Pet Microchips in Canada: Databases, Registration and Tracing

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Canada does not have one national microchip database containing every pet.

Several private and non-profit registries are used across the country.

A vet, shelter, breeder or rescue may create the first registration.

In other cases, the owner must complete it.

The AAHA Microchip Registry Lookup can help identify which participating registry may hold the record.

A microchip only helps when the number is linked to current contact details.

Which microchip databases are used in Canada?

Canada has several pet microchip registries.

Common examples include:

An animal may appear in one registry but not another.

The company that supplied the chip often decides where the first record is created.

Ask the vet, shelter, breeder or rescue which registry holds the record.

Is there a national Canadian microchip register?

No.

Canada does not have one government database containing every microchipped dog and cat.

Records are held by separate companies and animal welfare organisations.

This can make tracing confusing.

A finder may need to use a cross-registry lookup to identify the correct service.

What is the AAHA Microchip Registry Lookup?

The AAHA Microchip Registry Lookup helps identify which participating registry may hold a chip record.

It is widely used in Canada and the United States.

The lookup does not normally show the owner’s private details.

Instead, it shows which registry or microchip company should be contacted.

A vet, shelter or finder can then contact that organisation.

When several records appear, check the dates and contact the most recently updated registry first.

A negative AAHA result does not prove that the chip is unregistered.

Not every database participates in the lookup.

What is 24Petwatch?

24Petwatch operates a large North American microchip registry.

It is used by many Canadian vets, shelters and rescue organisations.

Basic microchip registration and recovery services are available.

Optional paid products may also be offered.

A 24Petwatch record can include:

  • The microchip number
  • Information about the animal
  • The owner’s name
  • Telephone numbers
  • Email and address details
  • Emergency contacts
  • Missing-pet information

What is EIDAP?

EIDAP is a Canadian animal identification company and microchip registry.

It works with vets, shelters, rescues and breeders across Canada.

EIDAP registers dogs, cats, horses and other animals.

It also provides a public microchip lookup.

A vet or shelter can contact EIDAP when a registered animal is found.

EIDAP may also accept chips made by other companies.

A registration fee may apply in some cases.

What is the BC Pet Registry?

BC Pet Registry is operated by the BC SPCA.

It is especially relevant to pets in British Columbia.

However, it can register existing microchip numbers from other sources.

It may also record tattoos and some pet licence numbers.

BC Pet Registry records can be identified through the AAHA lookup.

Registration may involve a one-time fee.

What is CANADACHIP?

CANADACHIP is connected to the Canadian Kennel Club.

It is mainly associated with dogs using Canadian Kennel Club microchips.

A CANADACHIP record can help return a lost dog to its registered contact.

Pedigree registration and microchip recovery registration are not the same thing.

Check that the chip has an active recovery record, even when the dog is registered with a breed organisation.

Are microchips required in Canada?

Canada does not have one nationwide rule requiring every privately owned dog and cat to be microchipped.

The rules vary by province, territory and municipality.

Some local authorities require dogs or cats to have a licence.

A microchip may be accepted as permanent identification.

However, it does not always replace a municipal licence.

A microchip may also be required by:

  • A shelter or rescue before adoption
  • A breeder or kennel organisation
  • A municipal identification programme
  • An airline or destination country
  • Rules for certain commercial animal imports

Ask your municipality what rules apply where you live.

Are cats required to be microchipped?

There is no general Canadian rule requiring every privately owned cat to have a microchip.

Local rules may be different.

Microchipping is still strongly recommended.

Indoor cats can escape through a door, window or balcony.

A registered chip gives a finder another route back to the family.

Cats travelling to some countries also need an ISO-compatible microchip.

Does my pet also need a municipal licence?

Possibly.

Many Canadian cities require dogs to have a local licence.

Some municipalities also license cats.

A licence and a microchip registration are separate records.

You may therefore need to:

  • Register the microchip with a recovery database
  • Buy or renew a municipal pet licence
  • Update both records when your details change

Do not assume that updating one system will update the other.

What do Canadian microchip numbers look like?

Most modern pet microchips contain 15 digits.

Canada’s ISO country code is:

124

A Canadian country-coded chip may therefore begin with 124.

However, not every pet living in Canada has a 124 chip.

Many chips use a manufacturer code instead.

Manufacturer-coded microchips usually begin with the number 9.

Older animals may also have a 9-digit or 10-character chip.

Other animals were microchipped abroad before arriving in Canada.

This is common with:

  • Imported dogs and cats
  • Pets adopted through international rescue organisations
  • Animals that moved to Canada with their families
  • Pets previously living in the United States
  • Older pets with non-standard chip formats

A readable foreign or manufacturer-coded chip can still be registered in a Canadian database.

The first digits are only a clue.

They do not prove where the animal lives or where its registration is held.

Read our guide to pet microchip numbers for more information.

What should you do if you find a microchipped pet in Canada?

Take the animal to a vet, shelter or municipal animal service.

Ask them to scan the animal carefully.

