Pet Microchips in Mexico: RUAC and Tracing

This guide explains how pet microchip registration works in Mexico, where to check a Mexican microchip, and what to do if the number is not found.

In this guide:

Microchip numbers in Mexico
Found pet with a Mexican microchip
Microchip not found
Mexican microchip databases
How ChipTrace searches Mexico
Registering a microchip
Checking and updating registration
Buying, adopting and moving
Missing pets, imported pets and travel
Useful links

If you already have a microchip number, start with ChipTrace. It can help you check possible databases, country clues and manufacturer routes before you contact registries manually.

What do Mexican microchip numbers look like?

Modern pet microchips normally contain 15 digits.

The official ISO numeric country code for Mexico is:

484

A Mexican country-coded microchip could technically begin with 484.

However, in Mexico, country-coded microchip numbers are used for livestock rather than companion animals.

Dogs and cats are usually chipped with manufacturer-coded microchips. These numbers start with the digit 9.

Manufacturer-coded numbers may be used in several countries, so they do not prove where the pet was chipped or registered.

Pets chipped in another country before moving to Mexico may also have a different format.

This is common with:

Pets from the United States or Canada
Imported dogs and cats
Pets adopted through foreign rescues
Animals that moved to Mexico with their families

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

The first digits of a microchip number can give a clue about origin. They do not prove where the animal lives or which database holds the registration.

Read our guide to pet microchip numbers for more information.

Example formats commonly found in Mexico

Many different microchip numbers can be found in Mexico. These examples show a few common formats, but many other variations exist.

985123456789012 — manufacturer-coded microchip
945123456789012 — manufacturer-coded microchip
840123456789012 — United States country-coded microchip
124123456789012 — Canadian country-coded microchip

What should you do if you find a pet with a Mexican microchip number?

Follow these tracing steps to help reunite the animal with its owner.

Ask a vet, shelter, rescue or animal service to scan the animal and confirm the complete microchip number.
Use ChipTrace to check Registro Animal México through WorldPetNet and other available international databases.
Search Registro Animal México directly.
Search WorldPetNet.
Use the AAHA registry lookup when a United States registration may be involved.
Ask about any state or municipal registration.
Check databases in countries where the animal may have lived.
Contact any vet, shelter, rescue or breeder that may be connected to the animal.

A successful search may identify which database or organisation holds the record. The database, vet, shelter or another organisation may then be able to contact the registered owner.

Do not expect to receive the owner’s full private details directly.

Do not publish the complete microchip number online. Keep part of the number private so that ownership claims can be checked safely.

Also remember that not every outdoor cat is lost. Some owned cats in Mexico are allowed to roam near their homes.

Look for signs that the cat is injured, frightened, displaced or unfamiliar with the area before taking further action.

Read Found a Microchipped Pet? What to Do Next for practical advice.

What if the microchip number is not found in any database?

A microchip not found in a database is not always the end of the trace.

First, ask a vet, shelter or animal service to scan the animal again and confirm every digit. One wrong digit can return no result.

Possible causes and next steps:

The chip was implanted but never registered. Ask the vet, breeder, shelter or rescue to check their records and try the relevant database again.
Someone entered the number incorrectly. Re-scan the animal and search again with the verified number.
The record exists only in a local file. A vet clinic, shelter, rescue, breeder or local authority may hold information that is not visible in a public search.
The animal is still registered in another country. Check the United States, Canada or any other country where the animal may have lived.
The database is temporarily unavailable. Retry later and ask an authorised organisation to check.
The chip may need a manufacturer trace-back. Contact the microchip manufacturer or distributor when no registration is found.

Extra tracing routes to try

Use ChipTrace again after confirming the number. It can also suggest possible country, manufacturer or distributor clues.
Search Registro Animal México directly.
Search WorldPetNet.
Use AAHA when a United States registration may be involved.
Check databases in countries where the animal may have lived.
Contact the microchip manufacturer or distributor.

The manufacturer may be able to identify the distributor that supplied the chip. The distributor may then identify the vet, breeder, shelter or rescue that received it.

That organisation may know where the chip was implanted or may be able to pass the enquiry to the next organisation.

Manufacturers and distributors normally do not give out the owner’s private details. Instead, they may identify the next route or help pass a matched enquiry forward.

Finding the owner is not guaranteed, but these extra steps are often worth trying.

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

Check a Microchip

Which microchip databases are used in Mexico?

Mexico has several pet-identification systems.

There is no single public federal database containing every microchipped pet.

A record may be held by:

Registro Animal México
Another private microchip database
A vet clinic
A shelter, rescue or breeder
A state or municipal pet register
A database in another country

An animal may appear in one system but not another.

Updating one record does not normally update the others. Ask the vet, shelter, rescue or breeder which database was used.

What is Registro Animal México?

Registro Animal México is a private Mexican pet registration and tracing service.

Owners can create a pet record online. Basic registration is currently free, and the website also provides a public microchip-number search.

