Fishing in Poland: Karta Wedkarska, 10 zl Fee, Exam, Permits
Short answer: In Poland you need a fishing card (10 zl, after an exam) from your county office, plus permission from the water's rights holder. Children under 14 and some temporary foreigners are exempt.
Fishing with a rod in Poland's rivers and lakes is a popular weekend activity, and it comes with paperwork. Polish residents need a fishing card (karta wędkarska), which is cheap but requires passing an exam. On top of the card, you normally need permission from whoever holds the fishing rights on the water. This guide summarises the official service descriptions and the 2023 regulation on fishing conditions in inland waters. Sources: the national service catalogue entry for issuing fishing cards (undated), a county office page, and the Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture of 12 July 2023 (Dz.U. 2023 poz. 1373). All were read on 16 October 2026. Rules and fees can change, so confirm with your county office (starostwo powiatowe) and the local angling association.
The fishing card in brief
The fishing card is the document that entitles you to fish with a rod, according to the explanatory note in the regulation. You get it from the starosta, the head of the county, and the card fee is 10 zł. The regulation sets that amount, and the service catalogue and a county office page repeat it.
What you need to apply:
- a completed application for a fishing card;
- a certificate that you passed the exam on the protection and catching of fish, issued by the examination commission;
- proof that you paid the fee;
- a current ID-type photo;
- a power of attorney, if someone applies for you.
A power of attorney costs 17 zł of stamp duty. A county office page notes that it is free when the representative is your spouse, parent, child, grandparent or grandchild.
The service catalogue says the service takes up to 30 days, and that an appeal route does not apply. It also says the online service needs a login with a qualified signature or a trusted profile. One county office page says the matter is settled promptly when you apply in person.
The exam
The regulation names who can run the exam: a social organisation set up under the Law on Associations whose statutory goal is protecting fish and developing amateur fishing. It must have at least 200 adult members in the county as of 1 January of the exam year, and it must tell the starosta the date, rules and commission. In practice this means the local branch of an angling association. Ask the county office which organisation runs exams in your county.
Who does not need a card
According to the Jasło county office page, these people are exempt from having a card:
- people up to 14 years old, who may fish only under the care of an adult who holds a card;
- foreigners staying in Poland temporarily who have the permission of the holder of the fishing rights;
- people fishing in waters held by a private person, if they have that person's permission to fish there.
If you are a foreigner living in Poland rather than visiting temporarily, ask your county office whether the exemption applies to you. The page describes only temporary stays.
The card is not the only permission
The regulation's explanation says that under article 7 of the Act on Inland Fishing, fishing in waters held by a rights holder requires that holder's permission. That is why angling associations and fishery owners sell their own licences for their waters. Check which body holds the rights on the lake or river you want to use, and what they require, before you go.
What the regulation says about rod fishing
Some rules from the 2023 regulation:
- Fishing with a rod must be done without artificial light to locate or lure fish.
- The rod must be at least 30 cm long, with a line ending in one baited hook or not more than two hooks with artificial insect-like bait, or an artificial lure with not more than three hooks. Size limits apply to the barbs.
- The daily limit for eels is 2.
- Ice fishing has its own gear rules, with a smaller hook size.
- Minimum protected sizes apply to many species. For example, 40 cm for asp and barbel, 30 cm for vimba, and 70 cm for huchen.
The full list of sizes and protection periods is in the regulation. It was issued in 2023, so check for later changes.
Underwater fishing card
The same regulation sets a separate card for underwater fishing (karta łowiectwa podwodnego) and rules for crossbow fishing. The card also costs 10 zł.
This is general information, not legal advice. Local rules on specific waters are set by the rights holder.
* Photos: Fishing boats in Sopot (CC0) and fishing on a lake (public domain), both Wikimedia Commons; the second is illustrative.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a fishing card in Poland?
10 zł for issuing the card, according to the regulation and the national service catalogue.
Do I have to pass an exam to get a fishing card in Poland?
Yes. You need a certificate that you passed the exam on the protection and catching of fish, issued by the commission of an authorised angling organisation.
Do foreigners need a fishing card in Poland?
A county office page exempts foreigners who are staying temporarily and have the permission of the rights holder. Ask your county office if you live in Poland.
Is the fishing card enough to fish in any lake?
No. The regulation notes that fishing in waters held by a rights holder also needs that holder's permission.
