Can I keep a dog without a microchip?
No: microchipping owned dogs is mandatory. An adult dog without a microchip means you're outside the law and must fix it as soon as possible. Dogs are identified exclusively by microchip, within at most 90 days of birth and, in any case, before selling, donating or releasing them into public spaces. Microchipping is done only by an authorised vet (private practice, approved by ANSVSA), who registers the data in RECS — the Owned Dogs Register, the national database managed by the College of Veterinary Medicine. You can't microchip at home, can't use microchips bought online, and can't delegate the procedure to a volunteer: it's a medical act with mandatory registration. In short: any owned dog must have a microchip and be registered in RECS.
📋 The rules
- Microchip mandatory for owned dogs
- Identification within at most 90 days of birth
- Mandatory before selling/donating or public release
- Procedure only by an authorised vet
- Registration in the national RECS register
🔓 Exceptions
- Microchips bought online or applied at home: not accepted
- EU pet passport: requires a prior microchip
- Very young puppies: microchip within 90 days, before transfer
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A missing microchip and failure to register in RECS are fined between 5,000 and 10,000 lei (under GEO 155/2001, as amended, including Law 258/2013). Besides the fine, a dog without a microchip can't be lawfully sold or donated and can't get an EU passport for travel. The microchip also helps recover a lost animal, identifying it quickly via the database. To stay compliant: take the dog to an authorised vet, who implants the microchip and registers the data in RECS, keep the documents received, and if you move or change contact details, update the information in the register. Microchipping is both a legal duty and a protection for your animal.
📎 Official sources
- GEO 155/2001 on the dog management programme →
- ANSVSA · identifying and registering dogs →
- College of Veterinary Medicine of Romania (RECS) →
❓ Frequently asked
Is dog microchipping mandatory?
Yes. Microchipping owned dogs is mandatory, and identification is done exclusively by microchip, within at most 90 days of birth and, in any case, before selling, donating or releasing the dog into public spaces. An adult dog without a microchip means you're outside the law.
Who can microchip the dog?
Only an authorised vet, in private practice, approved by ANSVSA. They implant the microchip and register the data in RECS, the national database. You can't microchip at home, can't use microchips bought online, and can't delegate the procedure to a volunteer — it's a medical act with mandatory registration.
What is the RECS register?
RECS is the Owned Dogs Register, the national database managed by the College of Veterinary Medicine, in which the vet who does the microchipping registers the dog's and owner's data. Registration in RECS is mandatory and goes with the microchipping of every owned dog.
What fine do I risk for not microchipping my dog?
A missing microchip and failure to register in RECS are fined between 5,000 and 10,000 lei. Besides the fine, a dog without a microchip can't be lawfully sold or donated and can't get an EU passport for travel abroad, so you're limited in many situations.
What else does microchipping help with?
Besides the legal duty, the microchip helps recover a lost dog: via the RECS database, the animal can be quickly identified and returned to its owner. Microchipping is also a condition for getting the EU passport and for any lawful transfer of the dog to a new owner.
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