Illinois keeps its price sheet compact, but a few line items matter more than most anglers expect: the resident 3-year options, the first-time resident license, the senior and super-senior discounts, and the separate Lake Michigan and inland trout stamps.
Quick reference
| License or stamp | Current Illinois price |
|---|---|
| Resident annual sport fishing | $15.00 |
| Resident 24-hour sport fishing | $5.50 |
| Resident 3-year sport fishing | $44.00 |
| Resident senior annual sport fishing, age 65 to 74 | $7.75 |
| Resident senior 3-year sport fishing, age 65 to 74 | $22.25 |
| Resident super senior annual sport fishing, age 75 and older | $1.50 |
| Resident super senior 3-year sport fishing, age 75 and older | $3.50 |
| Resident first-time sport fishing, age 26 and older | $5.50 |
| Resident lifetime sport fishing | $435.00 |
| Nonresident annual sport fishing | $31.50 |
| Nonresident 3-day sport fishing | $15.50 |
| Nonresident 24-hour sport fishing | $10.50 |
| Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp | $6.50 |
| Inland Trout Stamp | $6.50 |
Illinois also lists the resident age-75-and-older price for each of those two stamps at $0.50.
What residents usually buy
Most Illinois residents end up in one of four lanes.
- Buy the annual license for a normal season at the lowest everyday price.
- Buy the 24-hour license for a one-day trip.
- Buy the 3-year license if you fish every season and want to stop thinking about annual March renewals.
- Buy lifetime only if Illinois is a permanent long-term fishing state for you.
Illinois also keeps a special first-time resident sport fishing license for anglers age 26 and older who have not held an Illinois resident sport fishing license in the previous 10 years.
What nonresidents usually buy
Illinois keeps the visitor side simple.
- Use the 24-hour license for a single day.
- Use the 3-day license for a weekend or short trip.
- Use the annual nonresident license only if Illinois will be part of your season more than once.
If your trip is really a Lake Michigan salmon or trout plan, remember that the base nonresident license does not replace the stamp decision.
Senior, super senior and veteran pricing
Illinois does not give seniors a blanket free fishing license. Instead, it uses reduced resident pricing.
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- Residents age 65 to 74 can buy the reduced-fee senior annual or 3-year license.
- Residents age 75 and older qualify for the super senior annual or 3-year price.
- Resident veterans can get half-price sport fishing licenses through the Springfield office.
If you need the exact eligibility rules for those reduced-fee lanes, use the Illinois senior and veteran guide.
Stamp costs that get missed
The base fishing license is not always the full cost of an Illinois trip.
- Add the Lake Michigan Salmon Stamp if you are taking salmon or trout from Lake Michigan.
- Add the Inland Trout Stamp if you are taking trout in inland Illinois waters.
- Anglers age 75 and older still need those stamps when the trip requires them, but the resident price drops to
$0.50.
Use the Illinois stamp guide if you are unsure which add-on applies.
Timing that affects value
The 2026 Illinois license year began on March 1, 2026.
- Annual licenses bought in the 2026 license year expire on March 31, 2027.
- Illinois says 3-year licenses expire on March 31 of the second year after the year of purchase.
- Short-term licenses still make more sense than annual licenses for most one-trip nonresidents.
Best next page
- Use how to buy an Illinois fishing license online if you already know what to buy.
- Use the Illinois fishing license overview if you still need the big-picture rules.
- Use the Illinois renewal and reprint guide if you are deciding between buying fresh and reprinting an old purchase.