Buying & import
Export Pedigrees Explained: Registering an Imported Mini Bull
What the document is, who issues it, what it has to show, and how the American, British and Canadian registries use it to register a puppy born abroad.
The short answer. An export pedigree is a certified pedigree that the registry in a puppy's country of birth issues when the dog goes to live in another country. The registry in the new country uses it to register the dog as an import. For a miniature bull terrier bred in an FCI country, it comes from that country's FCI member kennel club.
With it, you can register the dog with the AKC (USA), The Royal Kennel Club (UK) or the CKC (Canada). All three want at least three generations of ancestry with names and registration numbers. They also want the dog identified by microchip or tattoo, and they want you shown as the owner. A pedigree in someone else's name, from a registry they don't recognise, or carrying a breeding restriction can block registration.
Most buyers only think about pedigree papers after the puppy has landed, and that's when problems surface. This guide covers what the document is, who issues it and what it has to show. It then gives the actual requirements of the three registries our buyers most often deal with, taken from their own pages, and the red flags to watch for before you pay.
Pedigree vs export pedigree: the difference
A pedigree certificate records a registered dog's ancestry: its registered name and number, and those of its parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. It proves where the dog comes from. It doesn't prove who owns it. As an AKC executive put it when the AKC launched its own export pedigree, "anyone can buy a regular pedigree for any dog".
An export pedigree is the version made for another registry. It combines the pedigree with the registration details and names the current owner. The AKC's own version "merges the information found on the AKC 3-Generation Certified Pedigree and the AKC Registration Certificate, including the name(s) of the current owner(s)", and can "only be purchased by someone who currently owns the dog". The same article notes that "most foreign registries produce export pedigrees".
The Royal Kennel Club describes the deal between registries plainly. It has "an agreement in place with most overseas kennel clubs, and any members of the FCI, that they will register a dog as an imported dog, providing we issue an Export Pedigree" (RKC Form 13).
What an export pedigree is not
It isn't a travel document, a health certificate or proof of vaccination. The RKC says so: "An Export Pedigree is not required to allow a dog to leave the United Kingdom". Crossing a border depends on the microchip, rabies vaccination and official health certificate. Those rules are in our guides to importing a mini bull to the USA and UK import rules. You need both sets of paperwork, and they come from different offices.
Who issues it
In most of continental Europe and Latin America, and in many other countries, the registry is the national kennel club that belongs to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). The FCI describes itself as having "101 members and contract partners (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees", and says it "makes sure that the pedigrees and judges are mutually recognised by all the FCI members". The miniature bull terrier is FCI breed no. 359.
So the issuer is the FCI member club of the country where the litter was born and registered. The breeder doesn't issue it. The breeder registers the litter and applies for the export pedigree once the puppy is sold abroad. You can check any club's membership on the FCI members list, and you should. That's the first check if a seller names an organisation you've never heard of.
The miniature bull terrier is recognised by all three destination registries in this guide. See the AKC, the Royal Kennel Club and the CKC (listed as "Bull Terrier (Miniature)"). It's a separate breed from the standard bull terrier in each of them, which matters when a puppy is registered. More on that in miniature vs standard bull terrier.
What an export pedigree should show
We combined the data fields the three registries ask for (sources in each row). Ask the breeder for a sample export pedigree from a previous puppy, with the owner's details covered, and check it against this list:
| Field | Why it matters | Who asks for it |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing registry of the country of birth | Must be an FCI member or a registry the destination club lists | RKC, AKC, CKC |
| Registered name and registration number | The name can't be changed later (only a kennel name added, at the RKC) | All three |
| Microchip or tattoo number | Must match the chip in the dog you receive | CKC form; AKC and RKC require positive ID |
| Sex, colour, date and place of birth | Identifies the dog; the RKC also asks you to state its colour at registration | CKC form; RKC |
| Breeder's name and address | Links the dog to a kennel you can verify | CKC form |
| Sire and dam with registration numbers, 3 generations | "Names & numbers for all dogs listed" | AKC, CKC, RKC |
| Owner: you, at your address | The applicant must be the recorded owner | AKC ("identical ownership"), CKC, RKC |
| No breeding restriction (or one you agreed to) | The AKC wants an "unrestricted" foreign registration | AKC; RKC "not eligible for export" endorsement |
Registering in the USA: AKC Foreign Registration
The AKC registers foreign-born dogs through its online Foreign Registration or the paper ADIMPT form. Under its Special Registry Services rules, a foreign dog may be eligible provided that:
- the breed is eligible for the AKC Stud Book;
- the dog "was registered in the country of birth with a Foreign Registry Organization" on the AKC's list, which covers dozens of countries including Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and Italy;
- you send "a complete official three-generation Pedigree and a Certificate of Registration", with names and numbers for every dog, translated into English;
- the dog has "an unrestricted registration", not a limited-breeding one;
- "the AKC application and the foreign registration must reflect identical ownership";
- the dog is "positively and permanently identified (microchip or tattoo)".
