Registering for the Hunting License Exam (ICNF/2026): Step-by-Step Guide
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Prerequisites: before you begin
ICNF has 3 mandatory requirements:
You must be at least 16 years old;
You must not have any physical, psychological or physiological anomaly that makes the practice of hunting dangerous;
You must not be subject to a hunting ban due to a legal provision or court decision.
Aside from these exceptions, any citizen can apply for the exam.
Dates & Registration
ICNF publishes the exam calendar annually in PDF format. We created this page to make it easier to view the exams. The official exam calendar can be found here.
Exam registration can be done in person at ICNF branches or through the suber.icnf.pt website. It is worth emphasizing that exam registration can only be done between ~20 and ~10 business days before the exam date. In other words, if the exam is on October 13th, the registration period is between September 14th and 28th.
On our notifications page, you can see all the information in a simplified way and even set up registration alerts.
Regardless of how you apply, you will need 3 documents:
Medical certificate specifically for hunting
It is a standard medical certificate, but it must explicitly state that the individual has the physical and mental aptitude to practice hunting.
Important note: the medical certificate must be issued at most 90 days before enrolling in the exam.
Identification document
A photograph or double-sided photocopy of an ID document. We recommend using your Citizen Card (Cartão de Cidadão) or passport.
Specific criminal record for hunting
Although it might seem intimidating, it is quite easy to obtain your criminal record through the registocriminal.justica.gov.pt platform.
Once you log in, simply make a new request and choose the "Carta de caçador" (Hunting License) option in the "Finalidade" (Purpose) field.
The certificate is then sent to the email provided in the form.
Online Registration
Exam registration can only be completed when you already have these 3 documents in your possession, so it is a good idea to prepare them in advance.
Due to the large number of applicants in recent years, spots have been filling up very quickly. It is common for late applicants to be faced with this screen, which indicates that there are no exam vacancies left.
Since registrations open exactly 20 business days before the exam date, applicants have to wait until the next opening, at midnight on the specified date.