A record may include:

The microchip number
Information about the animal
The registered owner’s contact details
Photographs
Vet clinic information
Vaccinations and health information
A missing-pet alert

Check every digit carefully when creating a record. One incorrect digit can prevent the registration from being found.

Is Registro Animal México connected internationally?

Yes.

Registro Animal México is connected to WorldPetNet. Its records can therefore appear through the WorldPetNet search network.

This can help when an animal travels or is adopted abroad.

However, no international service searches every database. Keep the original Mexican registration active and current.

How does ChipTrace search Mexico?

ChipTrace searches Registro Animal México automatically through WorldPetNet.

It also checks other available international databases.

A result may show that Registro Animal México holds the registration. ChipTrace does not display the registered owner’s private details.

The database or another authorised organisation can help contact the owner.

When a United States registration may be involved, ChipTrace may also provide the AAHA route.

Read how ChipTrace works for more information about database checks and next-step advice.

What is RUAC in Mexico City?

RUAC stands for Registro Único de Animales de Compañía.

It is the official pet register for Mexico City. The service is only for people who live in Mexico City.

Residents can register their dogs and cats through the RUAC website. Registration is free.

A Llave CDMX account is required. The owner must also provide photographs of the animal.

After registration, a digital card can be viewed in the App CDMX.

Is RUAC registration required?

Yes, for dogs and cats living with owners in Mexico City.

RUAC is described by Mexico City as a required and free register.

The record should be updated after:

A change of owner
A change of home address
The animal’s death

Check the official RUAC website for the latest local instructions.

Is RUAC a public microchip database?

No.

RUAC is mainly a government record linking an animal to its registered owner. It is not a national public microchip lookup service.

A pet can have a RUAC record and a separate searchable microchip registration.

For better protection, use both when relevant:

RUAC or another required local government register
A searchable microchip tracing database

Are microchips required in Mexico?

Mexico does not currently have one general federal rule requiring every privately owned dog and cat to have a microchip.

State and municipal rules may be different. Local identification programmes may also have their own requirements.

A microchip may be needed for:

International travel
Moving permanently to another country
Adoption through some shelters or rescues
Some breeder or kennel records
A local identification programme

Even when it is not required, microchipping and registration are strongly recommended.

A microchip gives an animal permanent identification. However, it only helps when the number is linked to current contact details.

Are cats required to be microchipped?

There is no general federal rule requiring every privately owned cat in Mexico to have a microchip.

Local rules may be different.

Microchipping is still useful for indoor cats. An indoor cat can also escape, and a readable microchip may be required for international travel.

Can I add a global microchip registration?

Yes.

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

Animal-ID allows owners to create a free extra record using an existing microchip number.

An extra record may help when:

The pet travels outside Mexico
The animal is adopted abroad
A finder uses another international search service
The Mexican registration is difficult to find
The animal has a foreign or manufacturer-coded chip

Registro Animal México is already connected to WorldPetNet, so an Animal-ID registration is optional. It can provide another safety net.

It does not replace a Mexican registration or a required local register.

Updating Animal-ID does not update Registro Animal México or RUAC. Keep the same contact details in every active database.

Who can implant and register the microchip?

A vet normally implants the microchip.

The number must then be linked to the animal and owner in a database.

Some vets create the database record for the owner. Others provide a certificate or registration link.

Implanting and registering are different steps. The microchip itself holds only an identification number. Owner contact details are stored in the registry or database.

How to register a pet microchip in Mexico

To register a pet:

Ask a vet or shelter to confirm the complete microchip number.
Check whether the number is already registered.
Find out which database holds the record.
Create or claim the animal’s registration.
Add your current telephone number and email address.
Add an emergency contact when possible.
Check every digit carefully.
Save the registration confirmation.
Check whether a local government registration is also required.

Useful documents may include:

The microchip certificate
The vaccination booklet
Vet records
An adoption contract
A purchase agreement
A foreign registration document
Any state or municipal registration

Does the vet register the chip automatically?

Not always.

Some vets create the database record for the owner. Others provide a certificate or registration link.

Ask the vet:

Which database will hold the record?
Has the registration been completed?
Is the complete microchip number correct?
Is my telephone number included?
Is my email address correct?
How can I update the record later?

Do not assume that implantation means registration is complete.

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

How to register with Registro Animal México

To create a record:

Open the Registro Animal México website.
Create an owner account.
Choose the option to register a pet.
Enter information about the animal.
Add the complete microchip number.
Add your contact details.
Add the vet clinic when known.
Upload photographs when requested.
Check all information carefully.
Complete the registration.

Keep the login and registration confirmation in a safe place.

How to check your pet’s microchip registration

This section is for owners who already know their pet’s microchip number.

It explains how to check where the number is registered and whether the contact details are correct.

If you do not know the microchip number, ask a vet, shelter or rescue to scan the animal first.

To check the registration:

Use ChipTrace to check Registro Animal México through WorldPetNet.
Search Registro Animal México directly.
Search WorldPetNet.
Check any database named on the microchip certificate.
Check any relevant state or municipal system.
Check databases in countries where the animal previously lived.
Use AAHA when a United States registration may be involved.

