How do I correctly register my dog in Switzerland?

A new dog in the household means more than just joy in Switzerland – it also comes with a number of obligations. Completing these steps in the right order saves time, avoids fines, and ensures your dog is correctly registered from the start.

1. Microchip identification

Every dog must be microchipped by a veterinarian by the age of three months at the latest – or within ten days of import from abroad. The chip contains a unique identification number that links the dog to its owner for life.

2. Registration in the AMICUS database

Immediately after chipping, the veterinary practice registers the dog in the national dog database AMICUS. Details about the dog and owner are stored centrally for all of Switzerland. Changes of owner, address changes, trips abroad, or the death of the animal must also be updated in AMICUS within ten days.

3. Registration with your municipality

In addition to AMICUS registration, most municipalities require a separate registration of the dog with the residents' registration office or a specific dog control office. Deadlines of 10 to 30 days after acquisition are common. This registration is usually also the basis for the annual dog tax bill.

4. Check your liability insurance

In several cantons, such as Zurich, dog owner liability insurance with a minimum coverage is mandatory. Even where it is not required, it is advisable to check your insurance coverage before acquiring a dog, since dog owners are generally liable regardless of fault under Art. 56 of the Swiss Code of Obligations.

5. Dog training courses and mandatory education

Some cantons now require mandatory courses for first-time dog owners or for certain breeds. Find out early whether and which courses are required in your canton so that the training can be completed on time.

6. Don't forget the dog tax

Once the dog is registered, the municipality usually automatically sends the annual dog tax bill. You can estimate the amount in advance using our dog tax calculator.

Checklist at a glance

• Have the microchip implanted by a veterinarian
• Registration in AMICUS by the veterinary practice
• Registration with your municipality within the deadline
• Check or take out liability insurance
• Clarify any mandatory course requirements
• Budget for the dog tax

What costs should you expect?

In addition to the annual dog tax, acquiring a dog involves further one-time and recurring costs that many new owners underestimate:

• Microchip and initial veterinary examination: typically between 50 and 120 francs
• Liability insurance: depending on provider and coverage, around 60 to 150 francs per year
• Basic equipment (leash, collar, carrier, initial supplies): a one-time 150 to 400 francs
• Dog training courses, where required or recommended: 150 to 500 francs

Together with the dog tax, new owners should expect several hundred francs in one-time additional costs in the first year, before the ongoing annual expenses drop noticeably from the second year onward.

What happens if registration is late?

If a dog is not registered with the municipality or in AMICUS within the deadline, fines or a retroactive dog tax claim may follow, depending on the municipality. It is therefore worth not putting off registration, but completing it right after acquiring the dog.