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REQUIRED Flanders Wallonia Brussels

Do I have to have my dog microchipped and registered?

In short

Yes. In all three regions, your dog must be microchipped and registered in DogID by the age of 8 weeks at the latest. Selling, buying or giving away a dog without a chip is forbidden.

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Video transcript

You want to get a puppy. Required: A dog must be chipped and registered in DogID by 8 weeks at the latest. Selling, buying or giving away an unchipped dog is forbidden. The right way: Only take a chipped and registered dog. Update the record when the owner changes. Outcome: Animal welfare: Administrative fine; Lead and dog mess: GAS, max. 500 €; Dog without a chip: Unknown origin.

What is not allowed, what is required?

  • In Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels, your dog must be microchipped by the age of 8 weeks at the latest and registered in DogID. A vet does this.
  • Selling, buying or giving away a dog without a chip is forbidden.
  • When the owner changes, the registration must be updated.
  • In most municipalities, dogs must be on a lead in public places and you must pick up their poo (GAS fine).
  • As the owner, it is your responsibility to make sure your dog does not bark constantly.

Penalty and indirect consequences

PENALTY NOTICE
Fine / payment
An administrative fine under animal welfare law (the amount differs by region); for the lead and dog-poo rules, a municipal GAS fine (up to 500 € for adults)

Legal basis:BeSafe – FAQ GAS

Court / prison
In Flanders, the law also lists 8 days to 5 years in prison for these violations; under the new Criminal Code this corresponds to level 3 (art. 78). An administrative fine can also be imposed instead.

Legal basis:Codex Dierenwelzijn, art. 66

What really matters: the indirect consequences

  • If a dog without a chip gets lost, it is much harder to get it back
  • If you buy a dog without a chip, you do not know where it comes from or how healthy it is
  • The person who has the dog in their care (usually the owner) is liable for damage caused by the dog, even without fault.

    Legal basis:BW Boek 6, art. 6.17

What do these terms mean?

GAS fine
An administrative fine imposed by the municipality itself. It is not a criminal sentence. The maximum is €500 for adults and €175 for minors. You can appeal within 1 month to the police court (the youth court for minors).

All terms: glossary →

Why does this rule exist?

A registered dog that gets lost can be returned to its owner. The chip requirement reduces illegal dog trading and the number of abandoned dogs.

Where can you go?

  • Regional nature agenciesFlanders: Natuur en Bos · Wallonia: DNF · Brussels: Bruxelles Environnement
  • MunicipalityMunicipal forests, animal registration and places for sacrificial slaughter
  • Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.

This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses

Source and reliability

Official source
Source check
9 / 9 statements in an official source
Checked: 12.10.2026
Last checked
12.10.2026
Rules can change
Show the 9 checked statementsopen

The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.

General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?

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