Check the registered owner’s name, address, telephone number and email address.

Also check that the animal’s status is correct. It should not still be marked as missing, found, transferred or dead.

A public search may only show which database holds the record. It should not show the owner’s full private details.

How to update a Mexican microchip registration

Update every active record when important information changes.

Update the records 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

Private databases and government registers do not normally update each other.

Change each record separately. Updating vet documents alone is not enough.

Update any foreign or international registration separately.

How to transfer a Mexican microchip registration

The process depends on the database holding the record.

The previous owner may need to approve the transfer. The new owner may need to provide proof that the animal is now in their care.

Useful documents may include:

An adoption contract
A purchase agreement
A signed transfer document
Vet records
The microchip certificate
Written confirmation from the previous owner

Contact the database and follow its instructions.

After the transfer, check your name and contact details. Update any local government registration separately.

What if the pet is still registered to someone else?

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

Ask them to help transfer the record.

If they cannot help, contact the database directly. Explain how the animal came into your care and provide any documents the database requests.

A database record shows who is registered as the animal’s contact. It may not settle a legal disagreement about ownership.

Buying or adopting a pet in Mexico

Ask for the complete microchip number before taking the animal home.

Ask a vet, shelter or rescue to check the microchip when possible.

Make sure the number matches every document.

Also ask for:

The vaccination booklet
The name of every database holding the record
Proof of registration
An adoption contract or purchase agreement
Any local registration documents
Travel documents, when relevant
Information about any foreign registration

The previous owner, shelter, rescue or breeder should help transfer every active record.

What about a pet adopted from a Mexican rescue?

Ask the rescue which records already exist.

Also ask:

Whether the animal has been checked for a microchip
Who is named in the microchip database
Which database holds the record
Who will complete the transfer
Who will register the pet in its new country
Whether the rabies and travel documents are complete

A pet adopted abroad may need registrations in Mexico and its destination country.

Keep the Mexican registration active until the new record has been confirmed.

What should you do if your pet goes missing?

Report the animal as missing in every database where it is registered.

Do this as soon as possible.

Check that your telephone number and email address are correct.

Also:

Contact local vets
Contact shelters and rescue groups
Contact the municipal animal service
Check local lost-and-found pet pages
Share a clear photograph and the area 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 Mexico

A foreign registration does not automatically create a Mexican record.

Ask a Mexican vet to check the microchip and documents after arrival.

Take:

The animal
Its vaccination record
Its veterinary passport or official health certificate
The microchip certificate, when available
Your Mexican address and contact details
Any foreign registration documents
An adoption or transfer document, when relevant

A readable foreign or manufacturer-coded chip normally does not need to be replaced.

You can add the existing number to a suitable Mexican database.

Keep the foreign registration active until the Mexican record has been confirmed.

Dogs and cats entering Mexico are inspected by SENASICA.

The documents required depend on the country they travel from.

Since 3 August 2026, dogs and pet birds entering Mexico from the United States need a New World screwworm inspection certificate before entry.

This certificate must be signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian within five days before travel to Mexico. Cats are exempt from this new screwworm certificate requirement.

This is a border health rule. It does not create a Mexican microchip registration and does not replace any other document required for your route.

Cats arriving directly from the United States, and dogs or cats arriving directly from Canada, normally receive a physical inspection by SENASICA.

Animals arriving from other countries normally need a recent health certificate and rabies information.

Check the latest SENASICA pet-entry guidance before travelling.

Travelling with a pet to or from Mexico

Microchip registration and border rules are separate.

The destination country decides which documents are needed.

A pet may need:

A readable microchip
A valid rabies vaccination
A veterinary health certificate
A SENASICA import or export certificate
A New World screwworm inspection certificate for certain routes, including dogs and pet birds entering Mexico from the United States
A rabies antibody blood test
Parasite treatment
An import permit

Some countries require the microchip to be implanted before the rabies vaccination used for travel.

For many destinations, SENASICA issues a Certificado Zoosanitario para Exportación.

This is known as a CZE.

The exact requirements depend on the destination and the direction of travel.

Check the destination-country rules before every journey.

Read the latest SENASICA export guidance.

Travelling from Mexico to the United States

Dogs entering the United States must meet the current CDC rules.

Every dog must normally:

Be at least six months old
Have a readable microchip
Appear healthy when it arrives
Have a completed CDC Dog Import Form

Extra requirements depend on where the dog has been during the previous six months.

A dog that has only been in Mexico, Canada and the United States normally follows the low-risk route.

SENASICA does not normally require a Mexican export certificate for an ordinary pet journey to the United States.

However, the owner must still meet the current United States entry rules.

Check official CDC and SENASICA guidance before travelling.

For travel from Mexico to the European Union, also check the requirements for the animal health certificate and written declaration.

Pet Microchips in Mexico: RUAC, Registration and Tracing