Write down the complete microchip number.

It can be useful to scan more than once and across the shoulders and body.

A microchip may have moved from its original position.

Then:

  • Enter the number in the AAHA Microchip Registry Lookup
  • Contact the registry shown in the result
  • Check major Canadian registries when no result appears
  • Check veterinary and adoption records
  • Contact the shelter, rescue, breeder or clinic connected to the animal
  • Check databases in countries where the animal may have lived
  • Use ChipTrace for registry, country and manufacturer clues

The AAHA lookup may identify the registry connected to the number.

It does not normally reveal the owner’s contact details.

The registry, vet or shelter can contact the registered owner instead.

Do not publish the complete microchip number online.

Keep part of it private so that ownership claims can be checked.

Read how ChipTrace works for an explanation of database checks and next-step advice.

What if a Canadian microchip cannot be found?

Ask a vet or shelter to scan the animal again.

One incorrect digit is enough to produce no result.

Then:

  • Use the AAHA Microchip Registry Lookup
  • Check 24Petwatch
  • Check EIDAP
  • Check BC Pet Registry when relevant
  • Check CANADACHIP
  • Check Petidco, Microchip4Solutions and PetChip Canada when relevant
  • Check veterinary, vaccination and adoption records
  • Contact the clinic or organisation that supplied the chip
  • Check databases in countries where the animal has lived
  • Contact the microchip manufacturer or distributor
  • Use ChipTrace for registry, country and manufacturer clues

The chip may have been implanted but never registered.

The registration may contain an incorrect number.

The record may also be held in the United States or another country.

If no database record is found, the manufacturer or distributor may provide another trace-back route.

The manufacturer may be able to identify the distributor or supplier that received the chip.

The supplier may then identify the vet, breeder, shelter or rescue that received it.

That organisation may know where the chip was implanted or registered.

They will not normally give the finder the owner’s private details.

Instead, they may contact the next organisation or the registered owner directly.

Trace-back is not guaranteed.

Records may be old, incomplete or unavailable.

A missing result does not prove that the animal has no family.

Read our guide to why a microchip may not appear in any database.

Check a Microchip

Can I add a global microchip registration?

Yes.

An additional global record can provide another route back to the owner.

Animal-ID allows owners to create an additional record using an existing microchip number.

This may help when:

  • The pet travels outside Canada
  • The animal was adopted from another country
  • A finder uses an international search service
  • The Canadian registry is difficult to identify
  • The animal has a foreign or manufacturer-coded chip

This is an extra safety net.

It does not replace the main Canadian registry or any municipal licence.

Keep the same contact details in every active database.

How to register a pet microchip in Canada

  1. Ask a vet or shelter to scan the animal.
  2. Write down the complete microchip number.
  3. Ask which registry is linked to the chip.
  4. Use the AAHA lookup when the registry is unknown.
  5. Create or claim the pet’s record.
  6. Add your current telephone number, email address and home address.
  7. Add an emergency contact when possible.
  8. Check that every digit is correct.
  9. Keep the registration confirmation.
  10. Check whether a municipal licence is also required.

Useful documents may include:

  • The microchip certificate
  • A vaccination record
  • An adoption contract
  • A purchase agreement
  • A veterinary record
  • A foreign registration certificate
  • A municipal pet licence

Who implants the microchip?

A vet normally implants the microchip.

Some trained shelter or animal welfare staff may also provide microchipping.

The animal should be scanned first.

This checks whether a chip is already present.

If a chip is needed, it is implanted under the skin.

The chip is then scanned again.

This confirms that it works and shows the correct number.

Ask for the complete number in writing.

Does the vet register the chip automatically?

Not always.

Some clinics complete the first registration for the owner.

Others provide a form, certificate or online registration link.

Ask before leaving:

  • Which registry holds the record?
  • Has the registration been completed?
  • Is there a registration fee?
  • Is the complete chip number correct?
  • Are my contact details included?
  • How can I update the record later?

Do not assume that implantation means registration is complete.

A chip without a current contact record may not lead a finder back to you.

Which Canadian registry should I use?

Start with the registry already connected to the microchip.

The vet, shelter, breeder or rescue should be able to identify it.

You can also enter the number in the AAHA lookup.

This may show which registry already holds the record.

Check for an existing registration before creating another one.

Several correct records can sometimes help.

However, duplicate records with different contact details can slow down tracing.

Keep the same information in every active registry.

How to check whether your pet’s chip is registered

Check the number through:

  • The AAHA Microchip Registry Lookup
  • The registry named on the microchip certificate
  • The registry used by the vet, shelter, breeder or rescue
  • Databases in countries where the pet has lived

A public search may only confirm which registry holds the record.

It should not reveal the owner’s private information.

If no registry appears, contact the vet or organisation that supplied the chip.

Do not create a conflicting registration until you understand the existing record.

How to update a Canadian microchip registration

Update every active record when:

  • You move home
  • Your telephone number changes
  • Your email address changes
  • The animal moves to a new owner
  • The animal goes missing
  • The animal is found again
  • The animal moves abroad
  • The animal dies

Most registries allow some updates online.

