Fishing Licence Concessions: Over-65s, Disabled Anglers and Free Days

By Alex Clayton · Updated 23 October 2026

There is no free fishing licence over 60 in England or Wales. The senior concession starts at 66, and it is a discount, not a freebie: a 12-month, 2-rod rod licence drops from £36.80 to £24.50 (GOV.UK).

The rest of the UK works differently. Northern Ireland offers a £5 concessionary rod licence from 60, and most of Scotland needs no rod licence at all.

This page covers the 66+ rate, the disabled concession, Northern Ireland’s rules and the few genuinely licence-free routes, including Take a Friend Fishing.

Is There a Free Fishing Licence Over 60? The Answer by UK Nation

Some anglers say the concession starts at 60, others at 65 or 66. They are all quoting a real rule, just from different nations.

Nation	Rod licence needed?	Senior concession age	Senior/disabled price	Notes
England and Wales	Yes (England except the River Tweed; all of Wales)	66 or over	£24.50 (12-month, 2 rods)	No free licence. No discount on 1-day or 8-day licences.
Scotland	No, except the Border Esk region	n/a	n/a	You still need permission from the landowner or club.
Northern Ireland	Yes, plus a separate angling permit	60 or over	£5.00 coarse or game rod licence	The permit is bought separately.

Sources: GOV.UK fee table, GOV.UK Scotland and Northern Ireland, nidirect coarse rod licence prices.

No UK nation gives a free senior fishing licence on age alone. Scotland outside the Border Esk is licence-free for everyone, though you still need permission for where you can fish, and Northern Ireland’s £5 rate is the closest thing to free.

Skipping the licence in England or Wales risks a fine of up to £2,500, and the rule applies on private land and club waters too (GOV.UK). If you fish there and are under 66, budget for the full price unless you qualify on disability grounds.

Fishing Licence Over 65 in England and Wales: The 66+ Concession and What It Saves

Turning 65 does not get you the discount. If you are shopping for a fishing licence over 65, check the GOV.UK fee table first: the concession row reads “66 or over or disabled”.

From 66, the saving depends on which 12-month licence you buy:

12-month licence	Standard	Concession (66+ or disabled)	You save
Trout and coarse, up to 2 rods	£36.80	£24.50	£12.30
Trout and coarse, up to 3 rods	£55.30	£36.80	£18.50
Salmon and sea trout	£93.10	£62.00	£31.10

Source: GOV.UK buy a fishing licence. Savings are worked out from the fee table.

The concession covers 12-month licences only. There is no reduced rate on a 1-day licence (£7.30, or £13.50 for salmon and sea trout) or an 8-day licence (£14.70, or £30.50). The same GOV.UK licence and prices cover Wales as well as England.

To claim it:

Buy on GOV.UK.
Choose a 12-month licence.
Select the 66 or over (or disabled) option.
Pick your start date. You can buy up to 30 days ahead.

For licence types and rod limits, see the full fishing licence guide.

The quick comparison: four 1-day coarse licences cost £29.20, already more than a full year on the concession at £24.50.

Fishing Licence for Disabled Anglers: Who Qualifies for the Concession

If you hold a Blue Badge or get PIP or DLA, you pay the same reduced price as a 66+ angler, whatever your age (GOV.UK).

England and Wales

You qualify if you:

hold a Blue Badge, or meet the criteria for one
get PIP at any rate
get DLA

Have your National Insurance number ready for PIP or DLA (the child reference number if you are under 16). The price is £24.50 for a 12-month, 2-rod licence, and the concession covers 12-month licences only. Carers who come along to help do not need a licence unless they fish themselves.

Northern Ireland

The nidirect list of qualifying allowances is longer:

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Attendance Allowance
War Disablement Pension
Severe Disablement Allowance
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Armed Forces Independence Payment

The concessionary rod licence costs £5.00. For venues and tackle, see our guide to accessible fishing venues and kit.

The verdict: a disabled fishing licence is a discount, not a free licence, and it costs the same as the senior rate.

Northern Ireland Fishing Licence Over 60: The £5 Concession and the Permit Catch

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where the concession starts at 60, and the rod licence costs £5.00 against a standard £17.00 (nidirect coarse and game rod licence pages).

There are two versions:

Coarse concessionary season rod licence: £5.00, covers 2 rods, valid January to December.
Game concessionary rod licence: £5.00, one rod at a time. The game season generally runs March to October.

Anglers with a qualifying disability pay the same £5.00 (see the disabled anglers section above). Hold only one concessionary licence per calendar year: having more than one is an offence.

The catch is the permit. In Northern Ireland you need an angling permit as well as the rod licence (GOV.UK), and it is priced separately.

If you are 60 or over and fish in Northern Ireland, buy the £5 licence and check the current concessionary permit price on nidirect (DAERA) before your first trip.

Free Fishing Days UK: Take a Friend Fishing and Other Licence-Free Routes

Looking for free fishing days in the UK? England and Wales have no general licence-free days for adults, but one free licence scheme runs several times a year.

How Take a Friend Fishing works

Take a Friend Fishing gets an unlicensed friend a free one-day licence:

You must already hold a valid rod licence.
Register your unlicensed friend online while a window is open. You both need a working email address.
Your friend gets a free Environment Agency one-day licence, normally £7.30 (£13.50 for salmon and sea trout).
Carry the emailed licence and ID, fish with your friend, and get permission for the water.

The same friend can have up to three Take a Friend Fishing days a year. The next window runs from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, so confirm the dates on the site before you plan.

The Angling Trades Association runs it with the Environment Agency, backed by the Angling Trust and Canal & River Trust. Send your friend our beginner’s guide to fishing first.

Other times you do not need a licence

Children under 13 in England and Wales.
Carers who are not fishing themselves.
Anyone fishing in Scotland outside the Border Esk region.

Juniors aged 13 to 16 do need a licence, but the junior licence is free.

Best for: an adult’s first session. Skip it if they plan to fish regularly, because they will need their own licence anyway.

Frequently asked questions

Is a fishing licence free for pensioners in the UK?

No. In England and Wales the senior fishing licence concession starts at 66 and costs £24.50 for a 12-month, 2-rod licence. Northern Ireland charges £5 from 60, and Scotland needs no rod licence outside the Border Esk region.

Can I get the over-66 discount on a one-day or eight-day licence?

No. GOV.UK applies the concession to 12-month licences only. A 1-day licence costs £7.30 and an 8-day licence £14.70, with no reduced rate for age or disability. Four 1-day licences already cost more than the 12-month concession.

Do I need a fishing licence in Scotland if I am over 65?

No. You do not need a rod licence anywhere in Scotland except the Border Esk region, at any age. You still need permission from the landowner or angling club before you fish.

When is the next Take a Friend Fishing?

The next window runs from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. Register your friend on takeafriendfishing.co.uk while it is open, and confirm the dates there before you plan.