Pet Microchips in the United Kingdom: Approved Databases, Registration and Tracing

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Last updated: 9 August 2026

Dogs across the United Kingdom must be microchipped and registered on an approved database. In England, this also applies to owned cats.

The UK does not have one government database containing every pet microchip registration. Instead, several approved private databases hold the records.

This guide explains how pet microchip registration works in the UK, which databases may hold the record, how UK and foreign chip numbers can look, and what to do if a microchip is not found.

Use it to check the right tracing routes, understand approved UK databases, and prepare the documents you may need as a pet owner, finder, adopter or rescuer.

In this guide:

ChipTrace can help you check available databases, identify possible country or manufacturer clues, and decide the next tracing step.

What do UK microchip numbers look like?

Most modern pet microchips follow the ISO standard and contain 15 digits.

The official ISO numeric country code for the United Kingdom is 826.

A country-coded microchip can begin with 826, but this is not the most common format for everyday cats and dogs in the UK. Many UK pets have manufacturer-coded microchips instead.

Manufacturer-coded microchips start with the digit 9. These numbers may be used in several countries, so they do not prove where the pet was chipped or registered.

Some animals were chipped in another country before moving to the UK.

This is common with:

  • Imported dogs and cats
  • Pets adopted through foreign rescues
  • Animals that moved to the UK with their families
  • Older pets with manufacturer-coded chips

A readable foreign or manufacturer-coded chip can still be registered on an approved UK database.

In short, the first digits can give a clue about origin. They do not prove where the animal lives or which database holds the registration.

Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man have their own ISO country codes. They are not covered by the UK code 826.

Example formats commonly found in the UK

Many different microchip numbers are used in the UK. These examples show common patterns, but many other variations exist.

  • 826123456789012 — UK country-coded microchip, less common for everyday cats and dogs
  • 956123456789012 — manufacturer-coded microchip
  • 981123456789012 — manufacturer-coded microchip
  • 528123456789012 — foreign country-coded microchip

Read our guide to pet microchip numbers for more detailed information and practical steps.

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

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

  1. If you are in the UK and find an animal that appears lost, ask a vet, dog warden, shelter or rescue to scan the animal and confirm the full microchip number.
  2. Use ChipTrace to search connected UK lookup routes and 100+ other databases worldwide.
  3. Open EUROPETNET for a separate manual European search when a UK or foreign European registration may be involved.
  4. Contact local services. A vet, dog warden, shelter, rescue or council service can help check the relevant database and contact the owner.
  5. Contact any breeder, shelter or rescue that may be connected to the animal.

Remember: many owned cats in the UK are allowed to roam outdoors. Do not assume an outdoor cat is lost. Look for signs that the animal is injured, frightened, displaced or unfamiliar with the area before taking further action.

What happens after a UK microchip result is found?

A successful search may show which approved database holds the record. Do not expect to receive the owner’s private details directly.

The database, vet, dog warden, shelter or rescue can then help contact the registered owner.

If the owner cannot be reached, you can post on local social media and leave leaflets at veterinary clinics and shelters. Do not publish the complete microchip number online. Share only part of it so ownership claims can be checked safely.

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

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

Start by asking a vet, shelter, rescue or dog warden 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.
  • Someone entered the number incorrectly. Re-scan the animal and search again with the verified number.
  • The registration is very recent. Ask the database when the record should appear, then try again later.
  • The database is temporarily unavailable. Retry later and ask an authorised organisation to check.
  • The animal is still registered in another country. Use ChipTrace for country or manufacturer clues and open EUROPETNET for a separate manual search.
  • A former UK database closed or transferred records. Ask an approved database or authorised organisation where the record may have moved.

Extra tracing routes to try

  • Use ChipTrace again after confirming the number. It can also suggest a likely country, manufacturer or distributor, including contact information where available.
  • Open EUROPETNET for a separate manual European search.
  • Check databases in countries where the animal may have lived.
  • Contact the microchip manufacturer or distributor. They may identify the distributor who sold the chip and the vet, breeder or rescue that received it.

You can use the email template ChipTrace creates to contact manufacturer/distributor when no registration is found.

Manufacturers and distributors normally do not give out the owner’s private details. Instead, they may identify the distributor that supplied the chip, the vet or organisation that received it, or pass a matched enquiry to the next organisation.

Finding the owner is not guaranteed, but these extra steps often help. If you still cannot trace the owner after checking every route, contact your local shelter, dog warden or council service for advice.

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

Check a Microchip

Which microchip databases are used in the UK?

The UK does not have one central government microchip database.

Several private databases meet the government standards. These are often called approved or Defra-compliant databases.

The databases must share enough information to help lookup services identify where a chip is registered. Updating one database does not normally update another registration.

Can the public search the UK databases?

Yes. UK lookup services provide a public microchip search.

The search may identify which approved database holds the record. It should not show the owner’s full private details.

The finder must contact the database or ask an authorised organisation for help. A vet, dog warden, shelter or rescue may have access to more information for tracing purposes.

How does ChipTrace search the United Kingdom?

