How much medicine can you bring? Supply limits by country

Most countries let you bring your own medicine for personal use. How much you can bring varies a lot, though: from 15 days' supply to 6 months, and many countries don't name a number at all. Here is what the official rules say in the countries we've checked.

The first four sections cover ordinary prescription medicine. Strong painkillers, ADHD stimulants and many sleeping pills are controlled medicines, and they often have tighter rules. Those come at the end.

Up to 3 months (90 days)

The most common limit:

• United States: no more than a 90-day supply as CBP's rule of thumb, in the original container, with a prescription or doctor's note in English.
• Canada: a 90-day supply or one course of treatment, whichever is less, in labelled packaging.
• Ireland: up to 3 months' supply if you arrive from outside the Schengen Area.
• Australia: up to a 3-month supply under the traveller's exemption.
• Singapore: up to 3 months' supply prescribed to you, with a prescription copy and pharmacy-labelled packaging.
• South Korea: at most 6 bottles or three months' supply.
• South Africa: up to three months' use, with a prescription from a doctor.
• Rwanda: up to a 90-day supply, with a prescription or a letter from an authorised practitioner.
• Maldives: up to 90 days' supply, with a prescription less than 3 months old.
• Sri Lanka: up to 90 days' supply, or the length of your stay if that's shorter.
• Israel: up to a 90-day supply at the recommended dosage.
• Indonesia: up to 30 tablets or capsules (or 3 creams, liquids or aerosols) per product without paperwork; with a prescription in English, up to 90 days' supply. Psychotropic medicine is limited to 60 days, for foreign nationals only, and narcotic medicine isn't allowed.

Shorter limits

• Serbia: enough for 15 days of regular therapy without any paperwork. For more, up to six months, you need approval from the Ministry of Health first.
• Tanzania: enough for up to 21 days of treatment. More needs a TMDA permit.
• Japan: up to a 1-month supply of prescription drugs (2 months for ordinary over-the-counter medicine). More needs a Yakkan Shoumei certificate, obtained in advance.
• Thailand: up to a 30-day supply.
• Malaysia: no more than you'd reasonably need for one month, judged from the dosage on the label.
• Albania: up to 2 months' supply, with a prescription and a signed personal-use statement left with customs.
• Taiwan: up to 2 months' supply if you have no doctor's note.

Longer limits

• Montenegro: a reasonable amount, up to 6 months' supply.
• Taiwan: up to 6 months' supply with a doctor's note or a copy of your prescription.

No fixed number

These countries set no number of days. The test is a reasonable amount for your own use:

• China: small, reasonable quantities for your own use, subject to customs checks.
• Hong Kong: a reasonable quantity for personal use, carried yourself.
• Brazil: quantities that fit your trip. A prescription may be requested at the border.
• Mexico: medicines for personal use are allowed in your baggage.
• Dominican Republic: quantities consistent with the length of your stay and your dosage.
• Costa Rica: quantities consistent with your circumstances and needs.
• Chile: quantities consistent with your prescription. The health institute (ISP) refers to up to 6 months of treatment.
• Peru: medicines for your own use count as personal effects and don't need to be declared.
• Turkey: medicine for use during your trip, with documents showing you need it.

Controlled medicines: when you need a permit before you travel

In these countries, you need a permit for controlled medicine before you arrive. Some take two weeks or more to process:

• Japan: narcotics such as oxycodone and codeine, and stimulant raw materials such as Vyvanse, need a certificate from the Narcotics Control Department. Apply at least 14 days ahead. Adderall can't be brought in at all.
• Singapore: medicines on HSA's controlled list need HSA approval, applied for at least 2 weeks before you arrive.
• Hong Kong: medicine containing dangerous drugs needs prior written approval from the Drug Office. Processing normally takes 10 working days.
• South Korea: a permit from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety before arrival.
• Saudi Arabia: clearance through SFDA's online Controlled Drugs System before you travel.
• Qatar: a Controlled Medication Permit from the Ministry of Public Health.
• Cyprus: a permit from the Pharmaceutical Services.
• Jamaica: a special permit from the Ministry of Health and Wellness for prescriptions containing narcotics.
• Serbia: Ministry of Health approval, however short your trip.
• India: India's Department of Revenue says travellers can ask the Narcotics Commissioner for permission well before they leave.

In some countries you only need a permit above a certain amount:

• Thailand: psychotropic medicines up to 30 days need only your doctor's certificate or prescription. For 31 to 90 days you need a Thai FDA permit, at least 15 days before you travel. Narcotic medicines always need that permit.
• Philippines: up to 30 days with a doctor's letter and prescription. More needs PDEA authorization, requested 30 working days before you arrive.
• Costa Rica: up to one month of treatment without authorisation. More needs Ministry of Health authorisation, applied for at least one month before you travel.
• Tanzania: at most 30 days of treatment with an English prescription. Larger quantities need a TMDA permit.
• United Kingdom: up to 3 months' supply of medicine containing a controlled drug, carried on you, without a licence. The Home Office licenses more only in exceptional circumstances; email its licensing unit 1 month before you travel.

And in the United Arab Emirates, a permit is optional. You can bring up to 3 months' supply with a recent stamped prescription and an attested medical report.

Check your own trip

These limits change. Each country page above shows the current rule, its official source and the date we last checked it. To check a specific medicine, search it in Trip Check or browse medicines by name.