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By Curtis Goodrum

FISHING LICENSES CHANGE

BC government changing how fishing and hunting licenses are avaliable online

Mar 4, 2026 | 5:25 PM

KAMLOOPS — On Monday (March 2), the province announced changes to how British Columbians get their freshwater angling licences. Licences were previously available online and in person, which will still stay the same, but if you hunt and fish, your license ID number will be the same for both.

The BC government has heard about issues with its online fishing registration. They hope this makes signing up for both hunting and fishing licences much easier and more accessible. 

“This is, for us, responding to requests from a lot of stakeholders for a more streamlined and user-friendly licensing experience, as a single system also eliminates the need for anglers who also hunt to maintain multiple profiles and allows them to complete all of the licensing in one transaction. It will help us improve data collection to better support resource management as well,” said Randene Neill, the BC Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. 

Paper copies of licences won’t be necessary as long as you have access to your ID number, which can be accessed online.

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“We’re suggesting that you can, you will have to have an ID number, as well. So as long as you have that ID number somewhere, that ID number can be online. It doesn’t need to be a physical copy in your wallet or anything. Just as long as you kind of have that ID number or access to getting that ID number. That’s all you really need,” said Neill. 

You can find more information on the BC government’s website.