What happens if my pet's microchip can't be read when they arrive in Australia?

DAFF may be unable to match the pet to their import permit and documentation. This can result in extended quarantine or, if unresolvable, export back to the country of origin. Ensuring your microchip reads reliably before starting the process is essential.

My pet has an old 9-digit AVID chip. Do I need to replace it?

Yes. AVID 9-digit chips are not ISO compatible and are not accepted by DAFF. A new ISO-compliant microchip must be implanted, and if the import process has already started with the old chip number, preparation will need to restart.

Does the microchip number need to match exactly on every document?

Yes. A single digit difference between the microchip number on the lab report and the import permit will cause delays. DAFF does not accept corrections or amendments to documents.

What to do if your pet's microchip stops working or gives an error

A veterinarian holding a handheld microchip scanner against a dog's neck in a clinical setting

A microchip that cannot be read on arrival in Australia is one of the most serious complications in the import process. Here is what to do if you discover a microchip problem — and how to prevent one.

Why microchips matter so much

DAFF uses the microchip number to link every document in the import process — the RNATT lab report, the RNATT declaration, the identity verification, and the import permit. Every document must show the same microchip number, accurately.

DAFF states clearly: "If a microchip cannot be read or is incorrect in your documents, your cat cannot be imported to Australia." The same applies to dogs.

What DAFF will not accept

Microchip numbers starting with 999 (not unique, not accepted)
AVID 9-digit chips (not ISO compatible)
Any corrections or amendments to laboratory reports or other documents to include or change a microchip number — DAFF will not accept amended documents

If the microchip stops working mid-process

If you discover your pet's microchip has stopped working after the process has begun:

Try multiple different microchip scanners — different readers sometimes pick up chips that one specific reader misses.
Ask your vet to X-ray to locate the chip — it may have migrated from the implant site.
If the chip is genuinely non-functional, a new ISO-compliant microchip must be implanted.

When a new microchip is implanted, the entire pre-export preparation process restarts from scratch — new RNATT, new identity verification, new import permit, new 180-day wait. Old documents with the previous microchip number cannot be amended.

Two microchips

Some pets have two microchips — an old non-ISO chip and a newer compliant one. DAFF can work with two compliant microchips, but both numbers must appear on every document throughout the process, and both must be scanned and recorded at every vet visit.

Practical prevention

Check your pet's microchip at the very first vet appointment before starting any import preparation. Ask your vet to scan it and confirm:

The number matches your records
The chip reads reliably on their scanner
The number does not start with 999
The chip has 10 or 15 digits (ISO standard)

Some agents recommend sending a microchip scanner in the pet's crate so Australian authorities can read it on arrival if there is any ambiguity.

Regulations can change. Always verify directly with DAFF at agriculture.gov.au.