Can you bring medication to Qatar?

• Controlled medication

  depends on specifics

  Narcotic and psychoactive medicines: up to 30 days' supply or the length of your stay, whichever is shorter. Psychotropic medicines: up to 2 months' supply. Needs a Ministry of Public Health permit, a prescription or medical report under 6 months old and a passport copy. Some substances are banned outright.

  Ministry of Public Health guideline (Pharmacy and Drug Control Department): drugs banned internationally and locally, and those in Sub-schedules A and B of Schedule 1 of Law No. 9 of 1987, may not be released. Prohibited items include cannabis, cannabis resin, heroin, LSD, psilocybin, cathinone, MDA and dronabinol. For patients arriving for personal use you need: a detailed approved medical report or prescription no more than six months old, showing patient details, diagnosis, treatment plan and duration, recommendations, scientific drug name, form, dose and quantity, stamped and on the health facility's letterhead; a signed undertaking that only you will use it; and a passport copy. 'An amount of narcotic and psychoactive substances sufficient for a maximum of thirty days or the duration of the patient's stay in the State of Qatar, whichever is shorter, is allowed' and 'An amount of psychotropic substances sufficient for a maximum of two months is allowed'. Any excess is destroyed by the department. The narcotic/psychoactive list includes amfetamine, dexamfetamine, codeine, dihydrocodeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone and pethidine. The psychotropic list includes alprazolam, bromazepam, buprenorphine, clonazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, temazepam, zolpidem, phentermine, phenobarbital, tramadol, pregabalin and gabapentin. The guide tells you to check INCB's Yellow and Green lists for updates. Methylphenidate (Ritalin/Concerta) and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) are not named on the lists, so they are not included in names here. Permit: MOPH's Controlled Medicines System (https://fli.moph.gov.qa/traveller/home; user manual v1.0, 2025) takes applications from travellers carrying narcotic/psychotropic medicines for personal use. You upload passport, prescription, medical report and photos of the medicine; applications are 'approved or rejected within three working days after all requirements have been met', and MOPH advises applying at least five working days before travel; an approved permit letter is 'valid for 90 days from date of approval' and 'must be printed and carried along with the original medical prescription and medical report during travel'. GOV.UK confirms the online permit system. The guideline PDF is dated Nov 2022; the controlling law is Law No. 9 of 1987.

  Get a Controlled Medication Permit from Qatar's Ministry of Public Health

  Who to apply to

  Pharmacy and Drug Control Department, Ministry of Public Health

  When to apply

  At least 5 working days before you travel

  How long it takes

  Approved or rejected within 3 working days once all requirements are met

  What you'll need

  • A copy of your passport (or Qatar ID).
  • The medical prescription.
  • The medical report.
  • Photos of the medicine.

  Steps

  1. Register in Qatar's National Authentication System (NAS) with your passport number, mobile number and email, then log in to the Controlled Medicines System.
  2. Create a request and complete the patient profile, plus anyone travelling with you.
  3. Enter your trip (arrival, dates, port of entry, emergency contact) and each medicine: diagnosis, active ingredient, dosage form, prescription length in days, concentration, pack size, number of packs and trade name. You can add up to 5 active ingredients.
  4. Upload the documents, accept the pledges and submit.
  5. If approved, the system issues a permit letter with a permit number. It's valid for 90 days from approval; if you don't use it in time, apply again.

  At the border: Print the permit and carry it with the original prescription and medical report. The ministry can still release only part of the medicine, or refuse it, if it doesn't meet the approval criteria.

  Go to the official application page →

  Source Ministry of Public Health — Controlled Medicines System, public user manual v1.0Procedure checked 2026-10-14

  Doctor's letter checklist

  Only what Qatar's rule asks the letter or prescription to include. Tick each one off with your doctor.

  • A detailed approved medical report or prescription, no more than 6 months old
  • Your details, the diagnosis, the treatment plan and duration, and recommendations
  • The scientific drug name, form, dose and quantity
  • Stamped, on the health facility's letterhead
  • A signed undertaking that only you will use the medicine, and a copy of your passport

  Copy the list for your doctor

  Source Ministry of Public Health Qatar, Pharmacy and Drug Control Department — 'Controls and Regulations for the release of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and psychoactive drugs in the possession of patients arriving in or departing the State of Qatar' (Guideline of Controlled Drugs for Travellers, PDF)Checked against the official source on 2026-10-15

  Also covers: controlled medication, adhd medication, amphetamine, dexamfetamine, dexamphetamine, adderall, codeine, tramadol, morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, methadone, buprenorphine, diazepam

  Download border card (PDF)

  Source Ministry of Public Health Qatar, Pharmacy and Drug Control Department — 'Controls and Regulations for the release of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and psychoactive drugs in the possession of patients arriving in or departing the State of Qatar' (Guideline of Controlled Drugs for Travellers, PDF)Checked against the source on 2026-10-15

• Prescription medication

  allowed, within limits

  Carry a prescription and a medical report in English or Arabic, issued within the last 6 months, with details of your medication and treatment. Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines are controlled in Qatar and need a Ministry of Public Health permit (see controlled-medication-qa).

  GOV.UK (Health page, updated 19 Aug 2026): 'Some prescribed and over-the-counter medicines may be controlled substances in Qatar. If you need to bring controlled or prescription medication into Qatar, make sure you follow the steps required by the Qatar Ministry of Public Health, including carrying a prescription and medical report in English or Arabic containing details of your medication and treatment, issued within the last 6 months.' Auswärtiges Amt lists what the report should contain: patient details, diagnosis, treatment plan and duration, dosage recommendations, scientific and brand name, dose and quantity, a legible stamp of the doctor/clinic, on the clinic's letterhead, plus a copy of your passport. Nederland Wereldwijd: keep medicines in the original packaging. Check whether your medicine is on Qatar's controlled lists before travelling.

  Also covers: prescription medication, medicine, medication, prescription, pills, tablets, over the counter medicine

  Download border card (PDF)

  Source GOV.UK (FCDO) — Qatar travel advice: Entry requirements (updated 19 Aug 2026)Checked 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