Pet microchip registration: frequently asked questions
These answers use the same fees, steps, and lookup tools already published on International Pet Registry. A lookup is free. Registering a pet is a one-time fee, with no annual renewal.
What is the International Pet Registry?
International Pet Registry (IPR) is an online pet microchip registry. Anyone can search a microchip number for free, with no account. A pet owner creates a free account and registers a pet for a one-time fee of $25 USD per pet, with no annual renewal. The pricing page also shows that owner fee as CA$34 or £19.
How do I register my pet's microchip?
Create a free International Pet Registry account, choose Register a Pet, enter your pet's details and microchip number, then pay the one-time $25 registration fee. Any ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip can be registered.
How much does microchip registration cost?
Creating an account is free. Registering a pet costs $25 USD per pet, one time. The pricing page also shows CA$34 and £19. There are no annual renewal fees for the registration. Shelter, breeder, veterinarian, and government plans are listed on the pricing page. NAAR, the National Animal Abuse Registry, is a separate add-on at $1.99 USD per month (CA$2.49 or £1.49 on the pricing page).
Can I look up a microchip number for free?
Yes. Anyone can search a microchip number for free on the Microchip Search page, with no account needed. The search checks IPR, CheckAChip (UK), and PetAddress (Australia), along with partner registries in the federated network. It does not send the search to AAHA's website. Vets, shelters, and people who find a pet can use it to check whether a chip is registered.
I found a pet with a microchip. What should I do?
Take the pet to a vet clinic or shelter to have the chip scanned, then enter the number on the free Microchip Search page. If the chip is registered with IPR, the registered owner can be contacted. You can also post the pet on the Lost & Found page. The About page lists a 24/7 phone line at 1-844-477-7387 that can check a registration.
How do I transfer a microchip to a new owner?
The current owner signs in, opens the pet's record, and starts a transfer to the new owner's email address. The new owner receives an invitation and accepts the transfer from their own account. The pet owner pricing card lists transfer of microchip ownership as free. The shelter free tier also lists transfer of microchip ownership.
How do I register a microchip in the United States?
Owners in the United States use the same online registration as owners anywhere else. Create a free account, choose Register a Pet, enter the chip number and the pet's details, and pay the one-time fee. The pricing page shows that owner fee as $25 USD (also CA$34 or £19). The pet owner guide says IPR is a supplementary international registry and does not replace a local registration, so keep that local registration as well.
How do I register a microchip in Canada?
Use the same registration as any other ISO 11784/11785 microchip: create a free account, choose Register a Pet, enter the chip number and the pet's details, and pay the one-time fee. The pricing page shows Canadian dollar prices, including CA$34 for an owner registration. The pet owner guide says IPR is a supplementary international registry and does not replace a local registration, so keep that local registration as well.
How do I register a microchip in the UK?
Use the same registration as any other ISO 11784/11785 microchip: create a free account, choose Register a Pet, enter the chip number and the pet's details, and pay the one-time fee. The pricing page shows the owner fee as £19. The free Microchip Search page also checks CheckAChip (UK). The pet owner guide says IPR is a supplementary international registry and does not replace a local registration, so keep that local registration as well.
Can I register a microchip that was implanted in another country?
Yes, when the chip is ISO 11784/11785 compliant. The pet owner guide says that if a pet is already microchipped, you enter the existing microchip number and register it in IPR's database. The homepage FAQ states that any ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip can be registered. This does not replace a local registration.
Does AAHA microchip lookup include International Pet Registry?
IPR is on the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) participating-registry list. AAHA's Universal Pet Microchip Lookup at petmicrochiplookup.org queries participating registries, including IPR, at /api/aaha-lookup. AAHA lists these microchip prefixes under IPR: 900111, 900113, 900115, and 900118. A search on this website checks IPR and the other live sources. It does not send the search to AAHA's website. Registry partners can call GET https://www.internationalpetregistry.com/api/aaha-lookup?chip={number} with an X-API-Key header.
What is NAAR and what does it cost?
NAAR is the National Animal Abuse Registry. On the pricing page it is an add-on for any professional plan at $1.99 USD per month (CA$2.49 or £1.49). The page lists background checks on adopters, an abuser registry and case files, cross-organization abuse alerts, a risk classification system, a full audit trail, and evidence tracking.
What free tools do shelters get?
The shelter card on the pricing page lists a free tier with two tools: register microchips, and transfer microchip ownership. Microchip lookup on the search page is free and does not need an account. The paid shelter plan is $21.99 USD per month (CA$29.99 or £17.99) with a 14-day trial, and that plan is where The Ark shelter dashboard is listed. NAAR is a separate add-on, not part of the shelter monthly price.
Can I register a horse's microchip with IPR?
Yes. The homepage lists horses among the animals IPR registers, Lost & Found includes Horse as a species, and the in-product form is titled "Register a Horse with IPR". That form uses the same one-time fee as other pets: $25 USD, CA$34, or £19. The government guide also describes the International Equine Registry at internationalequineregistry.net for horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules.
How do I embed IPR search or use the lookup API?
Software companies apply on the embed partners page. After approval, search is added with an iframe. That page documents a search-bar embed and a full-page embed, and says the embed has no API fees and no per-lookup charges. Separately, the registry partners page documents GET https://www.internationalpetregistry.com/api/aaha-lookup?chip={number} with an X-API-Key header, JSON responses, GET and POST, and a default of 1,000 lookups per hour. A key is issued after that application is approved.