Permits & Licences

Camping Permits

Permits are required for any person to occupy an interior or backcountry campsite within any operational provincial park. Provincial Park Interior/Backcountry Camping Permits may be purchased from most area outfitters who issue fishing and hunting licences. Fees vary by park and by a visitor's age and place of permanent residency.

Permits are required for any non-resident of Canada, 18 years of age or older to camp anywhere on Crown lands in Northern Ontario including non-operational provincial parks or conservation reserves. Crown Land Camping Permits may be purchased from most fishing and hunting licence issuers and from Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) district and area offices in Northern Ontario. Some exceptions provide for exemptions. For example, members of, or persons in charge of, a charitable or not-for profit organization may be eligible for exemption by applying in writing to the appropriate MNR District Manager well in advance. Contact the local MNR office for further details.

Fishing Licences

Every person who engages in recreational or sport fishing in Ontario must possess a valid fishing licence. Ontario residents must also possess a resident Ontario Outdoors Card. Fishing regulations go into effect January 1 of each year and are subject to updates. Anglers should check the current 2008-2009 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary, especially the licence options available for Canadian non-residents and international non-residents and the exemptions to the regulations for the fisheries management zone(s) in which they plan to fish.

Effective January 1, 2009, non-resident anglers 18 years of age or older will be required to obtain a non-resident Outdoors Card in order to purchase any Ontario hunting or fishing licence other than the one-day fishing licence. The non-resident Outdoors Card will be similar to the existing resident Outdoors Card and will allow non-resident anglers and hunters to purchase Ontario fishing and hunting licences using the internet or the automated phone system. In addition, in order to improve service to both resident and non-resident hunters and anglers, an automated licensing system will also be developed for the province's more than 2,000 private licence issuers. For more information, visit the Outdoors Card Centre website. For more information regarding fishing regulations, visit the Ontario Natural Resources Information Centre website.

Any non-resident 18 years of age or older who camps on Crown land in Northwestern Ontario must follow Conservation Fishing Licence limits. A Conservation Fishing Licence is a reduced catch and possession limit licence that is designed for anglers who wish to live-release the majority of fish caught. The eight-day non-resident Conservation Fishing Licence is valid for eight consecutive calendar days. A calendar day is a 24-hour period starting at midnight.

Non-residents under 18 years of age may fish without a licence if accompanied by an adult who has a valid fishing licence. Any fish kept are part of the catch and possession limit of the person who holds the licence. Optionally, non-residents under 18 years of age may purchase a licence to catch and possess their own limits.

For non-resident groups of at least five children under the age of 18 years of age, there is a special licence for members of an organized camp. This licence is available from any ServiceOntario/Ministry of Natural Resources office.