You’ve just picked up your new puppy, the breeder handed you a little card with a 15-digit number on it, and now you’re wondering — is that it? Is the microchip sorted? The short answer is no, probably not, and the number of pet owners who find that out the hard way is surprisingly high. Microchipping is one of those things that sounds simple but has a few important moving parts, especially if you want to stay on the right side of UK law.
In This Article
- Is Microchipping a Legal Requirement in the UK?
- How Microchipping Actually Works
- When Should Your Pet Be Microchipped?
- What Happens During the Procedure
- Keeping Your Details Up to Date
- Which Database Is My Pet Registered On?
- What Happens If Your Pet Isn’t Microchipped
- Common Microchipping Myths
- What to Do If You Find a Stray
- Microchipping Costs in the UK
- Travelling Abroad with a Microchipped Pet
- Frequently Asked Questions
Is Microchipping a Legal Requirement in the UK?
Yes — and the law covers both dogs and cats now.
Dogs: The Law Since 2016
Since April 2016, all dogs in England, Scotland, and Wales must be microchipped and registered on an approved database by the time they’re 8 weeks old. This came in under The Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015, with equivalent legislation in Scotland and Wales.
If your dog isn’t chipped, your local council can serve a notice giving you 21 days to get it done. Fail to comply, and you’re looking at a fine of up to £500. In practice, most councils use the notice system rather than jumping straight to fines, but don’t rely on that.
Cats: The Law Since June 2024
This is the newer one that catches people out. As of 10 June 2024, all cats in England must be microchipped and registered on a compliant database before they reach 20 weeks old. The Compulsory Cat Microchipping (England) Regulations 2023 brought cats in line with dogs.
Scotland and Wales haven’t yet introduced compulsory cat microchipping, though it’s widely expected. If you’re in Scotland or Wales and have an indoor-only cat, you’re technically not legally required to chip them — but vets universally recommend it.
What About Rabbits and Other Pets?
There’s no legal requirement to microchip rabbits, ferrets, horses (though horses have their own passport system), or any other pets. That said, the PDSA recommends microchipping rabbits particularly if they spend time outdoors, because rabbits that escape are notoriously hard to identify without a chip.
How Microchipping Actually Works
The Chip Itself
A pet microchip is a tiny transponder about the size of a grain of rice — roughly 12mm long. It sits inside a biocompatible glass capsule and contains no battery, no GPS, no tracking capability. It does one thing: when a scanner passes over it, it transmits a unique 15-digit number via radio frequency (RFID).
That number links to your contact details on whichever database the chip is registered with. When a vet, rescue centre, or dog warden scans a found pet, they get the number, look it up, and call you. That’s it — simple but remarkably effective.
What It Doesn’t Do
This is worth clearing up because I’ve lost count of how many people think microchips work like AirTags. They don’t track your pet’s location. They don’t send alerts if your pet leaves the garden. They don’t connect to your phone. A microchip is a passive identifier — it only works when someone physically scans your pet with a reader.
If you want real-time tracking, you’d need a separate GPS collar. The chip and the tracker do completely different jobs.
When Should Your Pet Be Microchipped
Puppies
The law says by 8 weeks old. Most responsible breeders chip puppies before they go to their new homes, and the Kennel Club requires it for registration. If you’re buying a puppy and the breeder says they haven’t chipped it yet, that’s a red flag — not just legally, but as a general sign of how seriously they take welfare. Getting the chip sorted early is part of the bigger picture of bringing a puppy home — there’s a lot to juggle in those first weeks.
When you collect the puppy, make sure you get the microchip paperwork and transfer the registration into your name. The breeder’s details being on the chip is surprisingly common, and it means if your dog goes missing, the call goes to them, not you.
Kittens
By 20 weeks old in England. Most vets recommend doing it at the same time as the first vaccination appointment, which usually falls around 9-12 weeks. Having both done in one visit saves stress — yours and the kitten’s.
Rescue Animals
Reputable rescue centres like the RSPCA, Battersea, Cats Protection, and Blue Cross will always microchip animals before rehoming. The chip registration should be transferred to your name as part of the adoption process. If they don’t mention it, ask — you need to be the registered keeper.
