Ostranauts Licenses — Salvage Permits, Costs and Fines
✔ Last checked: 2026-08-04
A temporary salvage permit costs $5,000, lasts 24 hours, and is the difference between “salvager” and “criminal with a crowbar.” It’s sold at the License Kiosk in Port Azikiwe on OKLG — K-Leg, to everyone who lives there — and it’s the first purchase of almost every playthrough.
What the permit actually does
- Legalizes salvage in OKLG local space for a full day — strip Boneyard derelicts without harassment.
- Unlocks the kiosk’s barter screen, which is where high-value salvage gets sold at proper prices. No permit, no premium market.
- Broadcasts through your transponder. Enforcement is remote: Nnamdi Azikiwe Security Services (NASS) scans permits at range. This cuts both ways — a valid permit means patrols mostly leave you alone; an invalid one means fines can arrive without anyone boarding you.
The math of going legal
| Choice | Cost | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Buy the permit | $5,000 / 24h | One RCS thruster assembly (~$5,500 wiki-era) already covers it |
| Salvage unlicensed | $0 upfront | ~$15,000 fine when scanned (wiki figure, re-verifying for 1.0), plus security attention |
| Use a looted permit | Free if found | Only as good as its expiry date — read it in your inventory first |
The permit clock is 24 in-game hours, so buy it on your way out, not the night before. Wasting license time doing inventory management at the dock is a rite of passage we’d rather you skip.
Beyond salvage permits
The kiosk sells “different types” of salvage licenses per the wiki, and community discussions reference other certifications, but the official documentation is thin — we’re re-verifying the full 1.0 license list rather than inventing one here. If you’ve got a screenshot of the current kiosk menu, we’d genuinely like to see it (see about).
One more legal wrinkle for the ambitious: owning a derelict outright (deed bought at the ship kiosk) changes your legal situation while working on it — but keep its systems broadcasting, or patrols may still read you as an unlicensed salvager. Details in ship flipping, and the full ticket-avoidance workflow lives in the salvage guide.
FAQ
How much does a salvage license cost?
$5,000 for a temporary permit granting 24 hours of legal salvage in OKLG local space, per the official starting guide and wiki. One decent derelict haul pays it back.
Where do I buy a license?
The License Kiosk in the Port Azikiwe district of OKLG (K-Leg), run by the Ayotimiwa Corporation — the official guide describes it as the yellow kiosk near the airlock.
What happens if I salvage without a license?
Permits are linked to your ship's transponder and scanned at range by NASS security. The wiki-documented fine is around $15,000 — roughly three licenses' worth.
Can you find licenses instead of buying them?
Yes — derelicts sometimes hold looted permits, some expired, some still valid. Check the expiry by reading the license in your inventory before relying on it.