Guide · Identification
Pet microchipping law in the UK
A microchip only works if the details behind it are right. Most chips that fail to reunite a lost pet with its owner are registered to an old address or a previous keeper — here is what the law asks for and how to fix a stale record.
Last reviewed: 2 September 2026
In short
What the law requires
| Pet | Deadline | Applies in |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs | By 8 weeks old, before rehoming | England, Scotland, Wales, NI |
| Cats | By 20 weeks old | England (since 10 June 2024) |
| All chipped pets | Details kept up to date at all times | UK-wide |
The breeder or rescue is the first registered keeper. When you take the pet on, the record must be transferred to you — that step is missed surprisingly often, and it only comes to light when a stray is scanned.
Cat microchipping: the 2024 law explained
Since 10 June 2024, all pet cats in England must be microchipped and registered on a compliant database before they reach 20 weeks old. Keepers who don't comply can be given 21 days to get the chip done and face a fine of up to £500. The law applies to indoor cats too — they're often the ones that slip out and get lost.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have not yet introduced an equivalent requirement, but chipping is strongly recommended wherever you live: it's the single most reliable way a lost cat finds its way home, and most rescues chip before adoption as standard. Wherever you are in the UK, the rule that matters most is the same — keep the registered details current.
Cost and where to get it done
Chipping typically costs somewhere between about £10 and £30 at a vet practice, and is often free or heavily subsidised at charity clinics and rehoming centres. It is frequently bundled into a puppy or kitten first-vaccination package, so ask before paying separately.
Updating your details after a move
Your vet does not hold the registration — the database does. Contact the database directly with the 15-digit chip number, and expect to confirm the account holder's details or supply a transfer code from the previous keeper. Update the record the same week you move, along with any new mobile number: an out-of-date phone number is the most common reason a found pet is not reunited quickly.
Finding out which database holds the chip
Several compliant databases operate in the UK, and a pet is only on one of them. A chip checker service will search across them from the 15-digit number, or any vet, rescue or dog warden can scan the pet and tell you where the record sits.
Keeping the number where you can find it
The chip number lives on a slip of paper handed over at eight weeks and is rarely seen again. Store it alongside your pet's vaccination dates, insurance policy number and vet contact details so you can quote it instantly if your pet goes missing. Pawfile keeps the microchip number on the pet profile and puts it on the emergency summary you can share with a vet or carer.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. Vaccination protocols vary by country, brand of vaccine and your pet's individual risk. Always follow the schedule your own vet recommends. Pawfile is an admin tool for keeping those records and reminders organised — it does not diagnose or treat.
Common questions
- Is microchipping a legal requirement in the UK?
- Yes. Dogs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. Since 10 June 2024, cats in England must also be microchipped by 20 weeks old. The details on the database must be kept up to date.
- Do cats have to be microchipped by law in the UK?
- In England, yes — since 10 June 2024 all pet cats must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old, and keepers can be fined up to £500 for not complying. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland it is not yet a legal requirement, though it is strongly recommended and often required by rescues and insurers.
- When did cat microchipping become law in the UK?
- Compulsory cat microchipping came into force in England on 10 June 2024. Cats must be chipped before they reach 20 weeks of age, and the keeper's contact details must be kept up to date on a compliant database. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have not yet introduced an equivalent law.
- Is it law to have your cat microchipped in Scotland?
- No — the 2024 law applies to England only. Microchipping your cat in Scotland is voluntary but widely recommended: a chipped cat is far more likely to be reunited with you if it strays, and many rehoming charities chip before adoption as standard.
- How do I change the details on my pet's microchip?
- Contact the database the chip is registered with — not your vet. You need the 15-digit chip number and usually the account holder's details or a transfer code from the previous keeper. Most databases charge a small one-off fee or nothing at all for an address change.
- How do I find out which database my pet's chip is on?
- Use a chip checker service that searches the UK's compliant databases with the 15-digit number, or ask a vet or rescue centre to scan the pet and look it up for you.
- What is the fine for an unchipped dog?
- Keepers can be served a notice giving 21 days to get the dog chipped; failing to comply can lead to a fine of up to £500. The same enforcement approach applies to cats in England.
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