Registration and microchipping of dogs, and dog passports

Are you a dog breeder or dog importer? Then you keep pets on a ommercial basis. You can only sell or transfer ownership of a dog if it is registered in the Identification and Registration system for dogs (I&R Hond).  You need to register yourself and the animals, and every dog you sell or import must have a European pet passport. This should help to prevent illegal dog trade and improve the animals' health.

Register your company

Dog breeders and importers must register with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO, in Dutch). You will receive a Unique Company Number (Uniek Bedrijfsnummer, UBN). You need the UBN to register and microchip the dog, and to apply for a European pet passport.

Microchip your dog

Within 7 weeks after its birth, dog breeders must have the dog microchipped. Only registered microchippers and veterinarians are allowed to microchip dogs. Contact RVO if you are looking for an authorised microchipping professional. The veterinarian or microchipping professional will register the dog’s microchip number within 2 days via one of the designated portals (in Dutch).

Registering dogs: for breeders

Dog breeders must register the birth of a pup at a designated portal (in Dutch). You do so within 8 weeks after the pup’s birth and within 1 week of the microchipping.You need the mother’s microchip number to do so.

Deregistering puppies

Will the puppy move to a new owner (keeper)? Then you need to deregister the puppy from the portal (in Dutch). Did you get a registration number or safe code upon registration of the pup? Then you will have to pass this on to the new owner. The new keeper needs to register the pup again at one of the portals. This way the new address is recorded.

Registering dogs: for importers

Dog importers must have a veterinarian register the dog with your UBN within 2 weeks after arrival in the Netherlands (in Dutch). This is called an import declaration. The veterinarian must examine the dog for this purpose. The veterinarian will register the import, microchip number, and the pet passport at an designated portal (in Dutch). If the dog does not have a microchip or passport, the veterinarian has to microchip the dog and issue a pet passport.

Note that private dog owners who breed a dog only once, who import a dog from abroad, or have an unregistered dog also need to apply for a UBN (RVO, in Dutch). A dog cannot be microchipped without a UBN.

EU pet passport

Every dog in the Netherlands have a European pet passport if it:

• changes owner (is bought, sold, or given away), or
• is born on or after 1 November 2021, or
• has come from an EU country after 1 November 2021, or
• will be moved abroad.

You request the EU pet passport from the veterinarian (in Dutch). The veterinarian will then register the passport number at one of the designated portals (in Dutch).

Pet passport for puppies

Dog breeders must have a passport for the dog within 7 weeks after its birth. If the dog is sold or placed in a new home, you must deregister the dog. Their new owner must then re-register the dog under their ownership.

Pet passport for dogs from outside the EU

Do you import a dog from a country outside the EU (third country) that does not have a European pet passport? The veterinarian must issue a passport for the dog. The veterinarian registers the import, the microchip number, and the passport at one of the designated portals (in Dutch).