Pet Microchips in Spain: Regional Registers, Registration and Tracing

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Dogs, cats and ferrets in Spain must have a microchip. They must also be registered in the autonomous community where they live. An authorised vet normally handles the process.

Spain does not have one central database where owners register their pets directly.

Each autonomous community has its own identification system. These databases are connected through REIAC, Spain’s national microchip network.

This guide explains how registration works, what documents you may need and what to do when a pet comes from another country.

Is microchipping required in Spain?

Yes. Dogs, cats and ferrets must be identified with a microchip.

They must also be entered in the companion-animal register of the relevant autonomous community.

Different or extra rules may apply to other animals. Ask a local vet when you are unsure.

Implanting and registering are different steps

A microchip contains a unique identification number.

It does not store the owner’s name, address or telephone number.

These details are stored in a separate registration database.

Implanting the chip means placing the microchip beneath the animal’s skin.

Registering the chip means linking the number to the animal and its owner or keeper.

A chip can work correctly but still be difficult to trace when the registration was never completed.

Our guide How to Register a Pet Microchip explains the general registration process in more detail.

Where are pet microchips registered in Spain?

Your pet must be registered in the autonomous community where it lives.

Each community has its own identification database and procedures. Find yours in the list below.

Regional pet microchip registries in Spain

Each autonomous community uses its own animal-identification system. Ceuta and Melilla also have their own registers.

The links below lead to the registry website or the most relevant official information page.

Most new registrations, ownership transfers and formal changes are handled by an authorised vet.

Some registry websites allow owners to view their animals or report them missing. Others are only available to vets and authorised organisations.


REIAC connects the databases of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities and two autonomous cities.

This makes it easier to trace an animal found outside its home region.

REIAC does not replace the regional registration. Changes to the record must normally be made through the relevant regional system.

Who registers the microchip?

An authorised vet normally implants and registers the chip.

A breeder, shelter, rescue organisation or public authority may arrange the first registration before the animal moves to a new home.

Do not assume that the record will change automatically after an adoption, sale or private rehoming.

Ask:

  • Which regional register holds the record?
  • Who will complete the registration or transfer?
  • Who is currently named on the record?
  • Do I need to visit my own vet?
  • Will I receive written confirmation?

How to register a pet microchip in Spain

  1. Book an appointment with an authorised vet.
    Explain whether the animal needs a new chip, a first registration or a change of owner.
  2. Ask the vet to scan the animal.
    The vet should check that the chip works and confirm the full number.
  3. Provide your personal details.
    These may include your name, identity number, address, telephone number and email address.
  4. Provide the animal’s details.
    These usually include the animal’s name, species, breed, sex, colour and date of birth.
  5. Provide proof of ownership when needed.
    This may be an adoption contract, transfer form or purchase agreement.
  6. Sign the required documents.
    The vet will submit the information to the appropriate regional register.
  7. Pay any applicable fee.
    Veterinary and registration charges can vary.
  8. Keep the confirmation.
    Check the chip number and all contact details carefully.

What documents may be required?

The exact requirements depend on the autonomous community and your situation.

You may need:

  • Your DNI, NIE or passport
  • Proof of your address
  • The animal’s vaccination or health record
  • The EU pet passport, when available
  • An adoption contract
  • A purchase agreement
  • A signed transfer form
  • The previous registration certificate

Ask the veterinary clinic what to bring before your appointment.

How do I know whether the registration was completed?

Ask the vet or organisation for written confirmation.

Check that it shows:

  • The full microchip number
  • Your correct name
  • Your current telephone number
  • Your email address
  • Your home address
  • The correct animal details
  • The name of the regional register

You can also enter the chip number in ChipTrace.

Read Pet Microchip Numbers Explained if you are unsure which digits belong to the microchip number.

A public search will not normally show the owner’s private details. It may only show which registry or organisation should be contacted.

Check a Microchip

What is REIAC?

REIAC stands for Red Española de Identificación de Animales de Compañía.

It connects the identification databases used by Spain’s autonomous communities and autonomous cities.

This helps authorised organisations trace pets found in another part of Spain.

For example, a dog may be registered in one community but found in another. REIAC can help identify the regional database that holds the record.

REIAC does not normally change the owner’s details. These changes must be made through the correct regional register.

Does a Spanish microchip number begin with 724?

Not always.

724 is Spain’s ISO numeric country code. Some authorised Spanish country-coded chips may begin with these digits.

