Dog Microchipping Rules in the UK: What Owners Need to Do

Fitting a microchip takes a few seconds, but the law cares just as much about the database record behind it. If your dog is found, the chip number can be scanned and matched with the contact details held on that record.

A microchip is a small electronic chip placed under the skin. It carries a unique number that a scanner can read. The number does not show where your dog is, so it only helps someone contact you if the database has the right details.

Is microchipping a legal requirement for dogs?

Yes. Across the UK, dogs must be microchipped and registered by the time they are eight weeks old. Having the chip fitted is only part of the job. Your contact details, as the dog’s keeper (the person it normally lives with), must also be recorded against the chip number on a database that meets government standards.

The rules apply in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, although each nation has its own regulations. In Northern Ireland, microchipping is linked to dog licensing. A pet dog must be microchipped before it can be licensed.

There are health exemptions, but they need a vet’s certificate. In England, Scotland and Wales, the exemption lasts only for the period a veterinary surgeon says the dog is unfit to be microchipped. An exemption can be temporary, for example when a puppy is too small to chip safely, so the dog will need chipping once the certificate runs out. Keep the certificate safe, particularly if the dog changes keeper.

In England, Scotland and Wales, if your dog is found not to be chipped and registered, the council or another authorised person can give you a notice to put it right within 21 days. Failing to comply can lead to a fine of up to £500. In Northern Ireland, a dog licence is not valid unless the dog is chipped with accurate details, and keeping a dog without a valid licence can lead to a fine of up to £1,000.

The eight-week rule for puppies

The person breeding a litter is responsible for arranging each puppy’s microchip by eight weeks old. A puppy cannot be transferred to a new owner before it has been microchipped, unless a veterinary exemption applies.

When you collect a puppy, it should already be chipped and registered to the breeder. Ask which database holds the record and what you need to do to transfer it. You may be given a form or a code from the database company. The new keeper must have their own details recorded after the move.

Do this as soon as you get home rather than putting the paperwork aside. Until the record has been changed, anyone who scans the puppy may reach the breeder instead of you. Keep the microchip number and database name with your insurance, vaccination and other pet records.

If you are rehoming an adult dog, ask the rescue or previous keeper for the chip number, the database name and any exemption certificate.

Keeping the database record up to date

You are responsible for keeping the details on your dog’s database record current.

Contact the database company if you move house or change your phone number or email address. You should also update the record when the keeper changes. A database may charge for an update, so check its terms before you start.

A quick check can be useful even when nothing obvious has changed. Old mobile numbers and email addresses are easy to miss, especially when a dog has been with the family for years. Check that your name, address and contact details are right, and keep a note of the database name somewhere you can find it.

If you do not know where the chip is registered, the government points owners to a chip-checking service. You will need the microchip number. If you do not have it, a vet, dog warden or animal rescue organisation may be able to scan your dog. Be wary of emails from databases you have not heard of asking for money to register your dog, as these can be scams.

Your vet can also scan the chip during a visit if you are unsure whether it can be read. If you think your dog has had a bad reaction after microchipping, or you are worried that the chip has moved or stopped working, speak to your vet.

Buying, selling and rehoming a dog

A microchip record is useful identification, but it is not proof of legal ownership. Keep any purchase agreement, adoption paperwork and veterinary records as well, especially if your dog has changed homes more than once.

When a dog goes to a new keeper, their details must be recorded on the database. The previous keeper should contact the database company and follow its transfer process, then pass the information needed for the new keeper to complete the change. This helps the company protect records from being changed without permission.

If you are buying a puppy, do not accept an offer from the breeder to chip and register the puppy directly in your name before the sale. The breeder must first be recorded as the keeper. Once you take the puppy home, you can use the database process to put your own details on the record.

If you are selling or giving a dog away, tell the new keeper the database name and give them the chip number and transfer details. It is a small bit of admin, but it matters if the dog goes missing during the first few days in a new home.

Rules in different parts of the UK

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own law on dog microchipping, so details such as what a database must record and how exemptions work differ slightly.

In England, Scotland and Wales, an imported dog must be microchipped and registered on a UK database within 30 days of entering the country. A chip fitted abroad may not be suitable for registration on a UK database. If that happens, a second chip may be fitted, while the original chip should not be removed for that reason. A vet can advise if you are unsure about your dog’s chip.

Northern Ireland also has dog licensing rules. Each pet dog needs its own licence, which costs £12.50 as standard and lasts 12 months. Exceptions include assistance dogs and puppies under six months kept by the keeper of their mother. The dog must be microchipped before licensing, so check the chip record is accurate before applying or renewing.

A microchip does not replace a collar and tag

Even with a working microchip, your dog must wear a collar and tag showing your name and address when in a public place. A phone number can help someone contact you quickly, but the required details are your name and address.

The tag may help a person get in touch without having the dog scanned, while the chip remains useful if the collar is lost.

When to contact a vet

Book an appointment with a vet if your dog has not been microchipped, or if you need advice about a possible health exemption. A trained professional must fit the chip, and your vet can scan an existing chip if you have taken on a dog with an unclear history.

You can also ask for a scan at a routine visit if you do not know the chip number or want to check that it reads. Once the record is correct, revisit it whenever your contact details or your dog’s keeper changes.