North
5 statesEast
5 statesWest
4 statesSouth
2 statesComparison
All 16 states at a glance
| State | Course required | Questions | Exam fee | No-exam route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baden-Württemberg | Yes | 60 | 50 € | — |
| Bavaria | Yes | 60 | 50 € | — |
| Berlin | Yes | 60 | 25 € | — |
| Brandenburg | No | 60 | 25 € | ✓ |
| Bremen | Yes * | 60 | — | — |
| Hamburg | Yes | 60 | 66,30 € | — |
| Hesse | Yes | 60 | 40 € | — |
| Lower Saxony | No | 60 | 70 € | ✓ |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | No | 60 | 25 € | ✓ |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | No | 60 | 50 € | — |
| Rhineland-Palatinate | Yes | 50 | 29 € | — |
| Saarland | Yes | 60 | 100 € | — |
| Saxony | Yes | 60 | 30 € | — |
| Saxony-Anhalt | Yes | 60 | 56 € | ✓ |
| Schleswig-Holstein | No | 60 | 50 € | ✓ |
| Thuringia | Yes | 60 | 35 € | ✓ |
Basics
Exam, license, water permit — what's what?
Colloquially it's all called an “Angelschein” — legally there are three separate documents:
01
Exam certificate (Fischerprüfungszeugnis)
Proof that you passed the state fishing exam. Taken once, valid for life.
02
Fishing license (Fischereischein)
The official document that entitles you to fish — issued by your local authority based on the exam certificate.
03
Water permit (Angelkarte)
The permission of the water's owner or club for one specific water. Almost always required in addition to the license.
✦Rule of thumb: exam → fishing license → water permit. You need all three to fish legally on most waters.
Process
The path to your German fishing license
Determine your state
Your main residence usually decides which state's rules apply — some states require you to take the exam there.
Choose your preparation
Classroom course, compact course or an approved online course — mandatory or voluntary depending on the state.
Register for the exam
With the lower fisheries authority, the state association or online. Mind registration deadlines of 4–6 weeks.
Pass the exam
Usually 45–60 multiple-choice questions from a published catalog, pass mark around 75%.
Apply for the license
At your municipality: exam certificate, ID, passport photo, fee — plus a yearly fishing levy in some states.
Buy a water permit
For your specific water: day, week or year permits from the local club or water manager.
No exam
Fishing without the German exam
Six states open legal ways to the water without any exam — from tourist licenses to coarse fishing from age 8:
Law changes
New in 2024–2026
—North Rhine-Westphalia: reform effective 1/3 July 2026 — exam and license from age 12, digital NFC license card, youth license abolished.
—Rhineland-Palatinate: new state fishing law since 19 February 2026 — the fishing license is now valid for life.
—Saxony-Anhalt: spring 2026 reform — full license from 12, coarse-fishing license from age 8.
—Schleswig-Holstein: mandatory practice day since 1 October 2025, new question catalog and new fishing levy since 2026.
—Bavaria: youth fishing license abolished in 2025 — training and exam now possible from age 12.
—Bremen: since 20 December 2024, simple pole fishing also requires a passed fishing exam (transition period applies).