Requirements for Purchasing Licenses:
Resident
Resident is a person who is a domiciled (permanent) resident of South Carolina. Proof of residency at license vendors is your unexpired State of South Carolina Driver's license or Identification Card. Other manners of proving residency can be submitted to a SCDNR license office.
A person licensed by another state as a resident for any purpose is not eligible to apply for, obtain, or hold any South Carolina resident license, permit or tag.
Military Personnel
Military personnel and their dependents stationed in SC for thirty days or longer, or who are domiciled in this state, are eligible for resident privileges. Valid military identification must be presented when applying.
Active duty or military personnel who are residents of SC stationed outside of the state and home on leave, may upon presentation of their earnings and leave statement (which must declare SC as their home state), be allowed to fish and hunt throughout the state without purchasing a hunting, freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing license. Permits are required to hunt big game, migratory birds, migratory waterfowl and hunt on WMA lands. Tags are required to hunt deer and turkey, use nongame fish devices or for taking shrimp over bait.
Students
Students enrolled full time in a SC educational institution are eligible for resident privileges. A valid student ID must be presented when applying for privileges.
International Customers
Upon presentation of a passport or any international government issued documentation, an international customer may purchase hunting and fishing licenses without having to provide a social security number. Nonresident license fees apply.
Nonresident
Nonresident is a person who does not meet the definition of resident.