Can you bring medication to China?

• Controlled medication

  depends on specifics

  "因治疗疾病需要，个人凭医疗机构出具的医疗诊断书、本人身份证明，可以携带单张处方最大用量以内的麻醉药品和第一类精神药品" ("For treatment of illness, an individual, upon presenting a medical diagnosis certificate issued by a medical institution and personal ID, may carry narcotic drugs and Category I psychotropic substances not exceeding the maximum quantity of a single prescription") — Art. 44, Regulations on the Administration of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (State Council Order No. 442). Without this documentation, expect much stricter scrutiny. Healthcare workers carrying such drugs for medical duty need a certificate from a provincial drug-supervision department instead.

  Which specific common Western medications (e.g. Adderall/amphetamine-class ADHD stimulants) count as "Category I psychotropic substances" under China's own drug schedule was not independently confirmed against a named-substance list in this pass — China's well-documented strict stance on ADHD stimulants makes it very likely they fall under this framework and require the same documentation, but don't assume a specific drug is covered or excluded without checking. Opium, morphine, heroin, cannabis and other addictive narcotics are separately absolutely prohibited for import/export under a different customs order, corroborated by search but not independently re-verified this pass.

  Also covers: controlled substance, narcotic medication, psychotropic medication, adderall, amphetamine, vyvanse, lisdexamfetamine, ritalin, methylphenidate, stimulant medication

  Checked 2026-09-19 — Source: 麻醉药品和精神药品管理条例 (Regulations on the Administration of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances), State Council Order No. 442, Art. 44

• Prescription medication

  allowed, within limits

  "进出境人员随身携带的个人自用的少量药品，应当以自用、合理数量为限，并接受海关监管" ("Small quantities of medication for personal use carried by inbound/outbound persons shall be limited to self-use, reasonable quantities, and subject to customs supervision") — Art. 39, Measures for the Administration of Drug Import. There's no fixed numeric cap in the regulation itself; it's a "self-use, reasonable quantity" standard applied at customs' discretion. Multiple municipal-government FAQ pages commonly describe this as interpreted around a 3-month supply in practice, with a prescription, doctor's certificate, or purchase receipts as proof of legitimate personal use.

  Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances follow a separate, stricter framework — see the dedicated controlled-medication entry for China.

  Also covers: medication, prescription medicine, medicine, otc medicine

  Checked 2026-09-19 — Source: 药品进口管理办法 (Measures for the Administration of Drug Import), Art. 39 — jointly issued by NMPA (formerly SFDA) and the General Administration of Customs

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Informational only — not legal advice. Customs rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. See update history