Emotional Support Animal Registration

No, emotional support animals are not required to be registered. Nor does registering an emotional support animal confer any legal rights. The only way to legally qualify for an emotional support animal is by obtaining an ESA letter. Registration is an optional step that gives handy benefits like an ID card and entry in an online database with other ESA owners. 

These are invalid reasons to register your ESA:

• Registering an ESA instead of obtaining an ESA letter. You cannot substitute an ESA letter with an ESA registration.
• Trying to gain public access. Stores and other public venues do not have to legally accommodate ESAs, regardless of whether you have an ESA letter or registration. ESAs only have housing rights in the United States.
• Passing off an ESA as a service dog. ESAs do not have the specialized training required in order to have service animal rights.

While both terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they are very different. An ESA registration involves adding your ESA to an ESA database. It’s a voluntary process and doesn’t grant any additional legal rights.

The term “ESA Certification” can be misleading. There isn’t a formal “certification” for ESAs. The only official document you need is an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional.

ESA registration is instant! You will get a digital version of your Emotional Support Animal ID card, and you can look up your emotional support animal in our online registry right away.

Our ESA registry is privately maintained and comes with an associated ID card. You are not mandated to include your ESA in a registry, it is done voluntarily. There are no government-run registries specifically for emotional support animals. 

You cannot be included in our registry unless you have an ESA letter from a licensed healthcare professional. Our ESA registry is only open to people who have qualified for an emotional support animal by getting a valid ESA letter. 

Many cities and counties have rules regarding the registration and licensing of pets. This should not be confused with ESA registrations. If your city or county requires all pets to be licensed, you must comply, even if you have an emotional support animal.