President Signs New Law: Owners of Dogs and Cats Face Controls

15 July 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

President signed a law creating a national registry and new controls for pet owners. Learn how pet microchipping in Poland affects expats.

President Karol Nawrocki signed a new law on June 2, 2026, creating a national registry for chipped dogs and some cats. Consequently, the act introduces clear duties and inspection powers related to pet microchipping in Poland.

Table of Contents

What the law does and who runs the register

The law creates the National Register of Marked Dogs and Cats, called KROPiK. Moreover, the Agencja Restrukturyzacji i Modernizacji Rolnictwa (ARiMR) will operate the database. However, ARiMR will not send inspectors door to door. Instead, the law gives inspection powers to three services. First, the Veterinary Inspection will inspect compliance. Second, the Police will conduct checks. Third, the municipal or city guard will enforce rules locally. In municipalities without a guard, the mayor, wójt or burmistrz receives similar powers.

How inspections work and what to expect

Inspectors may ask to see your pet for a chip scan using an ISO 11785-compatible reader. Therefore, they can verify chip numbers live in KROPiK. If officials approach you, you may ask to see their ID card. Also, municipalities can start with milder steps. For example, a mayor may first educate residents. In addition, the mayor may call you to submit a form declaring the number of pets you keep. However, if the declaration clashes with registry data, inspectors may escalate the case to police or the municipal guard.

Penalties, shelter responsibilities and rights of new owners

The law separates sanctions into two tracks. Consequently, private owners who fail to chip or register an animal face fines under the misdemeanour code. Moreover, municipalities may impose fines up to 5,000 PLN for such violations. However, shelters and temporary foster homes face much tougher administrative penalties. As a result, a shelter that releases an unchipped animal may receive an administrative fine tied to average national pay, known as the przeciętne wynagrodzenie. Therefore, legislators aimed to protect adopters from punishment when they take a pet from a shelter.

Why this matters for expats in Warsaw and across Poland

In Warsaw, roughly one in three residents keeps a dog or cat. Consequently, the scale of inspections in the capital will test local services. Moreover, the city runs its own free microchipping program. Therefore, municipal and national systems must coordinate. Also, municipalities must decide how to treat colonies of feral cats. Thus, volunteer caretakers might face new administrative duties first.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If your municipality asks you to declare how many pets you own, answer truthfully. Otherwise you risk criminal liability for false statements. Also, when an inspector asks to scan your pet, ask for official ID. Moreover, when you adopt from a shelter, the law shifts responsibility for marking the animal to the issuing organisation. In addition, basic Polish terms appear in everyday dealings here: ZUS means social insurance (like social security), NFZ means the public health insurer, PESEL means national ID number, and mandat means an on-the-spot fine.

If you get a formal request, comply and give accurate data. Therefore, keep vaccination records, adoption papers and chip details handy. Moreover, shelters should audit their release procedures now. Consequently, inspectors will begin wider controls before KROPiK runs fully in mid‑2028. In addition, expect local differences in enforcement across Poland.

Source: Read original article

📚 Looking for more help settling in Poland? Browse our complete Expat Guides.