Foreign citizens have the same fishing opportunities and obligations as Finns.
You can pay the national fisheries management fee and obtain fishing permits from Metsähallitus for state-owned waters where fishing requires a separate permit. The fisheries management fee is a statutory general fishing fee, which is valid everywhere in Finland except Åland. Metsähallitus fishing permits apply to state-owned waters.
If you are fishing with a single rod, the fisheries management fee will be sufficient nearly everywhere in Finland. If you are fishing with more than one rod, trap fishing, crayfishing, fishing in rapids and running water, or fishing in special destinations, you will need a fishing permit from the owner of the water area in addition to the fisheries management fee. Many fishing destinations administered by Metsähallitus require both a fisheries management fee and fishing permit.
The purchase of a permit is an investment in nature, as Metsähallitus uses the proceeds from the permits for the management of fisheries and securing the future of fishing in Finland. The catch report submitted by anglers also plays an important role in planning sustainable fishing arrangements.
The terms of purchase and cancellation for permits issued by Metsähallitus will be applied in a modified flexible manner for the time being due to the coronavirus epidemic. This situation is considered a force majeure as specified in our terms and conditions, which means that permits can be cancelled before the permit period begins.
In order to slow down the spread of the coronavirus, bookings for reservable and rental huts handled by Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland will be cancelled as of 21 March 2020.
Metsähallitus will close its nature centres, visitor centres and service points, as well as Science Centre Pilke for the time being to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Matters related to permits are handled in Eräluvat web store and from our service number + 358 20 69 2424.
In 2019, Finns purchased fishing management fees more actively than in the previous year. By the end of the year, more than 254,000 fisheries management fees were purchased, of which more than 180,000 were annual permits. Such proceeds from fishing licences will maintain fishing opportunities and the aquatic environment.
If you intend to fish in Finland and you are between the ages of 18 and 64, you must pay the fisheries management fee.
