Vaccines, deworming and papers

KCI registration: what the papers mean, the fee, and how to check them

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KCI registration is a pedigree record from the Kennel Club of India (KCI), a private body founded in 1896 — it records a dog's breed, parentage, breeder and owner, not its vaccinations or a government licence to own a dog12. As of KCI's April 2024 tariff, registering one puppy from a litter costs ₹750 to ₹2,000 depending on how soon after birth you apply (less for Indian-breed litters), and a single dog with unknown parentage costs ₹1,000, on top of a compulsory Indian Kennel Gazette subscription3.

What it is
A private pedigree record — breed, parentage, breeder and owner — from the Kennel Club of India, founded 18961
Litter registration fee
₹750 per pup within 60 days of birth, ₹1,200 within 61–120 days, ₹2,000 within 121–180 days (Indian-breed litters: ₹375 / ₹600 / ₹1,000) — April 2024 tariff3
Single dog, unknown parentage
₹1,000; an imported dog costs ₹2,500 — plus a compulsory Indian Kennel Gazette subscription of ₹1,200 a year to register any dog23
Litter registration window
Apply only after 30 days (so KCI can arrange a litter inspection) and before 180 days from the puppies' birth; both sire and dam must already be KCI-registered1
Not the same as
A breeder's legal registration with the State Animal Welfare Board, or a municipal dog licence — different papers, different purpose4
On this page
  1. What KCI registration actually records
  2. Fees, from KCI's April 2024 tariff
  3. How litter registration works
  4. How to check a registration
  5. KCI papers aren't a vaccination record
  6. The paperwork a breeder should legally have
  7. Not the same as your city's dog registration
  8. Not fully clear yet
  9. Sources

What KCI registration actually records

The Kennel Club of India (KCI), founded in 1896 and affiliated to the Kennel Club, London, is a private body that keeps the pedigree register for purebred dogs in India1. Registering a dog with KCI records its breed, its sire and dam (and their KCI numbers), its breeder, and its owner — it's proof of parentage, not proof of health or vaccination12. To register any dog, the applicant must also subscribe to the Indian Kennel Gazette, KCI's own publication23.

Fees, from KCI's April 2024 tariff

WhatFee
Litter, per pup — applied within 60 days of birth₹750 (Indian breeds: ₹375)3
Litter, per pup — applied 61–120 days after birth₹1,200 (Indian breeds: ₹600)3
Litter, per pup — applied 121–180 days after birth₹2,000 (Indian breeds: ₹1,000)3
Single dog, bred in India, unknown parentage₹1,000 23
Imported dog₹2,500 23
Transfer of ownership (within 12 months of birth / after)₹500 / ₹1,000 3
Change of a registered dog's name₹1,000 3
Duplicate registration certificate₹1,000 3
Indian Kennel Gazette subscription (compulsory, 1 year)₹1,200 23

How litter registration works

  1. Both the sire and dam must already be KCI-registered, with the breeder recorded as the dam's owner1.
  2. Wait at least 30 days after the puppies are born — KCI requires this gap to arrange a litter inspection — then apply for all live puppies at the same time, within 180 days of birth1.
  3. Fill in the KCI litter registration form with the litter's breed, date of birth, and the sire's and dam's KCI numbers, and send it with the fee to KCI's Chennai office1.
  4. KCI issues a registration number and certificate for each pup once the application and fee are accepted.

How to check a registration

We could not find an online tool on KCI's current site to look up or verify a registration number — the site itself says it is a "temporary arrangement" while a new one is being built2. For now, ask to see the Registration Certificate itself (it carries a KCI number for the dog and its parents), or write to KCI's Chennai office with the dog's details to confirm one.

KCI papers aren't a vaccination record

A KCI certificate says nothing about whether a puppy has had its shots. Under the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017, it's a registered breeder's separate legal duty to give the buyer, in writing, the pup's feeding, inoculation and deworming dates and the attending vet's name — and to keep a health record for every pup sold4. If you buy a puppy, ask for that record too; see vaccination papers and schedules for what a complete record should show.

The paperwork a breeder should legally have

Separately from KCI, anyone breeding and selling dogs and pups in India must register their breeding establishment with their State Animal Welfare Board under the Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules, 2017 — a ₹5,000 fee, renewed every 2 years4. The rules also require every pup sold to be microchipped and in good health, sold with a written sale receipt carrying the buyer's name, address and phone number, and accompanied by the breeder's health and vaccination records4. Pet shops selling dogs have a similar, separate registration duty with the State Board under the Pet Shop Rules, 2018 5. None of this is the same as — or a substitute for — KCI's pedigree registration, which is optional and run by a private body, not the government14.

Not the same as your city's dog registration

KCI registration has nothing to do with your city's dog registration or licence — for example Delhi's MCD or Mumbai's BMC licence. That's a separate, often compulsory, local requirement. See dog registration city by city.

Not fully clear yet

Official sources disagree or leave gaps on these. Confirm before you rely on them.

Sources and how we check

Facts checked against the official sources below by Thapki. Written with AI help from the sources below, then checked line by line; the Thapki team reads and approves every page before it goes live. How we check

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