Licensing and Microchipping

Licensing of Dogs

If you have a dog over 4 months old, you must have a licence for it, and the person to whom the licence is issued must be over 16 years of age.

A dog licence can be purchased at any post office or online at www.licences.ie. The current fees are as follows:

• Annual Dog Licence (valid for one year): €20.00
• Lifetime Licence (valid for the lifetime of your dog): €140.00
• General Licence (for multiple dogs, valid for one year): €400.00
  This licence can be purchased directly from your local authority.

Any of the above licences can be purchased online at the Integrated Licence Application System.

No Dog Licence = On-the-Spot Fine of €150

Microchipping of Dogs

In Ireland, it is a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped and registered on an approved government database.

A microchip is a tiny electronic device injected by a vet under the skin of the dog. It is coded with a unique number and can be scanned to identify the dog’s owner.

Your dog’s microchip must be registered with your current contact details on one of the following approved databases:

• Fido
• Animark
• Irish Kennel Club
• The Irish Coursing Club (Micro ID)

A microchip offers secure, reliable, and permanent identification, significantly increasing the chances of your lost pet being returned to you.