Microchip for pet travel: what it is and who requires it

ISO microchip

For every pet

Your dog or cat needs a working ISO-compliant microchip (numbers starting 999 are not accepted), scanned at every vet visit and before any blood sample.

“Your dog must be implanted with a microchip that is ISO compliant.”

Permanent individual identification (microchip or tattoo)

For every pet

Your pet must be identified individually and permanently by a microchip or a tattoo, following ISO 11784/11785. The number on the CVI must match the animal's.

“Deben estar identificados de forma individual y permanente, mediante tatuaje o microchip (conforme a las normas ISO 11784/11785).”

Electronic microchip

For every pet

Your pet must have an electronic microchip; a valid chip is needed for any exemption from quarantine.

“宠物应当具有电子芯片。”

Microchip (ISO or AVID)

For every pet

Your pet needs a microchip readable by an AVID or ISO scanner. From Group IIIA it must be implanted before the rabies vaccination and blood sample.

“Your dog/cat must be implanted with a microchip which can be read with an AVID or ISO scanner prior to rabies vaccination and blood sampling.”

ISO microchip

For every pet

Your pet needs an ISO 11784/11785 microchip (15 digits). From non-designated regions it must be implanted before the first rabies vaccination (same day is fine).

“Dogs and cats must be identified by a microchip before the first rabies vaccination.”

ISO microchip

For every pet

Your pet must have a microchip that follows ISO standards 11784 and 11785, and the pet passport or certificate must describe and identify it.

“Anjing atau kucing hendaklah dipasang dengan pengenalan mikrocip yang mematuhi standard ISO (std 11784 & 11785).”

Permanent microchip

The country you travel from is in the group: Category 2: countries recognised as rabies free or Category 3: specified countries where rabies is absent or well controlled

Your cat or dog must be permanently and uniquely identified with a microchip. ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 Annex A chips are recommended, and a vet must scan and record the number at every test, vaccination and treatment.

“The cat or dog must be permanently and uniquely identified with a microchip.”

Microchip or other approved identification

For every pet

Your pet must be identified with an electronic microchip or another approved method.

“Pets must be identified with an electronic microchip or another approved identification method.”

ISO microchip

For every pet

Your pet must have an ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 (Annex A) microchip, and the number must appear on every vaccination and treatment record.

“Ensure that your dog or cat is microchipped according to International Standards Organisation (ISO) Standard 11784 or ISO Standard 11785 Annex A.”

ISO microchip (tattoos are not accepted)

For every pet

All dogs and cats imported into South Africa must be permanently identified with a microchip that can be read by ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 scanners; tattoos are not accepted.

“All dogs and cats imported into South Africa must be permanently identified with a microchip (tattoos will not be accepted).”

ISO microchip

For every pet

Every dog and cat must have a microchip. It should be ISO-compliant (ISO 11784 and 11785); with any other chip you must bring your own scanner. Its number must match the one on the health certificate.

“Microchips implanted in cats and dogs must be ISO-compliant (ISO11784 and 11785 standards). For any other chips, importers must bring their own microchip scanners.”

Microchip (the number goes on every document)

For every pet

Your pet's microchip number is part of the SPSIC application.

“Proof of Microchip Numbers”

Permanent microchip

For every pet

Your pet needs a permanent microchip, and the number on the health certificate must match it.

“The cats and dogs must be identified with a permanent microchip”

Microchip

Your pet is a dog

Your dog must have a microchip that a universal scanner can detect. If it has been in a high-risk country, the chip must have been implanted before the rabies vaccine.

“Dogs must have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them.”

Microchip

For every pet

Your pet must be microchipped (ISO 11784 / ISO 11785), and the rabies vaccination must be given after the microchip. Bring a reader if your chip isn't ISO standard.

“The pet must be microchipped.”

Microchip

For every pet

Your pet must be microchipped on or before the day of its rabies vaccination. An ISO 11784/11785 chip can be read at the border; otherwise bring your own reader.

“You must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination.”

Microchip

For every pet

Your pet must be identified with an ISO microchip (11784, HDX or FDX-B) before its rabies vaccination. If the chip isn't ISO-standard, bring your own reader.

“The animal must be identified before the rabies vaccination.”

Microchip

For every pet

Your pet must be microchipped before (or at the same time as) its rabies vaccination.

“All animals must be chipped (before the rabies vaccination) and must have a valid rabies vaccination and the necessary supporting documents.”

Microchip

For every pet

Your pet must be identified with a microchip, implanted (or read) no later than the day of its rabies vaccination.

“must be identified by the implantation of a microchip”