Microchipping and registration: is it mandatory for your dog?

In both Belgium and the Netherlands, it’s mandatory to have your dog chipped and centrally registered. In Belgium this happens via the DogID platform; in the Netherlands via an RVO-approved database. In both countries, only a vet is allowed to insert the chip and arrange the registration, so this isn’t something you sort out yourself.

This article gives general information about the regulations, not legal advice. Unsure about your specific situation? Check with your vet or, in the Netherlands, with the RVO.

Why is chipping mandatory?

A chip with a unique ID number, linked to a central database and the owner’s details, makes it possible to reunite a lost or stolen dog with their owner, to prove that you’re responsible for a dog (for example towards a seller), and to better control the dog trade. So it’s both an animal welfare measure and a traceability measure.

Belgium: DogID

DogID is the platform for registering dogs on Belgian territory, a joint initiative of the three regions (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels). In practice: every dog in Belgium must be chipped and registered in DogID. Puppies can be chipped from 6 weeks old, and every dog older than 8 weeks must be chipped, including a dog you take over from someone else. A foreign dog staying in Belgium for 6 months or longer must also be chipped. Only a vet may insert the chip, during a consultation.

DogID also issues the EU pet passport, which you need to travel across the border with your dog. See travel documents for your dog. For the exact history and current rates, check dogid.be itself or your vet, since these can change. Still looking for a practice? See choosing a vet: what should you look for.

The Netherlands: chip and registration requirement via RVO

In the Netherlands, the chip and registration requirement applies to dogs born on or after 1 November 2021: the puppy must be chipped within 7 weeks of birth, and registered within 8 weeks of birth with a registration portal approved by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Breeders need their own Unique Business Number (UBN) for this. Compliance is overseen by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).

Chip before vaccination: a fixed order across the EU

An important fact that applies EU-wide: for a valid rabies vaccination (needed for the EU pet passport) the dog must be at least 12 weeks old on the day of vaccination, and the chip must already be in place before or on the day of that vaccination. In practice, chipping is therefore often done well before that 12-week mark, especially by breeders who chip before selling. See also travel documents for your dog.

What if your dog is already chipped but you’re unsure about the registration?

If you’re unsure, or you’re taking over a dog (for example through adoption or a private seller), you can have the chip scanned at a vet and check whether the registration is correct and up to date with the relevant platform (DogID in Belgium, the RVO portal in the Netherlands). Make sure your own contact details are up to date, especially after a move.

Frequently asked questions

From what age does my puppy need to be chipped? In Belgium this can be done from 6 weeks and must be done by 8 weeks at the latest; in the Netherlands (for puppies born on or after 1 November 2021) within 7 weeks of birth. In both countries, the chip must be in place before the first rabies vaccination regardless.

What does chipping and registering cost? This varies by vet and by country. Ask your vet for a current price quote.

Can I register my dog myself without a vet? No, in both countries this goes through a vet or an approved portal, not through self-registration.

Does the registration also apply across the border (BE–NL)? Both countries work with their own national system; the EU pet passport is the document you need to travel across the border. See travel documents for your dog.