Municipal register for pets (dogs, cats, ferrets)

What you need to have to hand

1. Cl@ve or certificado digital/DNIe to sign online.
2. Justificante del microchip registered in the regional database (the vet gave it to you).
3. Cartilla sanitaria or Pasaporte with vaccines up to date (rabies if your community requires it).
4. DNI/NIE and empadronamiento in the municipality.
5. Document showing the animal's origin: adoption, purchase or transfer.
6. Insurance and licence if your municipality/community requires them for certain dogs.

Documentation

• Owner ID: DNI/NIE. If someone files for you, a signed authorization and their ID.
• Address: Volante o certificado de empadronamiento (current).
• Animal ID: Microchip code (15 digits) and justificante de alta autonómica.
• Health: Cartilla/pasaporte with rabies vaccine valid if your community requires it. Stamp and date must be legible.
• Origin: Adoption contract, invoice or transfer document.
• Sterilisation: Certificate, if applicable (useful to record in the census).
• Insurance/licence: Only if your ordinance requires it.

Step by step

1. Verify the microchip. If it's not in the regional registry, ask the vet to register it. Without it the town hall will throw back the file.
2. Go to your town hall's sede. Log in with Cl@ve or digital certificate and search “Censo de animales de compañía”. Examples: Madrid (https://sede.madrid.es), Barcelona (https://seu.barcelona.cat), Valencia (https://sede.valencia.es).
3. Complete the form. Owner and address details, species/breed, sex, colour, date of birth, microchip and vet details.
4. Attach files. Cartilla/pasaporte (rabies valid if required), justificante of the regional microchip registration, empadronamiento, proof of origin and insurance/licence if it applies to you.
5. Sign and submit. Use Cl@ve Firma or a digital certificate. Keep the justificante de registro (expediente number).
6. Watch for requirements. Check notifications on the sede or in Carpeta Ciudadana (https://carpetaciudadana.gob.es). If they request corrections, upload them within the deadline.
7. Download the census card/certificate. It will appear on the sede when approved. Keep a copy; you may need it for checks or other procedures.

Tricks that save you time

• Scan to PDF and merge pages into one file. Many sedes limit file size (10–15 MB) and number of uploads.
• Use clear filenames: “Cartilla_rabia_2026.pdf”, “Justificante_microchip.pdf”. Avoid blurry photos.
• Check dates: If rabies is mandatory in your community, it must be valid on the date you apply.
• Recent empadronamiento: Some sedes reject old volantes. Get a fresh one from the sede or your municipal account.
• Keep the expediente number. If it takes time, you can check status or send a subsanación without going in circles.

Common mistakes that will mess up your application

1. Microchip not registered at regional level. The most common. The town hall cross-checks and will return the file if it doesn't appear.
2. Expired or unstamped rabies vaccine. If your community requires it, the cartilla must be up to date and legible.
3. Bad photos attached. Cut-off, blurry or rotated documents = guaranteed requerimiento.
4. Forgetting updates. Changing address or owner and not telling the town hall in time. Fine and administrative hassle.
5. Missing insurance/licence when needed. For some dogs, they won't even start the registration without those documents.