12 October 2026 · 1 min read
Is there an official emotional support animal register in the UK?
No. No UK government body registers emotional support animals, so every register is a private business's own list, including UK ESA Register.
No. There is no official emotional support animal register in the UK: no government body keeps one, and there is no statutory scheme, application or fee. UK ESA Register is a private register, not a government scheme and not a legal document, and an entry costs €41 (about £35) and is current for 18 months.
What that means in practice
Every “register” in the UK is a private business’s own list. Being on one confirms that the business issued you a card or certificate. It does not give a pet legal status, and it does not give you a right of access anywhere.
UK law recognises assistance dogs, which are trained to help a disabled person. An emotional support animal is a pet that helps you feel better. That is a real and valuable thing, and it is a different category in law. Presenting a pet as a trained assistance dog when it is not can be an offence.
What does help in England
If you rent in England and want to keep a pet, the useful thing is not a certificate. Since 1 May 2026 you can formally request consent under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, and your landlord must answer in writing within 28 days. How to ask is here.
How to judge any registry, including ours
We set out seven questions to put to any registry, ours included, in Is emotional support animal registration legitimate in the UK? If you only want to know what is on offer for free, read Free emotional support animal registration in the UK.
You can check whether a UK ESA Register entry exists on our lookup page, and the pricing page lists what we sell.
Read next
- How much does an ESA certificate cost in the UK?A UK ESA Register entry costs €41, paid once, and is current for 18 months. It is a private certificate with no legal status.
- Free emotional support animal registration in the UK: what's really on offerThe three business models behind free ESA registration, what each one is actually selling, and the free options that genuinely help.
- How do I ask my landlord for permission to keep a pet in England?Ask in writing. Since 1 May 2026 your landlord must answer in writing within 28 days and cannot unreasonably refuse. The steps, in order.