Germany · North
No mandatory courseNo-exam route availablePractical examLower Saxony.
Fishing License & Exam 2026
Exam questions
60
Exam fee
70 €
Minimum age
from 12*
Exam duration
60 min
Exam format
Paper
Pass mark
45/60
Research-grade fact sheet — full German dossier on the German version of this page.
01
The Exam
- Official name
- Fishing exam (Fischerprüfung)
- Administered by
- Anglers Association of Lower Saxony (AVN) and LFV Weser-Ems under statutory mandate (no authority involved)
- Exam format
- 60 multiple-choice questions (6 subjects × 10), 60 min; pass with 45/60 and 6/10 per subject; AVN exam rules also list a practical part (fish ID, humane killing on a dummy, tackle handling – uncertain); monthly dates at many locations
- Minimum age
- Exam from ~12 (uncertain), license from 14
02
Preparation & Course
No course required – self-study and pure online courses allowed (AVN online academy €147)
03
Costs & License
- Exam fee
- €70
- Fishing license
- Lifetime license ~€45 one-off; no fishing levy
04
Fishing Without the Exam
No general license obligation: inland waters need only the water permit; coastal waters (12-mile zone) are free with ID
05
Good to know
In practice most water permits still require the exam; Lower Saxony certificate recognized in Bremen (popular workaround)
06
Official Sources & Associations
Other federal states
All information without guarantee — compiled from official state sources and associations, as of July 2026. The state fishing laws and the responsible authorities are authoritative. Items marked “(unsicher)” are contradictory across sources.
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