4 States With Tourist Fishing Licences — Overview
These four states allow anyone — residents, tourists, and foreigners — to fish without passing the German fishing exam:
| State | Cost | Duration | Min. Age | Species | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandenburg | €12/year | 1 year | 8 years | Coarse fish (tourists: all) | Local authority |
| Mecklenburg-Vorpommern | €28 | 28 days | 14 years | All species | Tourist info / shops |
| Schleswig-Holstein | €38 / €50 | 28 days (+1 ext.) | 12 years | All species | Online or office |
| Thuringia | €25 | 3 months | 14 years | All species | Local authority |
Brandenburg — Cheapest Option (€12/Year)
Best for: Budget anglers, lake fishing near Berlin, pike and carp fishing
How to Apply
- Visit the local authority (Ordnungsamt or Bürgeramt) in any Brandenburg municipality
- Bring your passport or ID card and a passport-sized photo
- Pay €12 for the fishing levy (Fischereiabgabe) — valid for 1 calendar year
- Receive your Friedfischfang-Berechtigung (coarse fishing authorisation) immediately
- Buy a water permit (Angelkarte) for your chosen lake or river separately
What You Need to Know
- Species restriction: Residents may only catch coarse fish (Friedfische) — carp, bream, roach, tench. Exception: Tourists from outside Brandenburg may catch predatory fish (pike, zander, perch) too
- Rod limit: Maximum 2 rods, with specific hook restrictions
- Top waters: Havel River, Spreewald, Scharmützelsee, lakes around Potsdam
- Fines: Up to €50,000 for fishing without authorisation
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern — Best for Baltic Sea (€28)
Best for: Sea fishing, Mecklenburg Lake District houseboats, all fish species
How to Apply
- Visit a tourist information office, fishing shop, or harbour authority in MV
- Bring your passport or ID card
- Receive an information booklet (mandatory — covers local regulations)
- Pay €28 for 28 days — can be renewed multiple times within the same year
- Since 2026: Register with the RecFishing App for mandatory digital catch reporting
What You Need to Know
- All species allowed: No restrictions on fish types — including pike, zander, eel
- Catch reporting: Since 2026, mandatory digital catch reporting via RecFishing App
- Baltic Sea: No extra water permit needed for sea fishing — tourist licence is sufficient
- Top waters: Baltic coast (Rügen, Darß), Müritz lake, Mecklenburg Lake District (1,000+ lakes)
- Fines: Up to €75,000 — the highest in all of Germany
Schleswig-Holstein — Online Purchase (€38)
Best for: Baltic Sea, North Sea access, sea trout fly fishing, convenient online application
How to Apply
- Online (recommended): Visit urlaubs-angelschein.de — €38, processed instantly
- In-person: Local authority (Ordnungsamt) — €50, bring passport and photo
- Receive the Urlauberfischereischein — valid for 28 days
- Can be extended once for another 28 days (maximum 56 days/year total)
- Buy water permits separately for inland waters (not needed for sea fishing)
What You Need to Know
- All species allowed: Including the prized sea trout (Meerforelle)
- Sea trout season: September–March, world-class wade fishing from beaches around Fehmarn
- 2026 update: New fee structure — online is now significantly cheaper than in-person
- Top waters: Baltic Sea (Fehmarn, Eckernförde, Kiel Fjord), North Sea (Büsum, Sylt), inland lakes
- Fines: Up to €25,000
Thuringia — Longest Duration (€25 / 3 Months)
Best for: River fishing, extended stays, closest tourist licence option to Bavaria
How to Apply
- Visit any Bürgeramt (citizen office) in Thuringia
- Bring your passport or ID card
- Pay €25 for the Vierteljahresfischereischein (quarterly fishing licence)
- Valid for 3 months — the longest tourist licence duration in Germany
- Limitation: Only available once per person per calendar year
What You Need to Know
- All species allowed: No restrictions on fish types
- Only valid in Thuringia: Cannot be used in other states
- Closest to Bavaria: ~3 hours from Munich — ideal alternative for tourists who can't pass Bavaria's exam
- Top waters: Saale River, Bleiloch Reservoir (Germany's largest), Thuringian Forest streams
- Fines: Up to €5,000
Which Tourist Licence Is Right for You?
