Can you bring codeine to the Maldives?
Short answer
Depends on specifics
The official rule for the Maldives below names codeine. The same rule also covers the other medicines it lists, so read the conditions carefully.
Controlled medication
depends on specificsMFDA Guideline §4.9.1: "Importation of controlled drug for prescription should be limited to 30 days' supply, for patients with chronic illness can be of maximum 90 days' supply"; more than three months needs documents on the patient's illness history with a valid prescription, and a controlled-drug prescription is valid for 90 days from the prescribed date. §4.8.2: "It is an offense to import any controlled drug into Maldives without obtaining the import certificate from MFDA", and controlled medicinal products may not be imported by post.
The airport operator's customs page: "Controlled substances — including opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants — require particular documentation. Some substances that are legal by prescription in the country of origin may be controlled in the Maldives." The MFDA guideline requires an MFDA import certificate/authorization for controlled drugs and channels bulk imports through designated importers; how that applies to a traveller's personal supply is not spelled out, so contact MFDA before travelling with any narcotic or psychotropic medicine (that includes ADHD stimulants and benzodiazepines). UK FCDO: carry a doctor's prescription and check Maldivian regulations in advance. Drug offences carry severe penalties.
Also covers: controlled substance, narcotic medication, psychotropic medication, adderall, amphetamine, ritalin, methylphenidate, xanax, alprazolam, valium, diazepam, codeine, oxycodone, opioid painkiller
Source Maldives Food and Drug Authority — Guideline on Good Import Practice (MTG/RE-IP/GLN-TE 007, 13.02.2020), §§4.7–4.9Checked against the source on 2026-10-18
Check your specific trip →All medication rules for the Maldives →
Codeine in other countries
- Albaniaprohibited
- Australiaallowed, within limits
- Brazildepends on specifics
- Canadaallowed, within limits
- Costa Ricaallowed, within limits
- Cyprusdepends on specifics
- Georgiadepends on specifics
- Hong Kongdepends on specifics
- Israelallowed, within limits
- Japandepends on specifics
- Malaysiadepends on specifics
- New Zealanddepends on specifics
- Philippinesdepends on specifics
- Qatardepends on specifics
- Saudi Arabiadepends on specifics
- Serbiadepends on specifics
- Singaporedepends on specifics
- South Koreadepends on specifics
- Taiwandepends on specifics
- Thailanddepends on specifics
- Turkeyallowed, within limits
- United Arab Emiratesdepends on specifics
- United Kingdomallowed, within limits
- United Statesallowed, within limits
Other medicines
Informational only — not legal advice. Customs rules change; confirm with the official source above before you travel. Not medical advice. Don't stop or change a medicine because of a travel rule without talking to your doctor. See update history