However, many pets in Spain have chips that begin with a manufacturer code instead. These codes start with the number 9.

The first three digits alone do not prove that an animal is Spanish or registered in Spain.

The complete number must be checked.

See Pet Microchip Numbers Explained to learn more about country codes, manufacturer codes and why the full number matters.

Can a foreign microchip be registered in Spain?

Usually, an existing readable microchip does not need to be replaced.

A vet should scan the animal and check that:

  • The chip can be read
  • The number matches the animal’s documents
  • The identification meets the required standard
  • The number can be entered in the regional register

Dogs, cats and ferrets arriving from another EU country must keep their original pet passport.

The chip number must be recorded correctly in that passport.

The animal must also be registered in the appropriate Spanish companion-animal register.

Keep the foreign registration active when possible. Update it with your Spanish contact details.

This gives a finder another way to reach you if the pet is found abroad.

What if the foreign chip cannot be read?

Ask the vet to scan the whole animal carefully.

A chip can sometimes move away from the original implantation area.

The vet may also try another compatible scanner.

When the chip cannot be read, the vet will advise whether a new chip is needed.

If a second chip is implanted, both numbers should be recorded in the animal’s documents.

What happens when I move to another autonomous community?

Your pet’s record may need to be transferred to the register used at your new address.

Changing your home address does not always move the registration automatically.

Contact an authorised vet in the new community.

Take:

  • The animal
  • Your identity document
  • The current registration certificate
  • The vaccination record or pet passport
  • Proof of your new address

The vet can explain the transfer process between the two regional systems.

How do I change the registered owner?

A change of owner must be recorded officially.

This may be needed after:

  • Adoption
  • Sale
  • Private rehoming
  • Transfer from a breeder
  • Transfer from a shelter or rescue
  • The death of the previous owner

The previous and new owners may both need to sign the transfer documents.

The new owner may also need to show an adoption contract or other proof.

When the previous owner cannot be contacted, ask the vet or regional register what evidence they will accept.

Do not create a second, conflicting registration.

How do I update my telephone number or address?

Update the registration as soon as your details change.

Some regional systems allow owners to change basic contact details online.

Other changes must be made by an authorised vet.

Update the record after:

  • Moving home
  • Changing your telephone number
  • Changing your email address
  • Changing the emergency contact
  • Moving to another autonomous community
  • Moving to another country

An old telephone number can prevent a finder from reaching you.

What should I do if my pet goes missing?

Report the loss as soon as possible.

Contact:

  • The relevant regional register
  • Your veterinary clinic
  • The local police
  • The town hall or municipal animal service
  • Nearby shelters and rescue organisations

Make sure the telephone number linked to the chip still works.

Do not publish the full microchip number in public posts.

Keep it private so it can help confirm ownership.

Someone who finds your pet can follow the steps in Found a Microchipped Pet? What to Do Next.

What if no Spanish registration can be found?

A missing result does not always mean that the chip is invalid.

Possible reasons include:

  • The number was copied incorrectly
  • The registration is very recent
  • The animal is registered abroad
  • The regional database is temporarily unavailable
  • The chip was implanted but never registered
  • The paperwork was never processed

Our guide Why Can’t I Find a Microchip in Any Database? explains why a valid chip may not appear in a public search.

Ask a vet to scan the animal again and confirm every digit.

ChipTrace may also identify the manufacturer, likely country, regional database or another useful contact.

Can I add an extra global registration?

Yes. An international registration can provide another route back to you.


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

This may help when:

  • The pet travels outside Spain
  • A finder uses an international lookup service
  • The Spanish regional record is difficult to locate
  • The animal was first registered in another country

This is an extra safety net. It does not replace registration in the correct Spanish autonomous community.

Keep the same contact details in every active database.

Spanish microchip registration checklist

  • Ask an authorised vet to scan the chip
  • Confirm the complete microchip number
  • Register the animal in the correct autonomous community
  • Complete any change of owner
  • Keep the registration confirmation
  • Check your telephone number and email address
  • Update the record whenever you move
  • Keep useful foreign registrations active
  • Consider an additional international record
  • Check the chip number with ChipTrace

Check a Spanish pet microchip

Enter the complete microchip number in ChipTrace.

ChipTrace searches connected registries and lookup services.

When no registration is found, it may still provide manufacturer information, country clues and useful next contacts.

Check a Microchip