The online application also asks for two colour photographs of the dog standing, one from the front and one from the side. It notes that "an Export Pedigree may be required if the dog has been imported to the US". If you plan to breed, foreign-born dogs need an AKC DNA profile before their first AKC-registered litter.
One US-specific point about timing. The CDC requires dogs to be "at least 6 months old at time of entry", so paperwork for a US buyer is finished months before the dog travels. That leaves time to check every field on the export pedigree.
UK: The Royal Kennel Club import registration
In the UK you apply with Form 4, registration of an imported dog. The conditions on the RKC's overseas registration page and Form 4 terms are:
- the breed is recognised by the RKC, and the dog was registered with a club that has full or associate FCI membership, FCI contract partnership or a reciprocal agreement with the RKC;
- "an imported dog must be registered with the registry for the country of its birth";
- the owner and dog live at a UK address, and the application uses the address "as printed on the Export Pedigree issued by the overseas kennel club";
- you send a copy of the certified export pedigree (originals aren't needed);
- the dog keeps its foreign registered name. You can only add your kennel name;
- the dog was imported at or above the legal minimum age. The RKC "will not register any dog imported to the UK outside the minimum age thresholds", which are 15 weeks from listed countries and 203 days from unlisted ones.
When we checked on 28 September 2026, the Form 4 page listed the fee at £34 for a three-generation record. It said the RKC aims "to register your application within 23 working days". The RKC also requires DNA certificates before registering imports of certain breeds. The miniature bull terrier wasn't on that list when we checked.
If your mini bull came in commercially under the Balai rules (which is normal for a bought puppy), the RKC asks for the health certificate showing the microchip, rabies details and departure date, plus the export pedigree. The age and travel side is covered in bringing a puppy to the UK.
Canada: CKC
The Canadian Kennel Club uses an Application for Registration of Foreign Born Dog Imported to Canada. Its conditions, quoted from the form:
- the applicant is the person who imported the dog and is "a resident of Canada";
- the dog is of a CKC-recognised breed and "has been registered by a foreign club or organization whose Stud Book or record is recognized by the CKC". The list of accepted registries is available from the CKC on request;
- the dog is identified by microchip or tattoo;
- the applicant "is identified as the recorded owner(s) in the records of the foreign club". A signed statement or an amended certificate confirming the transfer "may be required";
- the application includes the certificate of registration or "Export Certified Pedigree", showing at least three generations with "a registered name and registration number" for every dog.
The border rules are separate. The CKC's importing page points to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The CFIA has specific requirements for commercial dogs under 8 months (for breeding or resale, including adoption), so check with the CFIA before you set a travel date.
The three registries side by side
| AKC (USA) | Royal Kennel Club (UK) | CKC (Canada) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who applies | The owner shown on the foreign registration | UK-resident owner(s) | Canadian-resident importer, recorded as owner |
| Accepted origin | Registries on the AKC's Foreign Registry list | FCI members / contract partners, or reciprocal clubs | Registries recognised by the CKC (list on request) |
| Pedigree | 3 generations, names and numbers, in English | Certified export pedigree | Export certified pedigree or certificate, 3 generations |
| Identification | Microchip or tattoo | Microchip data via travel papers | Microchip or tattoo |
| Extra conditions | Unrestricted registration; 2 photos; DNA before first litter | Imported at legal minimum age; name fixed | Transfer to you documented if needed |
| How | Online or ADIMPT form | Online Form 4 | Paper application (PDF form) |
Our export pedigree is included in the price. Ask to see a sample.
