Microchipping
About microchipping and its benefits
Last updated 31 October 2025
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Responsible pet ownership includes having your pet microchipped. Microchipping, along with proper licensing or registration with AVS, ensures that your pet can be traced and safely returned to you if it goes missing. Dogs, cats, large birds and rabbits are some examples of pets that can be microchipped.
What is a microchip?
A microchip is a tiny transponder the size of a grain of rice. It is a permanent identification system that is implanted under your pet's skin and read by a microchip scanner. It is strongly recommended that microchips conform to ISO (International Standards Organisation) standards 11784 or 11785.
How is microchipping done?
The microchip will be implanted under the loose skin between your pet’s shoulder blades using an injector. The microchip will reveal a unique identification number when scanned with a microchip scanner.
Microchipping can only be performed by a licensed veterinarian. The process is safe and similar to receiving a routine vaccination. Pet owners can visit their preferred veterinary clinic to have their pets microchipped.
Why is microchipping recommended?
Microchips provide the most reliable form of permanent identification for your pet as each microchip carries a unique identification code. When properly licensed with the owner's details, microchipped pets have a significantly higher chance of being reunited with their owners if they go missing. An unregistered chip cannot be traced to an owner.
Unlike visible forms of identification such as collar tags or tattoos, microchips cannot be lost, removed, or become illegible over time. Collar tags can fall off or become damaged, whilst tattoos may fade, blur, or be difficult to locate on a frightened, lost animal that may resist handling by strangers.
Microchipping is also a responsible breeder’s assurance to buyers that the animals being sold are traceable and identifiable.
How do I license my microchipped pet with AVS?
Pet dogs and cats are required to be microchipped and licensed under the Animals and Birds (Licensing and Control of Cats and Dogs) Rules 2024. Please refer to Licensing a Pet for more details on licensing your pet dog or cat via the Pet Animal Licensing System (PALS).
Registration of other pet animals and community animals
Owners of other pets (e.g. large birds and rabbits) and caregivers (e.g. community cats and free-roaming dogs) are strongly encouraged to microchip and register the animals with AVS. Details including the animal’s breed, owner or caregiver name, and contact number can be registered in AVS’ microchip registry here, by following the steps below:
For SingPass Users, login via your SingPass account. For non-SingPass users, create a new account via the “Request New Account” link.
From the e-services page, go to “Microchip Registration for Pets”.
Click on “Register a Pet” and proceed to fill in the necessary information and submit.
Community cat caregivers can find an option in the form to indicate that the cat being registered is a community cat.
For assistance with microchipping of pet cats, please visit this page.
To learn more about the Cat Management Framework, please visit this page.
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