable proof
  • Proof of identity (identity card, passport or similar)
  • For re-registration when moving to Schleswig-Holstein (main residence): Fishing licence from the other federal state or fishing licence examination certificate (corresponding certificates from all German federal states are recognized in Schleswig-Holstein); proof of new residence in Schleswig-Holstein
  • To digitize an existing fishing license: identity card or passport, currently valid fishing license

Application via the online service (only with a passed fishing license examination from 01.10.2025 or for a replacement issue of fishing licenses issued from 01.10.2025):

  • Access code (issued after passing the fishing license test) or identification number of the fishing license issued from 01.10.2025 onwards

What are the fees?

Administration fee: 18,00 - 30,00 EUR
Payment in advance: yes
https://www.gesetze-rechtsprechung.sh.juris.de/bssh/document/jlr-VwGebVSH2018rahmen/part/R
The exact fee structure can be found in the state ordinance on administrative fees (Verwaltungsgebührenverordnung - VerwGebVO) (see URL).

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

Existing fishing licences (old paper models) must be digitized by 31.12.2030. Their validity for fishing ends on this date. Digitization is possible beyond 31.12.2030.

Processing duration

The digital fishing license is handed out directly on site or sent by e-mail on request. The fishing license in card format will be sent by post a few weeks later.

Processing time: 2 - 4 Weeks
Wenn der Fischereischein im Kartenformat per Post übersandt wird, kann es zwei bis vier Wochen dauern.

Legal basis

Appeal

If the higher fishing authority does not issue the fishing license, it will send you a rejection notice. In this case, you can lodge an appeal. How to do this is described in your rejection notice.

What else should I know?

Fishing licenses from other federal states are also valid in Schleswig-Holstein as long as you do not have your main residence in Schleswig-Holstein (e.g. on vacation). If you move your main residence to Schleswig-Holstein, you must apply for a Schleswig-Holstein fishing license for angling or fishing.

However, this does not apply if your fishing license has the same security features as a current Schleswig-Holstein fishing license. In this case, you do not need to apply for a new license and your fishing license remains valid indefinitely.

Even if you have already paid a fishing tax in your home federal state, you must pay the fishing tax again in Schleswig-Holstein if you wish to fish here.

Children who have not yet reached the age of 14 and do not have a fishing license can fish if they are supervised by an adult with a fishing license.

In Schleswig-Holstein, there are exemptions from the fishing license requirement in accordance with the State Ordinance on the Implementation of the Fishing Act. The most frequently used exemption option is the so-called "vacation fishing license". Anyone who wants to fish or go fishing can apply for this. It is valid for 28 days and can be extended once per calendar year for a further 28 days.

If you want to fish at commercial fishing ponds or on commercial fishing boats, you do not need a fishing license. The prerequisite for this is that the commercial provider ensures that all animal welfare and fishing regulations are complied with through supervision. However, you must still pay the fishing tax in these cases.

If you have a physical or mental impairment and are therefore unable to take a fishing license test, you can apply to the higher fishing authority for a fishing license with accompaniment. This entitles you to fish in the company of an adult fishing license holder.

A fishing license is not required for private small water bodies, pond farms and fish production facilities.

Compliance with the fishing license requirement is monitored by the police and the fisheries inspectorate.

If you wish to fish in inland waters and in certain coastal waters that are subject to an independent fishing right (Eider, Schlei, Lübeck Bay), you also require a permit under private law from the respective fishing right holder. In the other coastal waters of Schleswig-Holstein, however, you may fish freely if you have a fishing license or vacation fishing license.

Weiterführende Informationen

Author

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

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