ChipTrace searches available UK routes through connected lookup services. These include:

  • MyPetHQ Defra Compliant Registries Search
  • PetScanner UK microchip search

Both services state that they search the approved UK microchip database network.

At the same time, ChipTrace checks 100+ other registries and databases worldwide.

This increases the chance of finding a registration, especially when a pet was imported, adopted through a rescue, moved between countries or has a manufacturer-coded chip.

ChipTrace may not cover every UK database directly. If no result is found, approved UK databases and other official or manual routes may still need to be checked.

ChipTrace shows which databases and services were checked. It does not reveal the registered owner’s private contact details. An approved database, vet, dog warden, shelter, rescue or official organisation must contact the owner.

Read how ChipTrace works for more information about automatic and manual searches.

Which UK databases are currently approved?

The official list can change. Check the current GOV.UK list before paying for a registration.

Approved UK pet microchip databases

  • AnimalData
  • Animal Microchips
  • Animal Tracker
  • ChipHERO
  • Chipped Monkey
  • Chipworks
  • DKC
  • FidoID
  • Greyhound Chip ID – racing greyhounds only
  • HomeAgain
  • Identibase
  • Lost Paws
  • MicroChip Central
  • My Animal Trace
  • MyPet
  • National Veterinary Data Service
  • Pet Database
  • Pet Identity UK
  • Petlog
  • PetScanner
  • ProtectedPet
  • SmartTrace
  • UK PETtrac MicroChip Database
  • We Trace Pets

Use the official GOV.UK guidance to check the latest list.

A company that is not on the official list may not meet the legal registration requirement.

Can EUROPETNET find a UK registration?

Some UK databases take part in EUROPETNET.

Petlog is listed as the main UK member. Chipworks and ProtectedPet are also listed as UK associate members.

A manual EUROPETNET search may therefore identify some UK registrations. However, it does not cover every approved UK database.

ChipTrace provides a button or direct link that opens EUROPETNET. ChipTrace does not perform the EUROPETNET search itself. The user completes the manual search.

If EUROPETNET gives no result, do not assume the animal is unregistered in the UK. Re-check ChipTrace, the approved UK database routes and any relevant foreign databases. Ask a vet, dog warden, shelter or rescue to help.

Are microchips required in the United Kingdom?

The rules depend on the animal and where it lives.

Dogs

Dogs throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland must normally be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old.

The record must contain the current owner’s contact details.

A breeder normally creates the first registration before a puppy moves to its new home. The new owner must then make sure the record is transferred.

Cats in England

Owned cats in England must normally be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old.

This includes cats that live indoors.

Free-living cats with little or no contact with people are not covered by the same rule.

Cats in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Cat microchipping is not currently a general legal requirement in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

However, it is strongly recommended. A microchip provides permanent identification when a cat is lost or injured.

Cats travelling internationally will normally need a readable microchip.

Dogs in Northern Ireland

Dogs in Northern Ireland also need a dog licence.

A licence cannot normally be issued unless the dog has a microchip. The licence and microchip registration are separate records.

Who can implant a microchip?

A trained professional must implant the chip. This may include a vet or another person who has completed approved training.

The professional should confirm the complete number after implantation.

Remember: implanting and registering are separate steps. The microchip itself holds only an identification number. Owner contact details are stored in the database.

A working chip may still be difficult to trace if no one completed the registration.

How to register a pet microchip in the UK

Start by finding which approved database should hold the record.

To register a pet:

  1. Confirm the complete microchip number.
  2. Use ChipTrace to find the approved database where possible.
  3. Contact the database through its official website.
  4. Create or claim the animal’s record.
  5. Add the animal’s details.
  6. Add your name and postal address.
  7. Add your telephone number and email address.
  8. Provide proof of ownership when requested.
  9. Pay any required registration or transfer fee.
  10. Keep the confirmation and account details.

Useful documents may include:

  • The microchip certificate
  • Vet records
  • A pet passport or health certificate
  • An adoption agreement
  • A purchase receipt
  • A transfer code or form
  • A previous registration certificate
  • A foreign registration document

Charges vary between databases. Some offer free basic registration or updates. Others charge for some services.

Does the vet or breeder register the chip automatically?

Not always.

A breeder must normally arrange the first registration for a puppy. A shelter or rescue may also start the registration before adoption. A vet may create a record when the chip is implanted.

However, the new owner may still need to claim or complete the record.

Ask:

  • Which approved database holds the registration?
  • Has the first registration been completed?
  • Who is currently listed on the record?
  • Do I need a transfer code?
  • Do I need to create an account?
  • Are there any fees?

Do not assume that implantation means the registration is complete.

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.

This may help when:

  • The pet travels outside the UK
  • The animal was first registered in another country
  • A finder uses an international search service
  • The UK registration is difficult to identify from abroad
  • The animal has a foreign or manufacturer-coded chip

Important: an extra global registration is a safety net. It does not replace registration on an approved UK database.

Updating Animal-ID does not update the approved UK record. Keep the same contact details in every active registration.

How to check your pet’s microchip registration

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

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

To check the registration:

  • Use ChipTrace to search available UK database routes and 100+ other databases worldwide.
  • Check which database is named in the result.
  • Sign in to the owner account for that database.
  • Contact the database if you cannot access the record.
  • Compare the number with the microchip certificate and vet records.
  • Check any foreign database where the pet was previously registered.

