What Is TRACES and Do You Need It to Import a Shiba Inu Into the EU?

Quick Answer: TRACES and EU Pet Import

If you are bringing a Shiba Inu into the European Union from a non-EU country (the US, UK, Canada, Japan, etc.), you generally do not need a TRACES certificate for your dog. Pet dogs travel on an EU harmonised pet health certificate issued by an official (government) veterinarian in the country of origin. TRACES is the EU's online system that official vets and border authorities log into, but for non-commercial pet movements the certificate can be issued and endorsed without a TRACES number printed on it.

What you do need is the following baseline for any dog — including a Shiba Inu — entering the EU:

• ISO 15-digit microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination
• Valid rabies vaccination given after microchipping, with the required waiting period (typically 21 days for a primary course)
• An EU health certificate issued by an official vet, completed in the official language of the EU country of entry and (in some cases) the language of the destination country
• Entry through an approved Travel Point of Entry (TPE) that handles live animals
• Tapeworm treatment is not required for dogs entering from most non-EU countries (it is only mandatory for dogs entering the UK, Ireland, Finland, Norway, or Malta from certain origins)

In short: TRACES is the EU's tracking system, but it is the vet and the paperwork that matter for your Shiba.

What Exactly Is TRACES?

TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System) is an online platform run by the European Commission's DG SANTE. It was developed to digitalise the documentation required for trade in animals, animal products, food, and feed between EU member states and from non-EU countries into the EU.

There are several modules:

• TRACES NT — the current system, launched in 2017 to replace the older TRACES Classic
• CVED (Common Veterinary Entry Document) — used to pre-notify the Border Control Post of incoming consignments
• Intra-EU certificates — for animals moving between member states, for commercial and certain non-commercial purposes

Official veterinarians in EU member states and approved third-country vets log into TRACES to issue, sign, and track certificates electronically. Border Control Posts can see shipments coming in and approve or reject them in real time.

Does TRACES Apply to Pet Dogs Entering the EU?

For most pet owners — including Shiba Inu buyers and importers — TRACES is not the document you carry across the border. Here is why:

1. The EU distinguishes between commercial movements (selling, transferring ownership, large-scale transport) and non-commercial pet movements (your own dog, under 5 animals, not for sale).
2. Non-commercial pet movements of dogs, cats, and ferrets are governed by EU Regulation (EC) No 576/2013 and the model health certificate in Regulation (EC) No 577/2013.
3. The model certificate is a paper document filled out and stamped by an official vet. It does not require a TRACES-generated number for non-commercial pet movement, although many EU countries now also log the certificate into TRACES at the border for record-keeping.

If, however, you are a breeder or importer shipping a Shiba Inu as a commercial consignment (selling the dog, transporting 6 or more dogs, or moving the dog on behalf of someone else), the rules change: you are dealing with a commercial trade in dogs, and TRACES documentation becomes mandatory.

When TRACES Is Required for a Shiba Inu

You will encounter TRACES if:

• You are a licensed importer or breeder bringing Shibas from outside the EU for resale or placement
• You are moving more than 5 dogs at once
• The dog is being transported for commercial purposes (sale, adoption transfer, change of ownership for payment)
• The dog travels via an approved Border Control Post with a commercial CVED-A document

In these cases, the official vet at the Border Control Post will create a CVED in TRACES to clear the dog into the EU. Commercial imports also require compliance with EU breeding, welfare, and traceability rules, and Shibas must be registered with an EU-recognised kennel club before being placed.

When You Can Skip TRACES

TRACES is not required when:

• You are travelling with your own pet Shiba (up to 5 animals, no sale, no transfer of ownership for money)
• Your Shiba is moving under the EU pet passport system between member states
• You are a private individual rehoming a Shiba you already own (not a sale)

The key test is the commercial vs non-commercial distinction. A Shiba Inu puppy purchased in the US for $2,500 and flown over to its new family home in Germany, with no change of ownership after arrival, is generally treated as a non-commercial movement. The official US vet issues the EU health certificate, the dog enters at a TPE, and the family walks out.

Practical Tips for Importing a Shiba Inu into the EU

• Use a US-based or Japan-based official vet experienced with the EU certificate — most general practitioners are not accredited. The USDA APHIS-accredited vets who handle this regularly are easy to find via the USDA website.
• Book the TPE appointment in advance — major airports like Frankfurt (FRA), Amsterdam (AMS), Paris CDG, and Munich (MUC) are well set up for pet clearance.
• Time the rabies titre test (rabies serology) if your dog is coming from a high-rabies country — some countries require a FAVN titre test in addition to vaccination. The US, Canada, and Japan are low-risk and do not require it.
• Confirm the destination country's language requirements for the certificate. Germany accepts German or English; France often wants French.
• Expect fees: official vet certificate ($150–$400), airline pet transport ($500–$2,000), and border inspection charges at the TPE (€50–€200).

For buyers specifically sourcing a Shiba from a Japanese kennel or an American show breeder, ask whether the breeder handles the EU paperwork or whether you will. Reputable breeders will guide you through it; red flag if they cannot produce a sample EU certificate or refuse to use a USDA-accredited vet.

Bottom Line

TRACES is the EU's official animal-trade tracking platform, but for non-commercial pet import of a Shiba Inu, you will not deal with TRACES directly. You will carry an EU harmonised health certificate, a microchip, and proof of rabies vaccination, and enter through a Travel Point of Entry. The moment your Shiba becomes a commercial transaction — resale, breeding, or 6+ dogs in one shipment — TRACES kicks in, and the importer of record is responsible for full compliance.

Before booking flights or wiring money to a breeder, confirm the import route with the destination country's competent authority, because Brexit-era rules for UK-to-EU travel and the 2024 harmonisation updates can change the paperwork list.