New
RUAC Mexico City: how to register your dog or cat
The Registro Único de Animales de Compañía (RUAC) is Mexico City's registry for dogs and cats. It is mandatory, free and done online in about 15 minutes. The site is in Spanish.
What the RUAC is
Mexico City's Animal Protection and Welfare Law defines the RUAC as a mandatory and free registry and requires anyone who cares for a dog or cat to register it. At the end you get a digital card with your pet's registration key.
How to register
- 1. Get your Llave CDMX ready. Registration is at ruac.cdmx.gob.mx and you sign in with a Llave CDMX account, Mexico City's digital ID. If you don't have one, you can create it there.
- 2. Fill in your details and your pet's. Your contact details and address, and your pet's: name, species, breed if you know it, size, color, distinguishing marks and general health.
- 3. Upload photos. Several clear photos of your pet, from the front and the side. If it has a microchip or an ID tag, you can add those details.
- 4. Download its card. The digital card with its key is generated at the end. You can download and print it, and update the data when you move or change phones.
What you should know
- It's free: the law bans charging for registration.
- It's done online, without middlemen. Be wary of anyone offering to «process it» for you or coming to your home.
- The law asks that your pet's collar or harness carry its name, its RUAC key and your contact details.
- The authorities have said no one can demand to see the registration on the street.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the RUAC mandatory?
- Yes. Mexico City's Animal Protection and Welfare Law defines it as mandatory and free for dogs and cats.
- How much does the RUAC cost?
- Nothing. The law bans charging for registration.
- What is the «pet CURP»?
- It's what some media call the RUAC: the key your dog or cat gets when you register it.
Related guides
- Mexico City's animal protection law: what pet owners must knowNewWhat dog and cat owners must do in Mexico City, what is banned and the fines.
- Lost dog or cat in Mexico: what to doWhat to do if your dog or cat gets lost in Mexico: first hours, a poster in Spanish, where to post and official contacts.
- Which pets are legal in Mexico?NewWhich pets need no paperwork in Mexico, which need a Semarnat permit and which you can't have.
Wagori: everything for your pet, in one app
Keep its vaccine record, find vets and trusted services, and see events near you. It's free. The app is in Spanish for now.
Create your free account
Works in the browser on your phone or computer. The app is in Spanish for now.
Sources
Laws and procedures checked in November 2026. This guide is not legal advice: for a specific question, ask the authority.