| Your Situation | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget traveller, lake fishing | Brandenburg (€12) | Cheapest option, year-long validity, great lakes near Berlin |
| Sea fishing holiday | MV (€28) or SH (€38) | Baltic Sea access, no water permit for sea. MV cheaper, SH online |
| Family with children (8+) | Brandenburg (€12) | Lowest minimum age (8 years), cheapest for the whole family |
| Extended stay (1-3 months) | Thuringia (€25) | 3-month validity — best value for longer trips |
| Want it NOW (same day) | SH online (€38) | Instant digital licence — buy it from your hotel room |
| Near Munich / Bavaria | Thuringia (€25) | Closest tourist licence state (~3h drive from Munich) |
Alternative: Commercial Trout Ponds (Forellenteiche)
If none of the 4 tourist licence states are on your route, commercial trout ponds offer another way to fish — but rules vary by state:
| State | Fishing Licence Required? | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| NRW | Yes — Fischereischein required since 2025 | €15–€40/day |
| Lower Saxony | Often waived at private ponds | €15–€50/day |
| Bavaria | Yes — always required | €20–€50/day |
| Schleswig-Holstein | Not required at designated ponds | €20–€45/day |
What's included: Typically the entrance fee, basic equipment rental, and initial bait. You keep what you catch (pay by weight: €5–€12/kg). Great for beginners and families.
Fishing with Children
Germany has specific rules for young anglers:
- Under 10: In most states, children can fish alongside a licensed adult without their own licence. The adult must supervise directly
- Ages 8–14: Brandenburg offers the tourist licence from age 8 (cheapest entry point for young anglers)
- Ages 10–14: Youth fishing licences (Jugendfischereischein) available in most states — allows fishing under adult supervision
- Ages 12+: Schleswig-Holstein tourist licence available from age 12
- Ages 14+: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Thuringia tourist licences available. In many states, 14 is also the minimum age for the regular fishing exam
Family tip: Brandenburg is the most family-friendly option — children from 8 years, only €12/year, beautiful lakes within day-trip distance from Berlin.
Important Rules for Tourist Anglers
- You still need a water permit (Angelkarte) for specific waters — even with a tourist licence. The only exception: ocean fishing (Baltic/North Sea)
- Catch & Release is illegal in Germany — you must keep every legal-sized fish you catch and dispatch it humanely
- Fish must be killed humanely: stun first (Betäubungsschlag), then kill with a heart cut (Herzstich). This is a legal requirement under animal welfare law
- Respect closed seasons (Schonzeiten) and minimum sizes (Mindestmaße) — these vary by species and state. Check the information booklet that comes with your tourist licence
- Carry your licence at all times while fishing — wardens (Fischereiaufseher) can check without warning
- Night fishing: Allowed in most places but may be restricted at specific waters — check the Gewässerordnung
Quick Application Tips
- Bring cash: Many local offices in smaller towns only accept cash payment for licence fees
- Passport photo: Not always required — but bring one just in case (Brandenburg and some MV offices need it)
- Ask about water permits: When you buy the tourist licence, ask where to get the Angelkarte for nearby waters — staff usually know
- Buy a basic tackle set locally: German fishing shops in tourist areas offer starter kits for €30–€80. Rod rental is rarely available
→ Complete Guide: Fishing Licence Germany
→ Fishing in Bavaria (No Tourist Licence Available)
→ Holiday Fishing in Germany: 5 Destinations
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really fish without an exam in Germany?
Yes, in 4 states: Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia. You get a tourist fishing licence (Touristenfischereischein) — no exam, no prior knowledge required. You still need a water permit (Angelkarte) for specific waters.
Which state is best for tourist fishing?
It depends on your goals. For the cheapest option: Brandenburg (€12/year, lakes near Berlin). For Baltic Sea fishing: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (€28/28 days). For online convenience: Schleswig-Holstein (€38 online). For the longest duration: Thuringia (€25/3 months).
Can I fish in the ocean without any licence?
No — you still need a Fischereischein or tourist licence for sea fishing. But you do NOT need a water permit (Angelkarte) for ocean fishing, since the sea is not privately managed. Get a tourist licence from SH or MV for Baltic Sea access.
Are commercial trout ponds an option?
Yes! In many states, commercial trout ponds (Forellenteiche) waive the water permit requirement. The entrance fee (€15–50/day) covers the fishing right. However, in most states you still need a Fischereischein — exceptions are rare and state-specific.
Can children fish without a licence?
Children under 10 can fish alongside a licensed adult in most states without their own licence. From age 8 (Brandenburg) or 10-14 (varies by state), youth licences are available. In tourist licence states, children meeting the minimum age can get their own tourist licence.
Can I extend or renew the tourist licence?
Schleswig-Holstein allows one extension (max 56 days/year). MV allows multiple renewals within the same calendar year. Thuringia is limited to one per person per year. Brandenburg is valid for a full year and can be renewed annually.
What fish can I catch with a tourist licence?
In MV, SH, and Thuringia: all species. In Brandenburg: only coarse fish (Friedfische) like carp and bream — with an important exception: tourists from outside Brandenburg may catch predatory fish too. Always check water-specific rules.