Microchipping & registration
From 1 July 2020 the Government introduced annual permits for owners of non-desexed cats, restricted dog breeds, and dogs declared to be dangerous.
How to microchip your companion animals
More than 150,000 dogs and cats are lost or stolen every year in New South Wales. Many are transferred to animal shelters because their owner can't be contacted. Some may end up being re-homed or even destroyed.
To decrease the number of pets that are euthanised each year, the Companion Animals Act requires all NSW dog and cat owners to have their pets permanently identified and registered for life.
Microchipping and registration is a two step process that requires dog and cat owners to:
- Have their animals implanted with a microchip by the time they are 12 weeks of age, at the point of sale or change of ownership (whichever occurs first).
- Register their animals with the NSW local council by 6 months of age.
Step 1 – Microchipping and identification (required by 12 weeks)
What is the process?
A vet or accredited implanter can microchip your pet and fill out a Permanent Identification form. The vet or implanter will forward the form so your pet will be entered onto the NSW Companion Animals Register.
Congratulations! You will then be sent a Certificate of Identification and Lifetime Registration Form.
Step 2 – Registration (required by 6 months)
How do I register?
You must fill in a Lifetime Registration Form and bring it (or send it) to Council along with your copy of the Certificate of Identification. Also bring your desexing certificate or pensioner card if you want a discount.
A Certificate of Registration will be posted to you once it is processed.
Payment Options
- Pay in person at Randwick City Council’s Customer Service Centre - 30 Frances St, Randwick during business hours Monday to Friday
- Pay by post - please enclose a cheque or money order along with a completed Registration form and copy of desexing certificate if applicable
- Registration can also be paid online at NSW Pet Registry. If registering online, email a copy of the desexing certificate to council@randwick.nsw.gov.au first to ensure you pay the correct amount.
Annual permits from 1 July 2022
From 1 July 2020 the Government will introduce annual permits for owners of non-desexed cats, restricted dog breeds, and dogs declared to be dangerous.
This means that owners of cats not desexed by four months of age will be required to pay an $85 annual permit in addition to their one-off lifetime pet registration fee.
Owners of dogs of a restricted breed or declared to be dangerous will be required to pay a $206 annual permit in addition to their one-off lifetime pet registration fee. This applies to dogs that are already registered.
Pet owners will be able to pay for annual permits using the online NSW Pet Registry, or through their local council. Annual permits are not available from Service NSW.
Exemptions will be in place for cats that are registered by 1 July 2021, cats kept for breeding purposes by members of recognised breeding bodies, and cats which cannot be desexed for medical reasons.
Why are annual permits being introduced?
Annual permits will create a stronger incentive to desex cats, which in turn will improve their health and wellbeing, and reduce behaviours such as roaming and aggression.
Improving desexing rates and preventing unwanted litters will also ease the burden on pounds and shelters, reduce euthanasia rates, and help to address concerns about feral and stray cats and their effect on wildlife.
Placing further control measures on dangerous and restricted dogs will serve as a further disincentive to owning high-risk dogs and encourage owners to better manage the behaviour of their animal.
Annual permits were to be implemented from 1 July 2019, however, the Government announced a 12-month grace period to give affected pet owners more time to prepare for their introduction.
Annual permit fees will go directly to the Companion Animals Fund which pays for companion animal management by local councils including pounds/shelters, ranger services, dog recreation areas, and education and awareness programs.
The fund is also used to operate the NSW Pet Registry and carry out responsible pet ownership initiatives.
How you can help
We would appreciate your support in actively promoting the introduction of annual permits and the benefits to animal welfare, the community, and the environment.
A Dropbox with downloadable promotional materials can be accessed here. This includes:
- Videos
- 3 x flyers (print and digital versions)
- 3 x posters (print and digital versions)
- 3 x email signature banners
- Social media toolkit
- Website banner, and
- Text for websites.
Where to go for further information
Frequently Asked Questions about annual permits can be viewed here.
If you require any further information or assistance, please contact the NSW Pet Registry at pets@olg.nsw.gov.au or 1300 134 460. The NSW Government sincerely thanks you for your contribution to this new initiative.
Change of Address or Owner
If you change ownership of your pet it is the responsibility of the original or previous owner to ensure the Change of Owner Form is signed and completed by both parties and submitted to Council within 14 days or penalties may apply.
If you change address please complete the Change of Address Form. This must be done within 14 days of moving or penalties may also apply. Any other change of details such as phone number should be done on the Change of Owner Form.
All forms, together with any proof required, should be mailed to Council.
If you have any enquiries regarding the details of your pet, please contact Council's Call Centre on 1300 722 542 during business hours, Monday to Friday.
Pets and the Law
Permanent Identification Form
Lifetime Pet Registration Form
Lifetime registration fees will be annually indexed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from 1 July 2021.
| Type of Animal | Fees |
|---|---|
| Non Desexed | Dog - $234 / Cat - $59 + $85 annual permit |
| De-sexed by relevant age (evidence required) | Dog - $69 / Cat - $59 (Dog by 6 months / Cat by 4 months) |
| Recognised Breeder (evidence required) | Dog - $69 / Cat - $59 |
| De-sexed Animal sold by eligible pound/shelter | Dog - $0 / Cat - $0 |
| De-sexed Animal owned by pensioner | Dog - $29 / Cat - $29 (de-sexing certificate/pension card required) |
| Assistance Animal (i.e. guide dog) | FREE |
| Late Fee | $19 |
Change of Pet Owner Details Form
Companion Animals Change of Address Form
Penalty Notices
Dog and cat owners may be issued with a Penalty Notice if they fail to microchip and register their animal.