How much does it cost to register a Shiba Inu in I-CAD?

The microchip implantation by a vétérinaire costs €60–€80. The I-CAD card itself is included in this fee. Subsequent owner or address changes cost €4.95–€16.00 depending on the type of change.

Can a breeder microchip a Shiba Inu in France?

No. Microchipping is a veterinary act under French law. Only a registered vétérinaire can implant the transponder and submit your data to I-CAD.

Is the I-CAD number the same as the LOF pedigree number?

No. The I-CAD number is the 15-digit microchip ID required by French law. The LOF number is a pedigree number issued by the Société Centrale Canine for purebred dogs. Both are required for a Shiba with a French pedigree.

What happens if I find a lost Shiba Inu in France?

Take the dog to any vétérinaire, gendarmerie, mairie, refuge SPA or fourrière. The microchip will be scanned and I-CAD contacted 24/7; the owner is then notified within hours.

How to Register a Shiba Inu in France’s I-CAD Database (Step-by-Step)

Every Shiba Inu in France must be identified in the I-CAD (Fichier National d'Identification des Carnivores Domestiques) database, usually via a microchip implanted by a vétérinaire. The vet transmits the number directly to I-CAD, you receive a carte d'identification, and you then declare any change of address or owner online through i-cad.fr.

Registering your Shiba Inu in France’s national pet database is not optional — it is a legal requirement under the Code rural and the 1999 European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, as ratified by France. The database is run by I-CAD (Fichier National d'Identification des Carnivores Domestiques), a delegated public service managed by the Société Centrale Canine (SCC) and the Syndicat National des Vétérinaires d’Exercice Libéral (SNVEL). Every dog, cat and ferret living on French soil for more than 8 days must appear in this file. Here is the complete, step-by-step process for a Shiba Inu owner.

Step 1: Microchip Your Shiba with a French Vétérinaire

Identification is done by subcutaneous injection of an ISO 11784/11785-compliant 15-digit transponder (microchip) on the left side of the neck. Only a vétérinaire can legally implant the chip in France — it is a veterinary act, not something a breeder or owner may do at home. Tattooing is no longer accepted for new identifications; only the electronic transponder is recognized. The chip is permanent, requires no batteries, and is read by a handheld scanner. The procedure takes seconds and is comparable to a routine vaccination injection.

Step 2: The Vétérinaire Transmits Your Details to I-CAD

Once the chip is implanted, your vétérinaire completes the fiche de signalement (description form) with your name, address, phone, email, and the dog’s breed, date of birth, sex, coat color (red, black & tan, sesame, or cream), and microchip number. He or she then transmits this file electronically to I-CAD through the veterinarian portal. This step is included in the consultation fee; the cost of chipping alone is typically €60–€80, often combined with the first vaccination visit.

Step 3: Receive Your Carte d’Identification

Within 7 to 14 days, I-CAD mails a plastic credit-card-sized carte d'identification to your home address. This card shows:

The 15-digit microchip number (900 108 001 … for chips issued in France)
The dog’s name, breed, sex, date of birth
The owner’s name and address
A unique numéro d'identification (I-CAD reference number)

Keep this card with your passport or car papers — it is the official proof of identification, and the police, préfecture or mairie can request it.

Step 4: Update Owner, Address or Status Online

Any change must be declared to I-CAD within 8 days under French law. Use the owner portal at i-cad.fr → Espace Propriétaire:

Change of address (déménagement) — €4.95
Change of owner (vente/don) — €16.00
Change of status (lost, found, deceased) — €4.95
Export of the dog outside France — €16.00

If your Shiba came from a French breeder, the breeder should have already declared the transfer of ownership. Always verify your name appears correctly on the card; mistakes are common with foreign breeders selling in France.

Step 5: LOF Registration (Optional but Recommended)

If your Shiba is confirmé (purebred with a pedigree), the SCC issues a Livre des Origines Français (LOF) certificate after a confirm examination by an expert judge. The breeder pays the initial LOF inscription; subsequent changes of owner are also recorded via the SCC portal. The LOF number is separate from the I-CAD number — both are required to prove your Shiba is a recognized French pedigree dog.

Documents You Will Need to Keep on Hand

Carte d'identification I-CAD (the plastic card)
Passeport européen pour animal de compagnie (issued by the vet, required for any travel)
Certificat vétérinaire de bonne santé (dated within 5 days of travel)
LOF pedigree (if applicable)
Proof of rabies vaccination (valid 21 days after first injection)

Common Pitfalls for Shiba Owners

Buying abroad and skipping the re-identification step. A microchip implanted in Belgium, Spain, the UK, or Japan is compatible, but the foreign owner information must be updated to the French buyer via the changement de propriétaire form.
Forgetting the 8-day rule. If you move to France with a Shiba, you have 8 days to ensure the dog is in the I-CAD file.
Confusing the SCC and I-CAD. The SCC manages pedigrees and breed standards; I-CAD manages the identification of every carnivore domestic pet, crossbreed included. Two distinct databases, two distinct logins, two distinct fees.

Done correctly, the whole process takes one vet visit and about two weeks of postal delivery — a small investment for the legal safety of your Shiba Inu and the peace of mind that any lost dog can be traced back to you within minutes through any vétérinaire, refuge or fourrière in France.