Pet Registration can be on two registries: NATIONAL and within your STATE.
NATIONAL MICROCHIP REGISTRIES
National Microchip Pet Registration
How to check or update the microchip?
Pet Registration is compulsory in Australia. There are several nationally recognised microchip databases where pet owner contact details are stored, with the main registries being Central Animal Records (CAR), Australasian Animal Registry (AAR), and Global Micro Animal Registry (GMAR).
If you do not know which database a pet is registered in, you can search all major registries simultaneously using the multi-database search portal at Pet Address.
Major National Registries
A microchip buyer's search can be performed.
Central Animal Records (CAR): Australia's largest and longest-running national database, accessible via Central Animal Records or phone at 03 9706 3187.
Global Micro Animal Registry: A nationwide provider, accessible via Global Micro Animal Registry or phone at 02 8338 9063. NOTE: When searching on a microchip number, this site does NOT include desexing status and registration status.
Petsafe: A national recovery database, contactable at 02 8850 6800. Protect your pet by registering both its microchip number & Petsafe collar tag number on the Petsafe recovery network. This is a free community service where owners can record the details of a pet lost anywhere in Australia. Pound workers will regularly access the site, and we expect that Petsafe.com.au will re-home many pets.
Australasian Animal Registry (AAR): A major national registry, contactable at 02 9704 1450. Individuals can start an account and register their pet and update information. Individuals are unable to search on a microchip number that is not linked to their account.
Pet Address: A search engine allows you to search for the microchip number of a pet in various animal databases.
How to Check or Update a Microchip
- Find the Registry: Using one of the Major National Registries: enter the microchip number into Pet Address to identify which specific database holds the animal's record, state or national.
- Contact or Log In: Reach out to the identified registry directly by phone or via their official website to update your address or phone number.
- Veterinary Assistance: Local vet clinics and animal shelters have scanners and professional database access to identify microchips and contact the correct registry immediately.
STATE & TERRITORY REGISTRIES
NSW
ACT
QLD
Contact your local Council via their website or by phone. Also registered with one of the Major National Registries (CAR, AAR, Global Micro Animal Registry (above or below this QLD section).
For example: Redlands City Council, transfer ownership of a pet, to transfer a dog bought or living in the Redland City Council area, you must update the local council registration using the Redland City Council Animal Forms and update the national microchip database registry (such as Central Animal Records or standard Australian registries) with the new owner's details.
Update Local Council Registration
If moving out of the Redlands: Register the dog with your new local government area (LGA) within 14 days, as council registrations do not automatically transfer between different cities or shires. [1]
If staying in the Redlands: Submit a Change of Animal Details form with the Redland City Council to update owner contact or transfer the active registration profile. [1]
VIC
Pet Exchange Register as well as your local Council.
SA
Council Dog and Cat Registrations
WA
Council Dog and Cat Registrations
Your pet's microchip may also be saved on one of these Registries:
In Western Australia, pet registration is split into local government council registration (mandatory under the Cat Act 2011 and Dog Act 1976) and national microchip databases. To find out which microchip database your pet is listed in, you can search the chip number on Pet Address:
AAR, Central Animal Records, PetSafe, or Global Micro Animal Registry (see top of page for links).
NT
Northern Territory. Instead, local council authorities manage pet registrations individually for their specific municipalities (such as the City of Darwin Council or City of Palmerston).
For microchips, the NT uses national databases like Central Animal Records or Pet Address to trace lost animals.
Pet Registration and licensing
TAS
In Tasmania, pet registration is handled by your individual local municipal Council, rather than through a single statewide database. Additionally, microchip details must be logged with a national microchip registry database.
Central Animal Records, Australasian Animal Registry (AAR), Global Micro Animal Registry, Petsafe Registry.
