Last checked against official sources on 20-10-2026.
Losing your dog’s vaccination card feels like a disaster when you need it for a dog licence, boarding or travel. Usually it isn’t. This guide explains why your vet should still have the record, how to get a copy, and how to never be stuck again. For more on caring for dogs, visit our dog hub.
Why your vet should have a copy
The Veterinary Council of India’s code of conduct for veterinary practitioners covers vaccination certificates for licensing of pets. [S1] Under it:
- a registered veterinary practitioner must maintain a register of veterinary medical certificates, with full details of the certificates issued [S1]
- when issuing a certificate, the vet must record the animal’s identification mark, name or number and age, and the owner’s name, and keep a copy for their records [S1]
So the clinic that vaccinated your dog should be able to tell you what was given and when.
What to do, step by step
- Search first. Check your phone’s photos and WhatsApp chats for a picture of the card, and your email for clinic receipts.
- Call the clinic. Give your name, your dog’s name and the rough dates of vaccination. Ask for a copy of the record or a fresh certificate based on it.
- If you changed vets, contact each clinic your dog has visited. Each one keeps its own records. [S1]
- If no record can be found, ask your vet what to do next. Your vet decides what to re-vaccinate.
- Make a backup the day you get the new copy (see below).
Never recreate a certificate yourself
A vaccination certificate is a professional document. The Veterinary Council of India treats tampering with or falsely providing certificates as professional misconduct, and a vet proven to have issued an untrue or misleading certificate is liable to have their name erased from the Indian Veterinary Practitioners’ Register. [S1] Don’t fill in a blank card yourself or ask anyone to backdate one. If the record is gone, the honest fix is a new vaccination and a new certificate.
Where you’ll be asked for it
- Dog licences: many cities ask for a vaccination certificate. Delhi’s MCD portal, for example, asks you to upload supporting documents as PDFs of up to 2 MB each. [S2] See our city-by-city registration guide.
- Boarding and daycare: most facilities ask to see vaccination records.
- Travel: trains, flights and moving house often need them too.
The Pawsitive Hoomans Take
A paper card is easy to lose. The day you get it back, photograph both sides, save a PDF, and keep it on your phone. Next time, you’ll have it in 30 seconds.
🐾 Store your dog’s certificates in a free Pet Passport so you’re never stuck, and use the Vaccination Tracker so the next booster isn’t missed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a duplicate vaccination certificate for my dog?
Ask the clinic that vaccinated your dog. Vets must keep a register of the certificates they issue and a copy of each. [S1]
What if I don’t remember which vet gave the vaccine?
Check old receipts, photos and messages, then call each clinic your dog has visited. If no record turns up, your vet will advise on re-vaccination.
Can I write a new vaccination card myself?
No. Vaccination certificates must come from a registered veterinarian; false certificates are professional misconduct. [S1]
Do I need the vaccination certificate for a dog licence?
Many cities ask for it. Delhi’s MCD portal requires supporting documents uploaded as PDFs of up to 2 MB each. [S2]
Sources and last checked
- [S1] Veterinary Council of India (Standard of Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Code of Ethics for Veterinary Practitioners) Regulations, 1992 (G.S.R. 395(E), 01-04-1992), clause 42(3) – vci.dahd.gov.in (PDF) – Last checked: 20-10-2026
- [S2] Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Pet Dog Registration – instructions – mcdonline.nic.in – Last checked: 20-10-2026
Disclaimer: PawsitiveHoomans is an independent information resource and is not affiliated with the Veterinary Council of India or any municipal body. Ask your veterinarian about your dog’s vaccinations.