Dog Licensing in Cyprus. A Microchip Isn't Enough

A dog license in Cyprus is required independently of microchipping and registering the animal. The permit is issued by the local authority responsible for the dog's usual residence. Within city limits, this will be the municipality, and outside city limits, the relevant community council.

The standard fee is currently €20.50 per year. The license expires on December 31st, so it must be renewed annually. For the first registration during the year, the owner pays a pro rata fee for the period remaining until the end of December.

Microchip, registration and license are not the same thing

Owners often assume that once their dog is chipped, all the paperwork is complete. However, Cypriot regulations separate three issues:

• permanent marking of the dog with a microchip,
• entering the animal into the register maintained by Veterinary Services,
• obtaining an annual license to own a dog.

A microchip allows you to identify an animal and link it to its owner. However, it does not replace a license issued by a local authority.

Under the current Cypriot Dog Law, a license is required for dogs older than two months. However, registration in the central register applies to dogs older than six months.

Where to get a dog license in Cyprus?

The application should be submitted to the office responsible for the dog's usual place of residence, and not necessarily where the owner is registered.

In practice it will be:

• municipal office – if the dog is staying within the city or municipality limits,
• community council – in other towns.

Individual offices may have their own forms and payment methods. Therefore, it's a good idea to call before visiting to confirm office hours and required copies of documents.

What documents will be needed?

The Act requires the submission of:

• an application with the address of the place where the dog usually stays,
• a health booklet or health document issued by a registered veterinarian,
• registration certificate and permanent marking of the dog,
• confirmation of payment of the appropriate fee.

It's also a good idea to bring the pet's passport, owner ID, and microchip number. The office may ask for additional documentation depending on the dog's situation, such as proof of sterilization, assistance dog status, or the owner's hunting license.

How much does a license cost?

The current fee schedule provides for the following rates:

• 20.50 euros – standard dogs, regardless of gender and sterilization,
• 170 euro – sterilized dogs of breeds classified as dangerous by law,
• 24 euro – hunting dogs belonging to a person with a valid hunting license and registered on the Game and Fauna Service platform.

The preferential rate for hunting dogs applies to a maximum of four animals. Each additional dog will be charged at the same rate as the remaining dogs.

The dangerous breeds listed in the law include the Pit Bull Terrier or American Pit Bull, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino, and the Fila Brasileiro. In 2026, regulations regarding these animals were further tightened.

Who doesn't pay for a license?

The free license is available for, among others:

• certified assistance dog,
• a dog of security services or other state institutions,
• one sterilized dog belonging to a person receiving the Low Income Pension Benefit.

However, the exemption is not granted automatically. The owner must provide appropriate certification.

In the case of an assistance dog, a certificate issued by an organization recognized by the International Guide Dog Federation or Assistance Dogs International is required. A person benefiting from income tax relief must provide documents confirming their eligibility.

The license is renewed every year

The license is valid only until December 31 of a given year. The application for its renewal should be submitted from November 1 to December 31.

When renewing, you must present your dog's health booklet updated by a veterinarian within the last 12 months.

If the first license is issued during the year, the fee should be prorated for the period remaining until December 31st. Therefore, the owner should not pay the full annual fee for a dog registered only at the end of the year.

Lost dog? You have two business days.

Cypriot law requires the owner to officially report the loss or theft of a dog within two business days from the date of discovery of the event.

The report should be submitted to the appropriate municipality or community council. Posting information on Facebook, a local group, or the website of an animal welfare organization does not replace notification of the office.

If the dog is found, the owner also has two business days to report this information to the local administration.

Selling or transferring a dog to another person also requires formalities. The new owner's details must be entered into the registry, and the license can be transferred for the remaining period of its validity.

Leash and cleaning are mandatory

Dogs are not allowed to roam freely on roads or in other public places. Outside designated areas, they must remain on a leash.

An empty square, park or part of the beach does not automatically become a place for free range. An exception applies to areas officially designated by the relevant municipality or community council.

The owner is also obliged to:

• collect the droppings left by the dog,
• do not allow regular disturbance of neighbors,
• secure the property against animal escape,
• provide conditions that do not pose a threat to people or other animals.

At the entrance to the property where the dog is kept, there should also be a warning sign informing about the animal's presence.

What are the consequences of not having a license?

Owning a dog without the required license is a violation of the Act. Local authorities may also refuse to issue a license, not renew it, or withdraw a license if the animal is dangerous, regularly left unattended, causes a nuisance, or is kept in inappropriate conditions.

The law provides for criminal liability for violations. For a first conviction, the court may impose a prison sentence of up to 12 months, a fine of up to €2,000, or both. For subsequent convictions, the limits increase to 24 months and €4,000, respectively.

In everyday practice, however, the most important thing is to organize three basic formalities: microchip, registration and annual local license.

Source: consolidated text of the Cyprus Dogs Act, including amendments adopted in 2026at (Act on Dogs – current text)