Dog registration & UBN Netherlands 2026
Complete expat guide: RVO, I&R Hond, microchip, EU pet passport
If you bring a dog to the Netherlands for more than a short visit, you fall under strict Dutch identification and registration rules. This guide explains exactly when you need a UBN (Uniek Bedrijfsnummer) as an expat dog owner, how registration works within the first 14 days, and how it connects to your dog's microchip and EU pet passport.
We also answer the questions expats ask most often: "Do I really need a UBN for just one dog?", "What if I stay less than 3 months?" and "What happens if I register late?" Before you read on, make sure you have already sorted your BSN registration and your pet relocation requirements, as both are prerequisites for getting a UBN.
Key takeaways
- If you bring a dog from abroad and stay 4 months or longer, you must request a UBN and have the dog registered by a Dutch vet within 14 days of arrival.
- The vet links your dog's microchip, EU pet passport and your UBN in the Dutch I&R Hond system — this step is mandatory.
- A UBN is required even for private owners with just one dog. Without a UBN, a vet is not allowed to perform the official import registration.
- If you stay less than 3 months and do not sell or rehome the dog, you generally do not need a UBN, but all EU travel rules still apply.
- Municipal dog registration and dog tax are separate from the national UBN system — you may need to register with both RVO and your gemeente.
Table of contents
When does an expat need a UBN for a dog?
Length of stay and import status
Dutch rules treat you as an importer when you bring a dog from abroad to live with you in the Netherlands, even if it is your personal pet and not a commercial activity. According to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO):
Stay less than 3 months (and no resale)
You do not need to register with RVO or apply for a UBN, as long as you will not sell or rehome the dog. EU travel rules (microchip, rabies, passport) still apply.
Stay 4 months or longer
You must register in the Dutch population register (BRP), get a BSN, apply for a UBN, and have your dog registered by a Dutch vet within 14 days of arrival. This applies even if you have just one dog.
Private owners vs breeders and rescues
The national business.gov.nl portal clarifies that breeders and importers must register with RVO and need a UBN, but it explicitly adds that private owners who import one dog or have an unregistered dog also need a UBN. This surprises many expats who assume private ownership is exempt.
Rescue organisations that import dogs register them under their own UBN, after which the dog can be transferred to the adopter in the I&R system. If you adopt a rescued dog already registered in the Netherlands, you inherit the existing registration.
Microchip, EU pet passport and I&R registration
Microchipping and registration deadlines
Under Dutch animal-welfare legislation, every dog in the Netherlands must be microchipped and registered. The key rules from Government.nl:
- • Puppies born in the Netherlands must be microchipped and registered no later than 7 weeks after birth.
- • Imported dogs must already be microchipped before entry and have an EU pet passport or official animal health certificate.
- • The owner must register an imported dog within 2 weeks of arrival in the Netherlands.
When you bring a dog from abroad, the vet:
- • Verifies or implants a microchip (if not yet present).
- • Registers the dog's microchip number under your UBN.
- • Records the dog's details: breed, sex, colour, date of birth.
- • Links or issues an EU pet passport.
- • Registers the import in an RVO-approved portal, feeding into the national I&R Hond database.
EU pet passport requirements
EU law requires that every dog that is sold, transferred or imported must have a valid EU pet passport. From business.gov.nl:
- • Every dog in the Netherlands that changes owners or is born on or after 1 November 2021 must have an EU pet passport.
- • Breeders must ensure a passport within 7 weeks of birth.
- • Importers must ensure that imported dogs have a passport or health certificate; a Dutch vet issues an EU passport if needed.
What the EU pet passport contains
- • Microchip number and implantation date
- • Rabies vaccination details (vaccine name, batch number, date, expiry)
- • Other vaccinations and treatments (such as Echinococcus for travel)
- • Owner details and identification
Step-by-step: UBN & dog registration for expats
Register yourself in the BRP and get a BSN
Before you can apply for a UBN, you must be registered as a resident in the Netherlands and have a BSN. Follow the standard process at your municipality (gemeente). See our BSN registration guide for the full process — do this first, then continue with your dog registration.
Apply for DigiD
Use your BSN to request a DigiD, the Dutch digital identity credential you need to log in to the RVO portal. Activation codes are sent by post to your registered Dutch address. Allow up to 5 working days for delivery.
Apply for your UBN at mijn.rvo.nl
On the RVO portal (mijn.rvo.nl), log in with DigiD and choose Huisdierlocatie registreren (register pet location) and then Honden niet-bedrijfsmatig houden (keeping dogs non-commercially). Complete the form with your details and address.
