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The Fishing Act regulates fishing throughout Finland. Fishing and ice fishing usually do not require a permit. When fishing with other equipment, you may need a state fisheries management fee and a fishing permit from the owner of the water area, the City of Helsinki. Your age, the fishing gear you use and the water area determine which permits you need.
Check if you need a fishing licence
Also note the rules specific to the water areas, which you can check on the Fishing Regulations page or the map of fishing waters(Link leads to external service).
- Rod and line fishing and ice fishing do not require a permit or a fee. Fishing for herring with a tackle rod is also allowed without a permit. Reel fishing is defined as lure fishing and may require a permit.
Fishing and ice fishing are prohibited in rapids and currents. There are also restrictions on fishing in nature reserves and other specific areas. Check Where is angling allowed without a permit?
- If you are 18–69 years old, you must pay the state fisheries management fee. Then you may fish in Helsinki and almost everywhere in Finland with one lure and rod.
- If you are under 18 or 70 years or older, you do not need a permit. You may fish in Helsinki and everywhere in Finland with one lure and rod.
An exception is the so-called separate permit areas, for which you need a fishing permit even when fishing with one spinning rod. Check: What permits do you need to buy if you want to use a spinning rod?
- If you are 18–69 years old, you must pay the state fisheries management fee AND buy a fishing permit from the City of Helsinki. After that you may fish with several lures in the fishing grounds of Helsinki.
- If you are under 18 or 70 years or older, you need a permit from the City of Helsinki. You do not have to pay the fisheries management fee. When you have bought the fishing permit, you may fish with several lures in the fishing grounds of Helsinki.
Please note the number of rods: When fishing from the beach, you may fish with a maximum of three rods. The number of spinning rods is usually not limited. However, please see the detailed rules in your fishing permit.
Net and trap fishing in the waters of Helsinki is only permitted for the residents of Helsinki. This applies to, for example, fishing with rails, traps or gillnets. Helsinki does not grant permits for crab fishing, and you may not fish for grab in Helsinki.
- If you are a Helsinki resident aged 18 to 69, you need a state fisheries management fee and a gear-specific fishing permit from the City of Helsinki.
- If you are under 18 or 70 years or older, you still need a gear-specific fishing permit from the City of Helsinki.
Please note that trap fishing is restricted in several waters of Helsinki.
The City’s fishing information booth in Vanhankaupunginkoski no longer sells the permits. The rapids permit can be purchased online, just like other fishing permits of the city. Buying a fishing permit and prices
Backwater in Vanhankaupunginkoski rapids
You may fish with a rod and line in the backwater without a permit.
Lure fishing in the back water
- If you are a resident of Helsinki, you need a permit for lure fishing in Vanhankaupunginkoski backwater.
- If you are not a Helsinki resident, you need a tourist fishing permit for lure fishing in Vanhankaupunginkoski backwater.
- If you are under 18 you don't need a permit.
If you are 18–69 years old, you must also pay the state fisheries management fee.
Vanhankaupunginkoski rapids
Fishing in the Vanhankaupunginkoski rapids area requires a Vanhankaupunginkoski rapids permit. Children need the permit, as well.
Other rapids
Pitkäkoski, Ruutinkoski and Niskalankoski are rapids for which a separate rapids permit is not sold, rather, fishing is carried out with a lure fishing permit or a tourist fishing permit.
Vantaankoski and Tikkurilankoski are in the Vantaa area and require a Vantaa and Tikkurilankoski fishing permit (Kalakortti.com, in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)(Link leads to external service)
Buying a fishing permit and prices
The fisheries management fee and the fishing permit are personal. Remember to keep your valid fishing permits and identity card with you when you go fishing.
The state fisheries management fee can be paid at the Erälupa online store or at R-kiosks. Fishing management fee prices in 2024: EUR 6/day, EUR 16/week and EUR 47/year.
Pay the fisheries management fee at Erälupa.fi(Link leads to external service)
The fishing permits of the City of Helsinki can only be bought online in the Kalakortti.com service. The delivery fee for Kalakortti.com will be added to the price of each permit.
Buy a fishing permit on Kalakortti.com (in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
Quick links
- Helsinki lure permits (Kalakortti.com, in Finnish) (Link leads to external service) (lure fishing permits, tourist fishing permits, Vanhakaupunki backwater permit, Kaitalampi and Halkolampi, competition permits, underwater fishing, jacklighting and early spring permit)
- Helsinki’s Vanhankaupunginkoski rapids permit (Kalakortti.com, in Finnish) (Link leads to external service)
- Trap fishing permits for Helsinki residents (Kalakortti.com, in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)
Information on delivery times
When buying a fishing permit, please note that it takes several days, sometimes even a couple of weeks, to get a fishing gear tag.
