How to Register a Dog in Germany: Microchip, TASSO, Hundesteuer & Steuermarke

Registering a dog in Germany involves three separate but interconnected steps: ISO microchip implantation, national pet database enrollment (TASSO or FINDEFIX), and municipal dog tax registration (Hundesteuer) at your local Bürgeramt. New dog owners must complete all three within 2 to 4 weeks of acquiring their pet or moving to a new German municipality.

Step 1: ISO Microchip Implantation

Every dog in Germany must carry an ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip (transponder). This is a legal requirement under the EU Pet Regulation (EU 576/2013) and German animal welfare law.

What You Need to Know

• Size: The chip is rice-grain sized (12mm × 2mm), injected under the skin between the shoulder blades.
• Cost: €30–€60 at any German veterinary practice (Tierarztpraxis).
• 15-Digit Number: The chip contains a unique 15-digit code (e.g., 276098101234567).
• EU Pet Passport: Your vet enters the chip number into your dog's EU-Heimtierausweis (EU Pet Passport).

When Is It Required?

• At first veterinary visit for puppies born in Germany
• Before entry into Germany for dogs arriving from abroad
• Before TASSO registration (you need the chip number)

Step 2: TASSO or FINDEFIX Pet Database Registration

Having a microchip is useless unless the chip number is linked to your contact information. Germany has two central pet registries:

TASSO e.V. (Recommended)

• Website: tasso.net
• Cost: Free registration
• Coverage: Over 12 million registered pets
• Features: 24/7 hotline, international database, found-animal alerts
• Registration: Online in 5 minutes with chip number, your address, and a photo

FINDEFIX

• Website: findefix.com
• Cost: Free basic registration
• Coverage: German national database
• Features: Direct shelter notifications, regional search

Why Both?

Some shelters check TASSO first, others check FINDEFIX. Registering with both maximizes your dog's recovery chances if lost.

Step 3: Hundesteuer Registration at Your Bürgeramt

Within 2 to 4 weeks of acquiring your dog (or moving to a new city), you must register for Hundesteuer (dog tax) at your local citizens' office.

Documents to Bring

1. Valid ID (Personalausweis or passport)
2. Residence registration (Meldebescheinigung) — from your Anmeldung
3. Dog's microchip number (from EU Pet Passport)
4. Proof of acquisition (adoption contract, purchase receipt, or deregistration from previous city)
5. Castration certificate (if applicable — some cities offer reduced rates for neutered dogs)

What You Receive

• A tax registration number (Steuernummer) for your dog
• A metal year-tag (Steuermarke) by mail — must be worn on the collar in public
• An annual SEPA direct debit setup for automatic payment

For city-by-city Hundesteuer rates, see Dog Tax in Germany: Hundesteuer Expat Guide.

Registration Timeline for New Dog Owners

Special Cases

Adopting from a German Shelter (Tierheim)

German shelters typically handle microchipping before adoption. You only need to transfer the TASSO registration to your name and register for Hundesteuer in your municipality. See Dog Daycare vs. Boarding vs. Sitter for post-adoption care planning.

Bringing a Dog from Abroad

Non-EU dogs require additional steps including rabies titer testing and potentially quarantine. See Bringing a Dog to Germany: Requirements & Checklist.

Moving Between German Cities

When moving to a new city, you must deregister (Abmeldung) your dog from the old municipality and re-register (Anmeldung) in the new one. Most cities require this within 2 weeks of your move.

What Happens If You Don't Register?

Related Guides

• Insurance: Dog Liability Insurance in Germany (Hundehaftpflicht)
• Legal overview: The Expat's Guide to German Dog Laws
• Daycare requirements: What is a HuTa? German Daycare Guide

Ready to find daycare once your dog is registered? Search verified facilities in our directory.