Other changes may require a telephone call or supporting documents.

Remember to update any municipal pet licence separately.

How to transfer a Canadian microchip registration

The process depends on the registry.

The former owner may need to start or approve the transfer.

The new owner may need to accept it or provide proof.

You may be asked for:

  • An adoption contract
  • A purchase agreement
  • Written permission from the former owner
  • Veterinary records
  • Your identification

Some registries complete transfers without a fee.

Others may charge an administration fee.

After the transfer, check your telephone number, email address and home address.

What if the pet is still registered to someone else?

Contact the former owner, shelter, rescue or breeder first.

Ask them to start or approve the transfer.

If they cannot help, contact the registry directly.

Explain how the animal came into your care.

Send any documents the registry requests.

A registry record shows who is listed as the contact person.

It may not settle an ownership dispute on its own.

Buying or adopting a pet in Canada

Ask for the microchip number before taking the animal home.

Also ask for:

  • The name of the microchip registry
  • The registration or account information
  • Vaccination records
  • An adoption or purchase agreement
  • A municipal licence, when required
  • Foreign registration documents, when relevant

Ask a vet or shelter to scan the chip.

Check that the scanned number matches the documents.

The former owner, breeder, shelter or rescue should help transfer the registry record.

What about a pet adopted from a foreign rescue?

Ask the rescue which records already exist.

Also ask:

  • Who is named in the foreign registry
  • Which database holds the chip record
  • Who will update the existing record
  • Who will create or confirm the Canadian registration
  • Whether the rabies and import documents are complete

A pet adopted into Canada may need active records in both countries.

Keep the foreign registration active until the Canadian record is confirmed.

What should you do if your pet goes missing?

Report the animal as missing to every active microchip registry.

Do this as soon as possible.

Check that your telephone number is correct.

Also:

  • Contact local veterinary clinics
  • Contact animal shelters and rescue groups
  • Contact municipal animal services
  • Check local found-pet listings
  • Inform the police when theft may be involved
  • Share a clear photograph
  • Include the place and date where the animal disappeared

Do not publish the complete microchip number online.

Keep part of it private so that ownership claims can be checked.

When the animal returns, close every missing-pet report.

Bringing an imported pet to Canada

A foreign microchip registration does not automatically create a Canadian record.

After arrival, ask a Canadian vet to scan the animal.

Take:

  • The animal
  • Its veterinary or official health certificate
  • Its rabies vaccination record
  • The microchip certificate, when available
  • Your Canadian contact details
  • Any foreign registry information

A readable foreign chip does not normally need to be replaced.

You can add the existing number to a Canadian registry that accepts outside chips.

Keep the foreign registration active until the Canadian record is confirmed.

Canada’s import requirements depend on the species, age, country of origin and reason for travel.

Check the latest Canadian Food Inspection Agency guidance before travelling.

Travelling with a pet to or from Canada

Microchip registration and border rules are separate.

The destination country decides which documents are required.

A pet may need:

  • An ISO-compatible microchip
  • A valid rabies vaccination
  • A veterinary health certificate
  • A rabies antibody blood test
  • Parasite treatment
  • An import permit

Some steps must be completed in a strict order.

For example, the European Union normally requires the pet to be identified before the rabies vaccination used for travel.

Many destinations also require an export certificate completed by a veterinarian and endorsed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Start preparing early.

Check the official destination rules before every journey.

Read the CFIA pet export guidance.

Travelling from Canada to the European Union

Dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from Canada to the EU normally need:

  • A readable microchip
  • A rabies vaccination given after identification
  • The correct EU animal health certificate
  • Entry through an approved travellers’ point
  • Additional treatment for some destinations

Canada is generally a listed country for EU pet travel.

A rabies antibody titre test is not normally required for a standard non-commercial journey directly from Canada.

The certificate must be completed and endorsed before departure.

Check the latest CFIA guidance for non-commercial travel to the EU.

What about travelling to the United States?

Dogs entering the United States must meet current US entry rules.

The requirements can depend on:

  • The dog’s age
  • Where the dog has been during the previous six months
  • Its rabies history
  • Whether the microchip can be read
  • The reason for travel

Rules are stricter when a dog has recently been in a country considered high risk for dog rabies.

Check current Canadian and United States government guidance before travelling.

Useful Canadian microchip links

AAHA Microchip Registry Lookup
Identify a registry connected to a microchip

24Petwatch
Canadian and North American microchip registry

EIDAP
Canadian animal identification and microchip registry

EIDAP microchip lookup
Search an EIDAP chip number

BC Pet Registry
Pet registry operated by the BC SPCA

Canadian Kennel Club
Read information about CANADACHIP

Animal-ID
Create an additional global microchip registration

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Read official Canadian pet import guidance

CFIA pet export guidance
Check official export certificates and destination guidance

CFIA guidance for travel to the EU
Read the requirements for non-commercial EU pet travel