How do I transfer a microchip registration to a new owner?
Transferring a microchip registration moves the record from one owner's account to another's. The previous owner typically loses access as soon as they submit the transfer — but that doesn't mean the new owner is protected yet. Many registries also require the new owner to take an action of their own before the record is live again.
Why would I transfer a chip?
The most common reasons are selling or rehoming a pet, a breeder handing off registration to a buyer, or a shelter or rescue transferring a chip to an adopter. In every case the goal is the same: whoever can actually be reached if the pet is found should be the one listed on the record, not whoever registered it originally.
What does the previous owner need to do?
Different registries may handle it differently, but at mChip.org the current owner initiates the transfer from their account and provides the new owner's email address.
What does the new owner need to do?
Before a transfered registration becomes active with the new owner, the new owner may need to accept the transfer and provide missing contact details.
There can be a real gap here: once the previous owner submits the transfer, they're off the record immediately, but the pet isn't protected under the new owner until the new owner actually completes that step. If you're the new owner, do it right away rather than treating the notification email as something to get to later.
Does the chip number change?
No. The physical microchip and its unique ID number never change during a transfer. Only the account — and therefore the contact information — linked to that ID in the registry changes.