Hunting and fishing in Canada as a European

Entering Canada

Citizens of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and many other European countries need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) and a valid passport to fly to Canada. The eTA costs CAN$7 and is requested online. Apply on the official Government of Canada site, and be wary of lookalike sites that charge more. Check your own country's status, since visa rules differ.

A guide or outfitter is often mandatory

Many provinces don't let foreign visitors hunt big game alone. The rules are provincial, so they differ, and they are often why Europeans book with an outfitter in the first place. A few examples, checked in November 2026:

• Ontario: non-residents must contract a licensed operator for black bear, and a moose tourist outfitter for moose, apart from a narrow exception for close relatives of Ontario residents.
• Québec: south of the 52nd parallel, moose, black bear and woodcock hunters must use at least two outfitter services, including lodging, or hunt in a ZEC or wildlife reserve. North of the 52nd parallel, you must use an outfitter.
• Alberta: visitors must be accompanied by a hunter host or an outfitter-guide for big game, wolf or coyote, and non-Canadians can't enter the draws.
• British Columbia: non-residents need a guide outfitter or a resident named on a permit to accompany for big game.

Will your home licence count?

Sometimes, and it depends on the province. Ontario recognizes hunting credentials from a list of jurisdictions that includes France, Germany, Great Britain and Sweden, with conditions for some of them, so read the footnotes for your country. Your credentials must be filed before you buy a licence, it can take about three weeks by email, and documents that aren't in English or French need a certified translation.

Québec doesn't require a hunter's certificate from non-residents to get a licence. Other provinces have their own requirements, so don't assume a rule from one applies to the next. Fishing is usually simpler, with a non-resident licence from the province, and sometimes an extra permit on salmon rivers or in parks.

Flying with a firearm, or not

You can bring a non-restricted hunting rifle or shotgun for the season, under Canadian border rules. You must be at least 18, declare it on arrival, and complete the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration (form RCMP 5589), which costs CAN$25 and works as a temporary licence for up to 60 days once an officer confirms it. Sign it in front of the officer, not before.

Your airline has its own rules for firearms and ammunition, and so does your home country for taking them out, so call early. Many hunters would rather travel light. If your outfitter can lend you a firearm, you'll need a non-resident temporary borrowing licence with an eligible sponsor, so ask how they usually handle it well before you leave.

Game meat stays in Canada

This surprises people. The European Union doesn't allow travellers to bring in meat from outside the EU, and that includes the game you hunted yourself. Plan to enjoy it at the lodge, or ask your outfitter about donating or sharing it, rather than freezing it for a suitcase it can't legally travel in.

Fish is treated differently: the EU allows travellers up to 20 kilograms of fishery products, or the weight of one fish if that is more. Canadian possession limits also apply, so check the province's fishing rules before you pack a cooler. The United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway have their own rules, so check with their authorities.

Bringing a trophy home

A trophy involves two sets of rules. Leaving Canada, visitors need a CITES export permit for species covered by the convention. That goes for every black bear leaving for a country other than the US: the simple baggage exemption is only for residents of Canada and the US. Some provinces also require their own export permit, notably for black bear and wolf.

Entering Europe, your country decides what paperwork it wants, through its CITES authority and its veterinary services, and some countries restrict black bear imports, so check before you hunt. Expect to need proof of legal origin, and a trophy that has been properly treated, since raw hides and skulls can be refused. Many hunters leave the trophy with a taxidermist and have it shipped once the permits are ready, so ask your outfitter who they work with.

Planning the trip

Rules change, sometimes every season. This page is a starting point, and the official texts always have the last word.

• Book early: good outfitters and dates go first, and paperwork takes weeks
• Check the eTA and your passport's expiry date
• File hunting credentials or translations if the province asks for them
• Choose: bring your firearm, or arrange to borrow one
• Plan on leaving game meat in Canada
• Ask your national CITES authority about trophies before you hunt
• Leave a margin: float planes and weather cause delays

Finding a guide from Europe

At this distance, a good guide makes the whole trip. Ask what's included, ask for references, and check their licence with the province. French speakers will find many outfitters who work in French, particularly in Québec. GuideNord will put guides and outfitters from across Canada on one map, so you can compare offers before you buy a plane ticket.