dog being microchipped

Countries That Require a Microchip

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Although not all countries require your pet be microchipped, every traveling pet owner should seriously consider getting their pet microchipped. The rationale behind this is twofold. One is that countries that require a microchip will verify your pet’s identity against the chip on all required documentation. The other rational is that, if your pet becomes separated from you, whether it’s at home or in a foreign country, the likelihood of being reunited with them is greatly reduced without proper microchip identification.

All European Union (EU) Member Countries and many other countries of the world require that a pet microchip must first be implanted in your pet to identify it. The ISO (International Standards Organization) requires that the microchip meet specifications 11784 or Annex A to standard11785. Basically, this is a 15-digit (all numbers, no letters) non-encrypted microchip which operates at 134.2 kHz.

This is the microchip that veterinarians and animal shelters most likely have the ability to scan. If the microchip does not conform to ISO Standards, a standard universal microchip scanner may not be able to read it when the animal is checked at the time of travel. It further means that if your pet is lost while in another country, the animal shelter or veterinarian who finds the pet may not be able to access the database and arrange for the pet’s return to its owner.

Related: If your pet has a different microchip, we recommend you carry your own pet microchip scanner.

Here is a list of countries that require a microchip as part of their pet import requirements. Click on any country to review pet import requirements.

So, if you are thinking of heading to any of these countries, stop by your local veterinarian and ask them to implant an ISO compliant pet microchip in your pet. It is a quick and easy way to identify your pet. Then you can travel to countries that require a microchip knowing that your pet is protected. Oh, don’t forget to register your pet’s microchip in the Pet Link database! It’s free. Safe and happy travels.

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