Travel
Microchip requirements by destination
In short
A microchip is a small implanted identification chip. Whether one is required, and when it must go in, is set separately by each destination's own authority.
Key points
- The rows below come from Great Britain's and the US CDC's own pages. Each applies only to the trip it names.
- Destinations not listed here are not covered by this entry yet.
Great Britain
United Kingdom (Great Britain): Microchip first
The microchip must go in before the rabies vaccine or on the same visit; otherwise the vaccine has to be repeated. Chips meeting ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 can be read by staff on approved routes. [GOV.UK: Bring your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain]
United States (CDC, dogs)
United States: Dogs: only in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries in the past 6 months
Microchip
Dogs must have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them.
United States: Dogs vaccinated in the U.S. that were in a high-risk country in the past 6 months
Microchip before vaccine
The microchip must be implanted before getting the rabies vaccine, or else the vaccine will be invalid.
Each row is quoted from the official page named in it and applies only there. Rules change: confirm with that source before you travel.