Can you bring medication to Costa Rica?

• Controlled medication

  allowed, within limits

  Up to one month of treatment: no authorisation needed. More than one month: Ministry of Health authorisation, applied for at least one month before travel. Never allowed: 1961 Convention List IV narcotics and fentanyl in ampoules

  Art. 57 Decreto 45161-S (2025): 'El Ministerio de Salud autorizará a los viajeros el ingreso o salida de preparados farmacéuticos que contienen estupefacientes o psicotrópicos cuando la cantidad supere un mes de tratamiento' — apply at least one month before travel with: ID copy (for digital filing), copies of the prescription and epicrisis and/or medical report issued no more than 3 months earlier stating diagnosis and prescribed medicines, and a copy of the purchase invoice if bought abroad. 'Si las cantidades son menores a un mes de tratamiento, esta autorización no es requerida. Los viajeros internacionales no pueden llevar consigo los estupefacientes incluidos en la Lista IV de la Convención Única de 1961 de Estupefacientes, ni fentanilo en ampollas aun cuando se permita su uso en el país de origen.' Which substances are controlled: the Ministry of Health 'Lista de sustancias sometidas a fiscalización nacional' (SCIJ, dated 11 Sep 2026; https://sinalevi.go.cr/ResultadosNormativa/Informacion?param1=107827&param2=152346&param3=1) lists, among others, METILFENIDATO, ANFETAMINA, DEXANFETAMINA, ALPRAZOLAM, CLONAZEPAM, DIAZEPAM, LORAZEPAM, ZOLPIDEM, OXICODONA, CODEINA, MORFINA and FENTANILO. Brand names in the search terms are mapped to those ingredients for search only (Adderall = amphetamine salts; Ritalin = methylphenidate; Xanax = alprazolam; Valium = diazepam); the sources name ingredients, not brands. Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) and tramadol were not found as entries in the list text read, so they are deliberately not named here.

  For more than one month's supply: get Ministry of Health authorisation

  Who to apply to

  Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud), Costa Rica

  When to apply

  At least one month before you travel

  What you'll need

  • A copy of your ID (for digital filing).
  • Copies of your prescription and your epicrisis and/or medical report, issued no more than 3 months earlier, stating the diagnosis and the prescribed medicines.
  • A copy of the purchase invoice, if you bought the medicine abroad.

  Steps

  1. Up to one month of treatment, no authorisation is needed.
  2. For more than one month, apply to the Ministry of Health at least one month before you travel.
  3. Include your ID copy, your prescription, your epicrisis or medical report (no more than 3 months old) and, if you bought the medicine abroad, the purchase invoice.

  Source Decreto Ejecutivo N° 45161-S, Reglamento para el control de drogas, estupefacientes y psicotrópicas (17 Jun 2025), art. 57 — SCIJ/Sinalevi, Procuraduría General de la RepúblicaProcedure checked 2026-10-09

  Also covers: controlled medication, narcotics, psychotropics, opioids, adhd medication, stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleeping pills, methylphenidate, ritalin, amphetamine, dexamphetamine, adderall, alprazolam

  Download border card (PDF)

  Source Decreto Ejecutivo N° 45161-S, Reglamento para el control de drogas, estupefacientes y psicotrópicas (17 Jun 2025), art. 57 — SCIJ/Sinalevi, Procuraduría General de la RepúblicaChecked against the source on 2026-10-09

• Injectable medication

  allowed, within limits

  Medicines plus the medical instruments and disposable items used with them (syringes, pen needles) enter duty-free as baggage in quantities matching your needs

  Art. 365(c) Decreto 44051-H covers 'Medicamentos … instrumentos, aparatos médicos … y artículos desechables utilizados con estos, en cantidades acordes con las circunstancias y necesidades del viajero' — this is a general rule; it does not name insulin or GLP-1 brands. Insulin, semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) are not narcotics/psychotropics, so the one-month controlled-medicine authorisation (Decreto 45161-S art. 57) does not apply to them as such. Keep the prescription with you; airline rules on carrying needles and cooling packs are separate from customs.

  Also covers: injectable medication, insulin, insulin pen, syringes, needles, epipen, ozempic, wegovy, mounjaro, glp-1, semaglutide, tirzepatide

  Download border card (PDF)

  Source Reglamento a la Ley General de Aduanas, Decreto Ejecutivo N° 44051-H (18 May 2023), arts. 365–371 — SCIJ/Sinalevi, Procuraduría General de la RepúblicaChecked against the source on 2026-10-09

• Prescription medication

  allowed, within limits

  Medicines for your own use, in quantities consistent with your circumstances and needs, enter duty-free as baggage; controlled (narcotic/psychotropic) medicines have extra rules

  Art. 365(c) Decreto 44051-H includes in traveller baggage 'Medicamentos, alimentos, instrumentos, aparatos médicos, higiénicos o de tocador y artículos desechables utilizados con estos, en cantidades acordes con las circunstancias y necesidades del viajero.' Baggage must not be commercial. If your medicine contains a narcotic or psychotropic substance, see controlled-medication-cr: more than one month's supply needs Ministry of Health authorisation. Cross-check: travel.gc.ca advises keeping medicines in the original container, in carry-on, with paper and electronic copies of prescriptions.

  Also covers: prescription medication, medicine, medicines, pills, prescription drugs, medicamentos

  Download border card (PDF)

  Source Reglamento a la Ley General de Aduanas, Decreto Ejecutivo N° 44051-H (18 May 2023), arts. 365–371 — SCIJ/Sinalevi, Procuraduría General de la RepúblicaChecked against the source on 2026-10-09

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