how-it-works

Home  /  How It Works

Registration takes ten minutes. Here's exactly what happens.

No hidden upsells, no pop-ups asking for add-ons at checkout, no "quick ESA letter" cross-sells. You choose a package, fill out your details, upload photos, pay — and your digital ID hits your inbox immediately. Printed gear ships the next business day. That's the whole flow.

The 6-Step Walkthrough

From clicking "Register" to wearing the vest

This is the real timeline — not marketing estimates. Times are median across 109,000+ registrations.

1
  1 minute

Pick your animal type and package

Start on the Packages page. Choose Service Dog, Psychiatric Service Dog, or Emotional Support Animal. Then pick a tier — Build Your Own (annual), Essential (annual), Classic (annual), Premium (lifetime), or Elite (lifetime).

2
  5 minutes

Fill in the registration form

One form, eight short pages, tap-through on your phone or desktop. We ask for handler info, animal info, breed, state, and emergency contact. Nothing we don't need.

  • Partial progress auto-saves — you can walk away and come back.
  • No account creation required to start.
  • Medical details (vaccination records, microchip) are optional on most packages.
3
  2 minutes

Upload photos & sign

One photo of your animal, one of the handler (you). Built-in cropper — square, 300×300, works on phone. Sign with your finger or mouse. Done.

  • Photo tips: good light, plain background, animal facing camera.
  • Handler photo doubles as the human portion of the ID card.
4
  30 seconds

Pay — Stripe, Apple Pay, Google Pay

One-click checkout. All major cards plus Apple Pay and Google Pay. Stripe processes the transaction; we never see your card number. Annual tiers include year 1 up front and auto-bill for subsequent years (cancellable anytime from your account).

  • Payment confirmation email arrives within seconds.
  • SSL everywhere; certified by SiteLock.
5
  Instant

Your Digital ID hits your inbox

Immediately after payment: confirmation email with your registration number, downloadable Digital ID PDF, and — if you're subscribed to Basic or Pro — Apple Wallet and Google Wallet buttons. The QR on your ID links to your public verification page at /verify/?reg=YOUR-NUMBER.

  • Verification page shows animal photo, handler photo, registration type, status — not your address or contact info.
  • Print-ready PDF for folks who want a paper backup.
  1–3 business days

Printed gear ships

If your package includes printed cards, tags, or gear, your order moves into fulfillment the next business day. Physical IDs are printed on Fargo HID card stock. Tags and harness hardware are laser-engraved. Envelopes are Stamps.com First Class (standard) or Priority Mail (Elite tier default).

  • You'll get a tracking number as soon as it leaves our facility.
  • Most orders arrive within 3–7 days of shipping.
  • Digital-only packages skip this step entirely.
What Actually Arrives

Inside the envelope

Exact contents depend on package tier, but every physical shipment includes these four things.

Manila folder, printed documents, ID cards, tags

Packed in order so you open to the packing slip first.

What's always in the box

  • Packing slip with a personalized note, your order summary, and a QR code to your verification page
  • Manila folder containing the printed documents relevant to your package (certificate, housing letter, letter of registration, DOT form for SD/PSD)
  • Printed ID card(s) — Fargo HID card stock, credit-card size, printed in full color with holographic overlay
  • Tags, collar hardware, or harness accessories depending on tier

Essential tier ships the slim envelope (cards + tags). Classic adds documents. Premium and Elite add harness or leash. Every shipment comes via USPS with tracking.

After You Register

Things that keep working in the background

Account dashboard

Log into My Account any time to edit handler details, swap photos, re-download documents, manage your subscription, or order replacement gear. Changes sync to your Digital ID and wallet passes within seconds.

Edit anytimeLive sync

Wallet passes update live

If you're on Basic or Pro monthly, your Apple Wallet and Google Wallet passes update automatically when you edit anything. Travel with a phone, not a folder.

Monthly sub perkApple + Google

Upgrade anytime

Went with Essential and wish you'd picked Premium? Upgrade in the dashboard — we credit what you've paid toward the new tier and ship the additional gear.

Prorated creditNo re-registration

Verifiable publicly

Anyone with your registration number can confirm it's active at /verify/. They see your animal photo, registration type, and active/expired status — nothing private.

Public lookupNo PII exposed
Frequently Asked

The questions people ask before registering

Do I need a doctor's letter to register?
For Service Dog and PSD tiers, no — those designations are based on task training, not a letter. For ESA, a letter from a licensed clinician is what gives you FHA housing protection; registration with us does not replace it. We don't sell ESA letters — see our ESA letter guide for real options.
What if my landlord rejects my registration?
Registration isn't what the landlord is legally considering — the underlying rights (ADA for service dogs, FHA for ESAs) are. For ESAs specifically, they'll want to see your clinician letter. If the rejection looks like discrimination or bad-faith denial, file a complaint with HUD within one year. We include a housing letter in Classic and higher packages that formalizes the request language.
Does registration expire?
Annual tiers (Build Your Own, Essential, Classic) renew each year. Lifetime tiers (Premium, Elite) never expire. Monthly subscription add-ons (Basic $2.99/mo, Pro $4.99/mo) are optional and give you wallet passes, free edits, and document re-downloads.
Can I register multiple animals?
Yes — each animal gets its own registration and its own package. Families with multiple service animals commonly register each separately so each has its own verification page and IDs. Volume discount kicks in at 3+ animals (contact us for a code).
What if my animal dies or I no longer need the registration?
We'll cancel any active subscription and remove your registration from public lookup. Refunds on lifetime tiers aren't prorated, but we don't want to charge anyone for a service they can't use — if this is your situation, contact us directly and we'll work it out.
How long before my gear ships?
Digital products are instant. Printed cards and documents enter production the next business day. Most orders ship within 1–3 business days of registration and arrive 3–7 days later. Elite tier ships Priority Mail by default.
Can I change information after I register?
Yes. Minor edits (photo swap, address change, typo fix) are free on Pro monthly; otherwise $4.99 per change. Major edits (animal type change, handler name change) always require confirmation. Your wallet passes and verification page update automatically.
What about refunds?
We offer a 30-day refund on digital products and a 14-day refund on physical gear if unused. Full policy on our refund page.

Message us from your dashboard

Sign in and open the Messages tab. Every conversation stays attached to your registration.
Reply within 1 business day

Live chat

Mon–Fri, 9 AM – 6 PM Eastern
Bottom-right of every page

FAQ

80+ questions answered
Browse the FAQ →

Ten minutes. Start to finish.

No pressure, no upsells at checkout, no fake anything. Just clean paperwork.

Start My Registration