What Happens During the Procedure
The Injection
The chip is implanted with a needle — slightly larger than a standard vaccination needle, but not by much. For dogs, it goes between the shoulder blades. For cats, the same spot. The whole thing takes about 5 seconds.
Does It Hurt?
About as much as a vaccination. I’ve watched dozens of pets being chipped over the years and most don’t react more than a slight flinch. Puppies and kittens barely notice. Older dogs sometimes yelp briefly, but they’re over it within seconds. No anaesthetic needed, no recovery time, no aftercare beyond keeping an eye on the injection site for a day or two. While you’re at the vet, it’s a good opportunity to get them to check your dog for ticks too — two jobs in one visit.
Can the Chip Move?
Rarely, but it can happen. The chip can migrate slightly from the original implantation site, usually settling a few centimetres away between the shoulder blades. This is why vets scan the entire upper body, not just one spot. A migrated chip still works perfectly — it’s just not exactly where it was put in.
Keeping Your Details Up to Date
This is where the system falls apart for a lot of people, and it’s the single biggest reason microchipped pets aren’t reunited with their owners.
When to Update
You need to update your microchip registration every time:
- You move house — even temporarily
- You change phone number — mobile or landline
- You change email address
- The pet changes owner — gifts, rehoming, or sale
- You get a new vet — some databases store vet details too
- Emergency contact changes — always have a backup number
How to Update
Log into the database your pet is registered with (Petlog, IdentiBase, MicroChipCentral, etc.) and update your details directly. Most charge a one-off registration fee of £10-15, but changes to contact details are usually free or cost a couple of pounds.
If you don’t know which database your pet is on, use a free checker service like Check a Chip — enter the 15-digit number and it tells you which database holds the record.
The Transfer Problem
When you buy or adopt a pet, the microchip needs to be transferred from the previous owner to you. This doesn’t happen automatically. Both parties need to action it, or the new owner needs to contact the database with proof of ownership. I’ve seen cases where dogs have been with their new family for years but the chip still has the breeder’s details — meaning if the dog goes missing, the wrong person gets called.
Which Database Is My Pet Registered On?
Approved Databases in the UK
There are multiple approved databases in the UK, which can be confusing. The main ones include:
- Petlog — run by the Kennel Club, one of the largest
- IdentiBase — used by many vets and rescue centres
- MicroChipCentral — growing database with free registration
- Petscanner — offers free basic registration
- Animal Microchips — another compliant database
The Problem with Multiple Databases
Having this many databases means the person scanning your pet needs to check across all of them. The good news is that universal lookup tools exist — a vet or dog warden can check all databases from a single scan. But it does add a layer of complexity compared to having one national register.
Free vs Paid Registration
Some databases charge a one-off fee (Petlog is typically £16-20), while others like MicroChipCentral offer free basic registration. The paid databases tend to offer extras like keeper transfer alerts and lost pet notifications, but the core function — linking the chip number to your contact details — works the same across all of them.
What Happens If Your Pet Isn’t Microchipped
Legal Consequences for Dog Owners
If an authorised person (council dog warden, police officer) finds your dog isn’t chipped, they’ll issue a written notice giving you 21 days to comply. If you don’t:
- Fine of up to £500
- Your dog could be seized in extreme cases
- You cannot defend against a ‘dangerously out of control’ complaint as easily without proof of identity and ownership
In reality, most enforcement happens when a dog is picked up as a stray or reported for another reason. Random microchip checks aren’t a thing.
Legal Consequences for Cat Owners (England)
Since June 2024, the same 21-day notice system applies to cats in England. The fine is also up to £500. Enforcement is expected to be lighter than for dogs initially as awareness builds, but the law is there.
Practical Consequences
Beyond the legal side, an unchipped pet that goes missing is vastly harder to reunite with its owner. The Dogs Trust reports that chipped dogs are returned to their owners far more often than unchipped ones. For cats, who tend to wander further and are harder to catch, the chip is often the only way to identify an owner.
Common Microchipping Myths
“The Chip Has GPS”
No. It’s a passive RFID transponder. No battery, no tracking, no GPS. If you want location tracking, buy a separate GPS collar from brands like Tractive or PitPat.
