Travelling with medicines

Medicines you can buy at home without a second thought can be banned or need a permit abroad. Check before you pack.

Before you pack

  • Check the rules for every country on your trip, including places you only change planes.
  • Keep medicines in their original packaging, with the label showing your name.
  • Carry your prescription or a letter from your doctor, especially for strong painkillers, sleeping tablets, ADHD medicines and anything containing codeine or pseudoephedrine.
  • If you're not sure, ask the embassy of the country you're visiting before you travel.

Country by country

Australia

Declare your medicines. Declare medicines on your Incoming Passenger Card. Keep them in their original packaging, carry your prescription or a letter from your doctor saying what you take and how much you're bringing, and bring no more than 3 months' supply. Some medicines have extra rules, so check the TGA site before you go. Official guidance

New Zealand

Carry your prescription and declare if needed. Keep medicines in their original packaging and carry your prescription or a letter from your doctor. You can bring up to 3 months' supply, or 1 month for controlled drugs. Declare all controlled drugs on your NZTD, and any medicine over 3 months' supply or not prescribed to you or your family. Cold medicines with pseudoephedrine count as controlled drugs. Official guidance

Japan

Check your medicines before you pack. Japan bans some common medicines, including Adderall and other amphetamines, Vicks inhalers, and some cold and allergy remedies with pseudoephedrine. Medicines with more than 1% codeine need a narcotics permit: apply at least 14 days before you travel. Without paperwork you can bring up to 1 month's supply of prescription medicine and 2 months' supply of non-prescription medicine. For more, get an import certificate (Yunyu Kakunin-sho) online before you fly. Official guidance

Thailand

Some medicines need a Thai permit. Strong painkillers such as codeine, morphine or oxycodone need a Thai FDA permit. Apply at least 15 days before you travel. Medicines such as diazepam, zolpidem or methylphenidate are fine for up to 30 days' supply with your doctor's prescription; more than that needs a permit. Medicines containing amphetamine, such as some ADHD treatments, are banned. Keep medicines in their original labelled packs. Official guidance

Don't bring cannabis products. Cannabis is only legal in Thailand on a prescription from a Thai medical professional. Cannabis medicines such as dronabinol are banned from import. Taking cannabis out of Thailand can mean up to 10 years in prison.

Mexico

Carry the prescription for your medicines. You can bring medicines for your own use. For controlled (psychotropic) medicines, you must show the prescription at customs. Keep medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription. Medical cannabis isn't allowed. Official guidance

Turkey

Check your medicines are allowed. Some common medicines are controlled in Turkey. Check yours before you go, and carry them in their original packaging with your prescription or a letter from your doctor. Official guidance

United Arab Emirates

Carry your prescription and a medical report. Some common medicines are controlled in the UAE, including codeine, tramadol, diazepam, gabapentin, pregabalin and zolpidem. Bring no more than 3 months' supply, with a prescription less than 3 months old and a medical report less than a year old, both stamped by your clinic. The safest option is to get free approval online from the Emirates Drug Establishment before you fly. It usually takes 1 working day. Official guidance

Egypt

Some medicines will be taken off you. Egypt treats some prescription and over-the-counter medicines as controlled drugs, and health officials may check your medicines when you arrive. Narcotic and psychotropic medicines can be seized, even with a prescription. Keep medicines in their original packaging, carry your prescription or a doctor's letter, and bring no more than 3 months' supply. CBD products are illegal, even with a prescription.

Vapes and e-cigarettes

Australia: You can bring up to 2 vapes, 20 vape accessories (such as pods or cartridges) and 200 mL of vape liquid. They must be for your own use, or for someone in your care on the same flight or ship. Official guidance

Thailand: Vapes, e-cigarettes and e-liquids are illegal in Thailand, and there's no exception for tourists. They'll be taken off you, and you can be fined or jailed.

Mexico: You can't bring e-cigarettes, vapes or vape liquids into Mexico. Customs will take them, and you could be fined or detained. Official guidance

United Arab Emirates: Vape refills and skincare products containing CBD are illegal in the UAE. They'll be taken off you and you could face criminal charges.

India: Vapes and e-cigarettes, including refills, are banned in India. You can't bring them into the country, and breaking the ban can mean a fine or jail.

The checker asks about medicines only when one of your stops has rules about them.

Checked 26 October 2026 against Tourism Australia, Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia, GOV.UK, New Zealand Customs Service, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Narcotics Control Department, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Government of Canada, US Department of State, New Zealand Embassy Tokyo, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Royal Thai Embassy, Copenhagen, Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland, Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México, Emirates Drug Establishment, Department of Foreign Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy, Warsaw, SafeTravel, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Smartraveller, Australian Government.

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