On the video call we'll show you an export pedigree from a previous litter (with the owner's details covered) and the club that issues it. We'll also agree how yours will be made out: your name, your address and the registry you'll use at home.
Book a video callRed flags: "papers extra" and registries that aren't FCI, AKC or KC
- "Papers cost extra" or "pedigree available later for a fee". Registration costs money everywhere, but you should know before paying exactly what's included and when the export pedigree will be issued. We include it in the price (see our FCI export pedigree promise).
- A registry you can't find on the FCI members list, or on the AKC or CKC lists. The RKC is explicit: it "can only accept import applications from overseas clubs that have full membership, associate membership or contract partnership of the FCI". A certificate from a private "registry" may look official and still be worthless for registration.
- Papers that will stay in the breeder's name. The AKC, the RKC and the CKC all tie registration to the recorded owner. If ownership isn't transferred, you can't register the dog.
- An undisclosed breeding restriction. Some clubs let breeders mark a dog "not for breeding" or "not eligible for export". The AKC wants an unrestricted registration. Ask directly and get the answer in the contract.
- A microchip number on the papers that doesn't match the dog. Ask the breeder to scan the chip on camera and compare it with the document.
- A pedigree from a country other than the one of birth. The RKC wants the registry of the country of birth. The AKC wants the pedigree from the country of birth even if the dog lived somewhere else first.
Fake or "borrowed" pedigrees are a standard tool in puppy fraud. Our guide to spotting a miniature bull terrier puppy scam covers how to test a seller before any money moves.
Frequently asked questions
Is an FCI pedigree valid in the USA?
It can be used to register the dog with the AKC if the issuing club is on the AKC's list of Foreign Registry Organizations (the list covers dozens of countries, including Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and Italy), the registration is unrestricted, ownership matches yours, and the dog is microchipped or tattooed. The AKC reviews each application.
Do I need an export pedigree for my puppy to travel?
No. An export pedigree is a registration document, not a travel document. Entry into the USA, the UK or Canada depends on the microchip, rabies vaccination and health certificates required by the CDC, the UK government or the CFIA. You need both sets of papers, from different offices.
Can I change the name of an imported miniature bull terrier?
Not the registered name. The Royal Kennel Club registers an imported dog under the name on its foreign papers and only allows a kennel name to be added; the AKC also registers the dog with the name on the foreign certificate. The call name you use at home can be anything you like.
How long does it take to register an imported dog?
The Royal Kennel Club says it aims to register an imported dog within 23 working days; its overseas page suggests allowing 28 days. The AKC and CKC review each application and contact you if anything is missing. Incomplete or illegible documents are the usual cause of delay.
What if the breeder's kennel club is not an FCI member?
Then check the destination registry directly before you buy. The Royal Kennel Club accepts imports only from FCI members, contract partners or clubs with a reciprocal agreement; the AKC and CKC work from their own lists of recognised registries. A certificate from a registry none of them accept will not get your dog registered.
Who pays for the export pedigree?
It varies by breeder, which is why you should ask before paying. The fee is charged by the issuing club, and some breeders add it to the buyer's bill. In our case the FCI export pedigree is included in the puppy's price.
About this guide. Requirements are summarised from the AKC, Royal Kennel Club, CKC and FCI pages linked below, as published on 28 September 2026. Registries update their rules and fees, so the registry's own page is always the final word.
Sources
- FCI, Presentation of our organisation; Members; Miniature Bull Terrier (no. 359).
- American Kennel Club, Foreign Registration; Special Registry Services: Foreign Registration; ADIMPT application (PDF); AKC Certified Export Pedigree: Everything You Need to Know.
- The Royal Kennel Club, Form 4: registration of an imported dog; Overseas registration; Form 13: application for an export pedigree.
- Canadian Kennel Club, Application for Registration of Foreign Born Dog Imported to Canada (PDF); Importing Dogs.
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Commercial dogs less than 8 months of age.
- CDC, Entry requirements for dogs from dog-rabies free or low-risk countries.