“Microchipping Is Painful”
It’s comparable to a vaccination. Quick, mild discomfort, over in seconds. The needle is slightly larger but the procedure is faster than most jabs.
“My Indoor Cat Doesn’t Need One”
Indoor cats escape. It happens more often than you’d think — a door left open, a window not properly secured, a delivery driver letting them slip past. An indoor cat with no chip and no collar who gets out has almost zero chance of being identified and returned.
“The Chip Can Cause Cancer”
This myth traces back to a handful of lab rodent studies from the 2000s where tumours formed around implanted chips in mice and rats bred to be tumour-prone. The British Small Animal Veterinary Association has tracked adverse reactions in pets for over 20 years and found the incidence of problems to be vanishingly small — fewer than 1 in 10 million chips. Your pet is far more at risk from being unchipped and lost than from the chip itself.
What to Do If You Find a Stray
Immediate Steps
- Check for a collar tag — if there’s a phone number, try calling it first
- Take the animal to any vet, rescue centre, or dog warden — they’ll scan for free
- If a chip is found, they’ll contact the registered keeper directly
- If no chip is found, report the animal to your local council dog warden (for dogs) or local rescue centre (for cats)
What Not to Do
Don’t assume you can keep a stray pet. Under UK law, finders of stray dogs must report them to the local authority. Keeping a found dog without reporting it can technically be treated as theft. For cats, the law is less clear, but the ethical thing is to get them scanned and try to find the owner before considering keeping them.
Microchipping Costs in the UK
Typical Prices
- At your vet: £20-30 for a standard appointment
- Rescue centres: usually included in adoption fees
- Charity microchipping events: free or subsidised (Dogs Trust, RSPCA, PDSA run these periodically)
- Database registration: free to £20 depending on provider
- Detail updates: free to £6 depending on database
Where to Find Free Microchipping
The Dogs Trust runs free microchipping days at locations across the UK. The PDSA offers free or reduced-cost chipping for eligible owners. Your local council may also run periodic events — check their website or ask your vet if they know of any upcoming sessions.
Is It Worth Paying More?
Some vets charge a premium for “lifetime registration” packages. In most cases, the basic registration is all you need. The chip itself is identical regardless of what you pay — you’re just paying for extras on the database side that you may never use.
Travelling Abroad with a Microchipped Pet
The Current System (Post-Brexit)
Since Brexit, UK pets can no longer use the EU Pet Passport. Instead, you need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an Official Veterinarian within 10 days of travel. Your pet must be microchipped (15-digit ISO standard) and have a valid rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel.
Important Details
- The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination — if it’s the other way round, the vaccination won’t be recognised
- The chip number on the AHC must match the chip in your pet
- Some countries outside the EU have additional requirements — always check the destination country’s rules
- Re-entry to the UK from the EU requires a tapeworm treatment for dogs (not cats) given 1-5 days before arrival
Check the latest requirements on the UK government’s pet travel page before booking anything — rules can change with short notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a microchip be removed or deactivated? Technically a chip can be surgically removed, but no vet will do this without good reason (such as a chip migrating to a problematic location). Chips cannot be remotely deactivated — they’re passive devices with no on/off function. Once implanted, they last the lifetime of the animal.
What if my pet has two microchips? It happens occasionally, usually when a rescue animal is chipped without being scanned first. Both chips will work, but only one will be registered to you. Ask your vet to note both numbers and make sure the active one is on the correct database. Some databases allow you to record a secondary chip number.
Do microchips expire? No. The chip has no battery and no moving parts — it’s designed to last 25+ years, which is longer than any pet’s lifespan. If a scanner can’t read your pet’s chip, it’s more likely a scanner issue or chip migration than a chip failure.
Can I check my pet’s microchip at home? Not without a scanner, which costs £15-40 on Amazon UK. Most pet owners don’t need one — your vet will scan the chip at any routine appointment. If you want peace of mind between visits, you can feel for the chip between the shoulder blades (it’s about the size of a grain of rice under the skin).
Is microchipping required for pet travel insurance? Most UK pet insurance providers require your pet to be microchipped as a condition of the policy. If your pet isn’t chipped and you need to make a claim, the insurer may reject it. If you’re still shopping around for cover, our guide to the best pet insurance in the UK covers what to look for.