The table lists the most common fishing permits in Helsinki and their prices. You can find all the permits and prices on Kalakortti.com(Link leads to external service), where the permits are also purchased.
| Permit | Permit details | Permit price |
|---|---|---|
| Lure fishing permit (Helsinki residents) |
calendar year/1 person | EUR 15 |
| Lure fishing permit, Helsinki and Espoo (Helsinki residents) |
calendar year/1 person |
EUR 20 |
| Lure fishing permit, Helsinki and Espoo (ulkopaikkakuntalainen) |
calendar year/1 person | EUR 65 |
| Vanhankaupunginkoski backwater permit (Helsinki residents) |
1 person | EUR 5.50/day, EUR 21/calendar year |
| Lure fishing permit for tourists (lure + backwater, non-residents) |
1 person | EUR 11/day, EUR 16/week, EUR 45/calendar year |
| Vanhankaupunginkoski rapids permit | alternating period/1 person | EUR 11/EUR 5.50 under 18 years old |
| Underwater fishing | calendar year/1 person | EUR 15 |
| Jacklighting | calendar year/1 person | EUR 15 |
| Vessel-specific permit for the waters of Helsinki | calendar year | EUR 115.50 |
| Competition permit (Helsinki-based club) |
price per 1 participant | EUR 0.25 |
| Competition permit (non Helsinki-based club) |
price per 1 participant | EUR 0.65 |
|
Competition permit, nationwide |
price per competition | EUR 105 |
Only residents of Helsinki can fish with traps in the waters of Helsinki.
| Permit | Permit details | Permit price |
|---|---|---|
| Net fishing permit for Helsinki residents (a maximum of 4/person) |
1 permit | EUR 15 |
| Trap fishing permit for Helsinki residents (a maximum of 2/person) |
1 permit | EUR 15 |
| Longline permit for Helsinki residents (a maximum of 1/household) |
1 permit (100 hooks) | EUR 15 |
| Bait hook permit for Helsinki residents (a maximum of 1/household) |
1 permit (includes 10 gear tags) | EUR 15 |
Frequently asked questions about permits and fishing
You do not need a permit for angling, and angling is allowed almost everywhere in Helsinki.
See popular fishing spots on the map
Restrictions on angling
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Angling is not allowed in rapids and currents (Vanhankaupunginkoski, Pitkäkoski, Ruutinkoski, Niskalankoski)
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Angling is not allowed in nature reserves where fishing is prohibited.
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Angling is not allowed on public beaches or private land.
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Angling from bridges is not allowed – with the exception of the Lauttasaari bridge, from which you can fish for herring.
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If you fish from a boat, do not go close enough to residences or saunas to disturb others.
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There are also fishing bans in the vicinity of the harbours, see the banned areas on the map.
If you fish by using one spinning rod, you do not need a City fishing permit. However, if you are between 18 and 69 years old, you will need to pay the state fisheries management fee.
An exception is the so-called separate permit areas, for which you need a fishing permit even when fishing with one spinning rod. The separate permit areas of the City of Helsinki are:
- rapids and currents (Vanhankaupunginkoski, Pitkäkoski, Ruutinkoski, Niskalankoski)
- Vanhankaupunginkoski backwater
- Kaitalampi and Halkolampi.
Permits for separate permit areas: see the section Buy a City of Helsinki fishing permit.
Fishing with more than one spinning rod
Fishing with a spinning rod is lure fishing. If you fish with more than one spinning rod, see Fishing with more than one lure and other equipment for instructions.
If you are 18–69 years old
- You can fish with one spinning rod if you have paid the state fisheries management fee.
- You can fish from the beach with three spinning rods if you buy a City lure fishing permit in addition to the fisheries management fee. When trolling from a boat, the number of rods is usually not limited (read the rules in more detail in the permit).
If you are under 18 or 70 years of age or over
- You can fish with one spinning rod as with a fishing pole. You do not have to pay the fisheries management fee.
- You can fish from the beach with three spinning rods if you buy a City lure fishing permit. When trolling from a boat, the number of rods is usually not limited (read the rules in more detail in the permit).
Seabird hunting permits
A seabird hunting permit entitles you to hunt on the seabird hunting islets of the City of Helsinki during the seabird hunting season (10 September–31 December). The permit is only sold to Helsinki residents who have a hunting licence.
You can see the seabird hunting islets on the map of Helsinki’s fishing waters (pdf, inaccessible) (Link leads to external service)
Buy a seabird hunting permit (Kalakortti.com, in Finnish)(Link leads to external service)