From 2026, the digital ePetCard will be available for dogs
The national dog database Amicus will no longer issue physical PetCards. PetCards issued up to 31 December 2025 will remain valid.
29 December 2025
Important news for dog owners residing in Switzerland. Amicus, the national database for dogs, will no longer issue physical PetCards as of 1 January 2026. PetCards issued up to 31 December 2025 will remain valid.
It will still be possible to manage data as before via the Amicus portal or, as an alternative to the physical PetCard, the digital ePetCard will now be available in the new animundo application, allowing dog owners to always have their data available in digital format.
To register a new dog, the first step required of residents of Lugano (as in the past) is to complete the PDF form “Autocertificazione cani”, available via the online desk, or to appear in person at one of the two Puntocittà offices (Lugano city centre or Pregassona) with a valid identity document and the dog’s passport.
Once the notification procedure has been completed, Puntocittà will provide a personal ID to be given to the veterinarian (practising in Switzerland), who will enter the data into the Amicus portal.
All dog owners residing in Switzerland must be registered in the national dog database Amicus.
Dog owners must first contact one of the Puntocittà offices, which will register the personal data in the national dog database Amicus.
The citizen will then receive a code from Puntocittà to be handed over to the veterinarian, who will definitively register the dog in the national database.
Puppies must be microchipped by a veterinarian within the first three months. If a dog is imported from abroad, identification must be verified by a veterinarian within ten days of importation. In both cases, the veterinarian will then register the dog in Amicus.
Within ten days, the following changes must also be reported to Amicus:
- transfer (e.g. sale or gift)
- acquisition (e.g. purchase or gift)
- export or death of the dog
These details can be recorded on the Amicus portal or in the animundo application. Once your Amicus account is linked to animundo, you will be able to view your registered dogs and the electronic ePetCard, as well as manage changes of ownership and missing dog reports.
Changes of the owner’s name and address must be reported directly to the residents’ registration office or to Puntocittà. If you wish to change your dog’s data, please contact your veterinarian.
The dog tax in Lugano is invoiced annually to dog owners and amounts to CHF 75.– per dog.
If you already own a dog, you can continue to manage its data as before on the Amicus portal or, alternatively, use the animundo application. Once your Amicus account is linked, you will be able to view your registered dogs, report transfers, acquisitions or deaths, and manage missing dog reports.
The physical PetCard can no longer be reordered but is available as a digital ePetCard in the animundo app.
Changes of the owner’s name and address must be reported directly to the residents’ registration office or to Puntocittà. If you wish to change your dog’s data, please contact your veterinarian.
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The English version of this page was created with the aid of automatic translation tools and may contain errors and omissions.
The original version is the page in Italian.