The UBN costs approximately €22-€23, paid by invoice or iDEAL at the time of application. Once approved, you receive your UBN number — bring this to the vet.
Important: apply as early as possible after arrival, so you have the UBN number ready for the vet within your 14-day window.
Visit a Dutch vet within 14 days
Only a licensed Dutch vet (dierenarts) can perform the official import registration and link it to your UBN. Within 14 days of your dog's arrival:
- • Bring your UBN, existing pet passport or health certificate, and vaccination records.
- • The vet checks or implants a microchip.
- • The vet registers the import and links your dog to your UBN in the I&R system.
- • If needed, the vet issues an EU pet passport.
If you are looking for a vet in your area, our guide to English-speaking healthcare in the Netherlands includes tips for finding vetinary practices with English-speaking staff.
Keep your details up to date
Once registered, you must keep the I&R data current:
- • Update your details if you move house within the Netherlands.
- • Deregister the dog in the I&R system if it dies or is rehomed.
- • Ensure the new owner re-registers the dog in their name, as selling or transferring an unregistered dog is an offence.
Municipal registration and dog tax (separate from UBN)
The UBN/I&R system is national and mainly about animal welfare, traceability and combating illegal dog trade. Separately, many municipalities have their own dog registration and dog tax (hondenbelasting) rules.
You should register your dog with your municipality within around 14 days of arrival. Check whether your city charges dog tax and how much.
| City | Dog tax (per year) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | None | Dog tax abolished |
| Rotterdam | None | Dog tax abolished |
| Utrecht | None | Dog tax abolished |
| The Hague | None | Dog tax abolished |
| Groningen | None | Dog tax abolished |
| Other cities | €50-€150+ | Check your gemeente website |
Always check your gemeente website for:
- • Local registration deadlines and procedure
- • Dog-tax rates for the first and additional dogs
- • Rules about walking off-leash in parks
- • Fines for not picking up waste (varies by municipality)
Short stays, visitors and exceptions
Stays shorter than 3 months
RVO guidance states that if you are staying less than 3 months in the Netherlands and are not selling your dog, you do not need to register with RVO or apply for a UBN. However, you still must comply with EU and Dutch travel rules:
- • Your dog must be microchipped.
- • It must have a valid rabies vaccination.
- • You must carry an EU pet passport (EU origin) or official health certificate (non-EU origin).
- • NVWA import requirements must be met at the border.
For full details on what documents you need to bring a dog into the Netherlands, including Echinococcus treatment timings, see our complete pet relocation guide.
Dogs brought in by rescues
If you adopt a dog via an international rescue organisation, the organisation typically uses its own UBN to register imported dogs, has a vet make the import notification, and transfers ownership to you afterwards. You still need to comply with local municipal rules (dog tax, leash rules) once the dog lives with you.
Consequences of not registering your dog correctly
Dutch government and RVO sources are clear that identification and registration rules are mandatory and violations can lead to enforcement. Potential consequences include:
Fines
Fines for not registering a dog or for missing or incorrect I&R data.
Problems selling or rehoming
An unregistered dog with no passport is considered illegal to trade. You cannot legally sell or rehome the dog.
Ownership disputes
Difficulties proving ownership if your dog is lost or involved in an incident. Registration is your proof of ownership.
Because the UBN and I&R system were designed partly to combat illegal breeding and import of dogs, enforcement is taken seriously. If you realise you are late, arrange the UBN and vet appointment as soon as possible and keep all documentation.
Dog insurance in the Netherlands
Once your dog is registered, consider getting pet insurance. Dutch vet costs are among the highest in Europe: a basic consultation runs €50-€75, emergency visits €90-€120, and surgery can easily reach €1,000-€3,000. See our vet costs guide for a full price breakdown.
Our pet insurance comparison covers 7 insurers in detail. The two most popular options for expats are PetSecur and Figo Pet:
PetSecur (most comprehensive)
- • From €10.91/month for dogs
- • Up to €12,500 annual maximum
- • Worldwide coverage
- • 14-day waiting period (fastest in market)
- • Use code AFF235 for €5 off
Figo Pet (no age limit)
- • From €9.79/month for dogs
- • No age limit for signup (unique)
- • Unlimited annual coverage option
- • Fully customizable deductible
- • Best for older dogs (other insurers refuse)
Get €5 off PetSecur with NLCompass
Enter code AFF235 at checkout for €5 off. Visit petsecur.nl to compare packages.
Get dog insurance with Figo Pet
Get Figo Pet dog insuranceNo age limit. Visit figopet.nl to compare plans and calculate your exact premium.