Can you bring Ritalin to New Zealand?
Short answer
Depends on specifics
The official rule for New Zealand below names Ritalin. The same rule also covers the other medicines it lists, so read the conditions carefully.
Controlled medication
depends on specificsControlled drugs must be declared on the New Zealand Traveller Declaration and are capped at one month's supply (versus three months for ordinary prescription medicines). Keep them in their original packaging, with a copy of your prescription or a doctor's letter confirming that you're being treated with them and giving their name and strength.
Neither NZ Customs' nor Medsafe's traveller pages (as fetched in this pass) name which specific drugs count as 'controlled drugs' for this rule -- there's no breakdown by stimulant/benzodiazepine/opioid class or schedule number, unlike Thailand's or Canada's guidance for the same topic. Amphetamine, methylphenidate, alprazolam, diazepam, clonazepam, codeine and oxycodone are on the UN's international lists of controlled substances. New Zealand's own schedules couldn't be read from here (legislation.govt.nz and the Ministry of Health page both refused access), so confirm your specific medicine with Medsafe. Verdict is marked 'depends' rather than 'allowed_with_limits' for that reason. Adderall and Vyvanse specifically were not checked and are omitted; treat their NZ status as unconfirmed.
Doctor's letter checklist
Only what New Zealand's rule asks the letter or prescription to include. Tick each one off with your doctor.
Source New Zealand Customs Service -- Prohibited and restricted items: medicinesChecked against the official source on 2026-10-18
Also covers: controlled drug, narcotic medication, psychotropic medication, amphetamine, ritalin, methylphenidate, xanax, alprazolam, valium, diazepam, klonopin, clonazepam, codeine, oxycodone
Source New Zealand Customs Service -- Prohibited and restricted items: medicinesChecked against the source on 2026-10-18
Check your specific trip →All medication rules for New Zealand →
Ritalin in other countries
- Australiaallowed, within limits
- Brazildepends on specifics
- Canadaallowed, within limits
- Chinadepends on specifics
- Costa Ricaallowed, within limits
- Cyprusdepends on specifics
- Georgiadepends on specifics
- Irelanddepends on specifics
- Japanallowed, within limits
- Malaysiadepends on specifics
- Maldivesdepends on specifics
- Mexicodepends on specifics
- Philippinesdepends on specifics
- Saudi Arabiadepends on specifics
- Serbiadepends on specifics
- Singaporedepends on specifics
- South Koreadepends on specifics
- Taiwandepends on specifics
- 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