Is microchipping the same as registering my pet?

No. A microchip only holds a number. Registering links that number to your name and contact details on a microchip database, so your pet can be traced back to you. A pet can be microchipped and still not be registered, or be registered with old details. Either way, the chip can't bring them home.

How microchips work

Every microchip has a unique 15-digit number, and is implanted under the skin by a vet or authorised implanter.
The chip has no battery and no GPS. It's read with a microchip scanner, which every vet clinic and council uses.
When a lost pet is scanned, the vet or council searches the number on the national databases and contacts the owner listed against it.

Microchip databases in Australia

There are four nationally recognised databases where a pet's microchip can be listed:

Central Animal Records
Australasian Animal Registry
Global Micro Animal Registry
PetSafe

New South Wales and South Australia also have their own state registers, which are compulsory for pets in those states:

NSW Pet Registry
Dogs and Cats Online (SA)

If you live in NSW or SA, your pet must be on your state register. A national listing doesn't replace it.

Council registration is separate

Registering your pet's microchip on a database is not the same as registering your pet with your local council. Council registration is handled by your local council, and the rules, fees and renewal periods vary by state and council. Check with your local council for what applies to you.

Is your pet registered?

Check for free with our microchip checker. It tells you whether the chip is listed with Central Animal Records, on another national database, or not listed anywhere. See How do I check if my pet's microchip is registered, and which database it's on?

If your pet isn't listed, you can list them with Central Animal Records online from $13.99. List your pet here.

Why it matters

Central Animal Records has helped reunite lost pets with their owners since 1989, and today helps reunite over 200,000 lost pets every year. Vets, councils and authorised animal welfare organisations across Australia use our records every day to get scanned pets home. That only works when the microchip is registered and the details are up to date.