At what age must a dog be microchipped?

In France, identification is compulsory before 4 months of age , and always before a sale or a gift. A puppy from a breeder or a shelter is usually already identified: check on the transfer contract.

Is the microchip really compulsory for a dog?

Yes. Every dog must be identified by chip (or by an old, legible tattoo) and registered with I-CAD. An unidentified dog means a €750 fine, and no transfer is legal without identification.

How do I change the owner on I-CAD?

It's the person giving or selling the dog who declares the change of keeper to I-CAD, online or via the transfer form. Until that's done, they're the one who stays responsible for the dog. Then remember to check that your own contact details are up to date.

How much does fitting a microchip cost?

A few tens of euros at the vet, and it's often already included in the price of a breeder's puppy or a shelter adoption. Only the clinic can give the exact price, and cost is never a reason to put off identification.

I've moved house, how do I update the chip's contact details?

Log in to your account on i-cad.fr and correct your address and phone number. It's the most commonly forgotten step: a chip linked to an old number leaves your dog untraceable, even when everyone means well.

Compulsory dog identification: microchip, tattoo and I-CAD

Rights, paperwork & daily lifePart of · Rights, paperwork & daily life

Compulsory dog identification: microchip, tattoo and I-CAD

Q: Is identifying a dog compulsory in France?

Yes, it's a legal obligation (Code rural, art. L212-10) for every dog: before 4 months and before any transfer. Beyond the law, it's above all what makes it possible to find a lost dog.

6 min read

A legal duty, and the way a lost dog finds its way home

The microchip is the only reliable link between a lost dog and its home: vets, rescues, pounds, the I-CAD database. If your dog goes missing, any vet or rescue can read that number and contact you. It is also the law (French Rural Code, art. L212-10): if your dog is not identified, you face a fine of up to €750, and you cannot legally sell or give him away, even for free, without identification.

Two deadlines, and whichever comes first is the one that counts: before the age of 4 months, and before any transfer (sale, gift, adoption), even a free one. A puppy bought from a breeder or adopted from a rescue should already be identified: check it on the transfer certificate.

The steps, in order

Four moves are enough, and most of them are settled in a single visit.

Book an appointment with the vet

Implanting the chip is a quick veterinary act, barely more uncomfortable than a vaccination. A legible tattoo already in place remains valid: nothing to redo.

Check the I-CAD registration

The vet sends the number to the national database. Without that registration, the chip is useless.

Keep your identification card

It carries your dog's number and confirms he is registered in your name with I-CAD. Keep it with the transfer certificate, your real proof of purchase or gift.

Keep your contact details up to date

Correct your phone number and address on i-cad.fr every time they change. A chip linked to an old number will not get anyone through to you if something happens.

Depending on your situation

You are giving away or adopting the dog

Declare the change of keeper to I-CAD: this declaration officially puts the dog in your name.
Until that is done, the previous keeper stays responsible for the dog, not you.
Hand over (or ask for) the transfer certificate and the identification number.

You move house or change number

Update your address and phone number on i-cad.fr.
It is the number one reason things fail: the chip is read, but the number called no longer exists.

Your dog has gone missing

Report the loss on i-cad.fr or through the Filalapat app, with your identification number.
There is no legal deadline: do it straight away. Once the loss is reported, the slightest scan of the chip at a vet or a rescue alerts you immediately.
Tell the local vets, the town hall and the rescues in the area as well.

You find a stray dog

Have the chip read free of charge at a vet.
Call the town hall, which is responsible for stray animals, and report the found animal on i-cad.fr.
You cannot legally keep him at home: reporting him is what helps him get back to his real family.

The tattoo is still a legally recognised form of identification, as long as it is perfectly legible. In practice, vets today almost always implant a microchip: more reliable, easier to read. To travel within the European Union, a tattoo is only accepted if it was done before 3 July 2011 and is still legible; otherwise, your dog must carry an ISO-standard microchip, the standard recognised across Europe.

Compulsory identification of domestic carnivores (art. L212-10), Code rural et de la pêche maritime
What to do if a pet goes missing (factsheet F24029), service-public.gouv.fr
National identification database for domestic carnivores and the Filalapat app, I-CAD
The mayor's duties regarding dogs and cats, Ministère de l'Agriculture

Going further

guideHe runs off / escapesA properly identified dog is found far more quickly if he escapes: how to prevent it, and what to do in the first few hours.Read the guide guideThe real cost of a dogThe full budget for a dog, identification included, with routine care and the unexpected.Read the guide guideSpotting a responsible breeder (and avoiding the traps)A serious breeder always provides the paperwork and a properly registered chip: the signs that keep you from being taken in.Read the guide guideTravelling in Europe with your dog: passport, rabies and rulesTo travel in Europe, your dog's chip must be in order: what the European pet passport requires.Read the guide guideCategory dogs in France: the law, the permit, your dutiesFor a categorised dog, identification comes on top of other legal duties worth knowing.Read the guide guidePublic liability: who pays if your dog causes damageChip or no chip, the owner remains liable: what the law says when damage is done.Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

At what age should a dog be microchipped?

In France, your dog must be identified before the age of 4 months, and in any case before any sale or gift. A puppy from a breeder or a rescue should already be identified: check it on the transfer certificate.

Is a microchip compulsory for a dog?

Yes. Every dog must be identified by microchip (or by an older, still legible tattoo) and registered with I-CAD. If yours is not, you face a fine of up to €750, and you cannot legally sell or give him away without that identification.

How do you change the owner on I-CAD?

It is the person giving or selling the dog who declares the change of keeper to I-CAD, online or via the transfer certificate. Until that is done, they remain responsible for the dog. Then check that your own contact details are properly up to date.

Is identifying a dog compulsory in France?

Yes, it is a legal obligation (French Rural Code, art. L212-10) for every dog: before 4 months and before any transfer. Beyond the law, it is above all what brings a lost dog home.

How much does microchipping cost?

A few tens of euros at the vet, and it is often already included in the price of a puppy from a breeder or an adoption from a rescue. Only the clinic can give the exact price, and the cost is never a reason to put identification off.

I have moved house, how do I update the details linked to the chip?

Log in to your account on i-cad.fr and correct your address and phone number. It is the most commonly forgotten step: a chip linked to an old number leaves your dog untraceable, even when everyone involved wants to help.

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