When checking, confirm 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, stolen, transferred or deceased.

A public lookup may identify the database without showing your personal information. This is normal.

How to update a UK microchip registration

Contact the approved database that holds the record.

Update the registration when:

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

The database may allow online changes through an owner account. It may charge a fee for some updates.

Updating vet records or a pet passport does not update the database. Change every active UK and foreign registration separately.

Check the record at least once a year.

What happens when you move within the UK?

You normally do not need to change databases when you move between UK regions.

Update the existing record with your new address and contact details.

However, local rules may still be different. For example, a dog moving to Northern Ireland will also need a Northern Ireland dog licence.

How to transfer a UK microchip registration

The microchip record must be transferred when a pet moves to a new owner.

Do not assume that the database will change the record automatically.

Ask the previous owner, breeder, shelter or rescue for:

  • The complete microchip number
  • The database name
  • The registration certificate
  • A transfer code or form
  • An adoption agreement or purchase receipt

Some organisations start the transfer for the new owner. Others expect the new owner to complete it.

After the transfer, sign in and check your own details.

What if the pet is still registered to someone else?

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

Ask them to approve or begin the transfer.

If this is not possible, contact the database directly.

The database may ask for:

  • An adoption agreement
  • A purchase receipt
  • A signed transfer form
  • Vet records
  • Proof that you tried to contact the previous owner
  • Proof that the animal is now in your care

Do not create false information or a conflicting registration.

A database record shows who is registered as responsible for the animal. It may not settle a legal disagreement about ownership on its own.

Buying or adopting a pet in the UK

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 name of the approved database
  • The registration certificate
  • A transfer code or form
  • Vet and vaccination records
  • A pet passport, when available
  • An adoption agreement or purchase receipt
  • Information about any foreign registration

A puppy should already be microchipped and registered before it moves to its new home.

An owned cat in England should also be registered by 20 weeks old.

The new owner must make sure the record is transferred and updated.

What about a pet adopted from a foreign rescue?

Ask the rescue which registrations already exist.

Also ask:

  • Whether the animal has been checked for a microchip
  • Who is named in the passport or health certificate
  • Which foreign database holds the record
  • Who will update the foreign registration
  • Who will create the approved UK registration
  • Whether the health and travel documents are complete

A foreign registration does not replace the required UK registration.

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

What should you do if your pet goes missing?

Contact the microchip database as soon as possible.

Ask it to mark the animal as missing. Also check that your telephone number and email address are correct.

Also:

  • Contact local vets
  • Contact shelters and rescue groups
  • Contact the local dog warden when a dog is missing
  • Contact the council
  • Check local lost-and-found pet groups
  • Share a clear photograph and the area where the animal disappeared

Do not publish the complete microchip number online. If someone finds your pet, another person could copy the full number from your public post and try to claim the animal as theirs.

Share only part of the microchip number publicly. Keep the full number for vets, shelters, dog wardens, the database and trusted organisations helping with the search.

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

Bringing an imported pet to the UK

A foreign registration does not automatically create an approved UK record.

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

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

Take:

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

Check that the microchip number matches every document.

Register the existing number with an approved UK database.

Keep the foreign registration active until the UK record has been confirmed. Then update the foreign record with your new contact details when possible.

Travelling with a pet to or from the United Kingdom

Microchip registration and border rules are separate.

The rules depend on whether the journey involves Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the EU or another country.

Bringing a pet to Great Britain

Great Britain means England, Scotland and Wales.

Dogs, cats and ferrets normally need:

  • A readable microchip
  • A valid rabies vaccination
  • A valid pet passport or health certificate
  • Tapeworm treatment for dogs when required
  • Travel on an approved route

The microchip must normally be implanted before, or on the same day as, the rabies vaccination used for travel.

Check the current Great Britain pet-entry rules before travelling.

Travelling from Great Britain to the European Union

People living in England, Scotland or Wales should normally obtain an Animal Health Certificate for each journey to the EU.

Since 22 April 2026, GB residents should not normally use an EU pet passport to enter the EU.

The pet will normally need:

A first rabies vaccination normally becomes valid after at least 21 full days.

Check the destination country’s rules before travelling.

Travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Most people living in Great Britain need a free Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document.

This applies when taking a dog, cat or ferret directly from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

The pet must have a microchip. The number on the travel document must match the implanted microchip.

The document normally lasts for as long as the person owns the pet.

Residents of Northern Ireland do not need this document for travel to and from Great Britain.

Different rules apply when the animal will continue to Ireland or another EU country.

Check the latest Northern Ireland travel guidance.

Approved UK microchip databases
Check the current official database list and microchipping rules

MyPetHQ
Search the UK microchip database network through MyPetHQ

PetScanner
Search for a UK pet microchip through PetScanner

EUROPETNET
Complete a separate manual European microchip search

Great Britain pet-entry rules
Check current rules for bringing a pet to Great Britain

Taking a pet abroad
Check current UK pet-travel documents and requirements