Can you bring Xanax to the Philippines?

• Controlled medication

  depends on specifics

  Under Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2014, Section 35, a traveler entering, leaving, or passing through the Philippines who is under treatment for a medical condition may possess a dangerous drug or a drug preparation containing a controlled chemical, in a quantity reasonable for that treatment, when prescribed by a valid PDEA S2-licensed physician. For a supply of up to 30 days, the traveler must carry: (a) a letter from the attending physician describing the medical condition, (b) the physician's prescription listing the trade and generic names of the drug, and the medicine in its original, properly labeled container — no advance PDEA permit is required for this 30-day case.

  The regulation governs 'dangerous drugs' and 'drug preparations containing a controlled chemical' generally (as scheduled under RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) rather than naming specific brands like Adderall or Xanax; it does not itself state which named medicines fall in which schedule. Amphetamine, methylphenidate, diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam, codeine and oxycodone are on the UN's international control lists; confirm their specific medicine's PH classification with PDEA before travel. Outgoing travelers must also check the destination country's own requirements.

  For more than 30 days' supply: get PDEA authorization

  Who to apply to

  Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)

  When to apply

  30 working days before you arrive

  How long it takes

  PDEA replies within 15 working days of receiving the request

  What you'll need

  • A letter from your doctor describing your medical condition and the medicine, with its trade and generic names.
  • A certificate of authorization from your home country's national competent authority.

  Steps

  1. Up to 30 days' supply, no PDEA authorization is needed: carry your doctor's letter and the prescription (with trade and generic names), and keep the medicine in its original, labelled container.
  2. For more than 30 days' supply, get a certificate of authorization from your home country's drug authority.
  3. Send a written request to PDEA, with the doctor's letter and that certificate, 30 working days before you arrive.
  4. Travel with PDEA's authorization, your home country's certificate, the doctor's letter and the labelled medicine.

  Source Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board — Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2014 (Comprehensive Amendments to Board Regulation No. 3, Series 2003), Section 35: Carrying of Dangerous Drugs and/or Drug Preparation containing Controlled Chemical by International TravelersProcedure checked 2026-10-14

  Doctor's letter checklist

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

  • A letter from your attending physician describing your medical condition
  • The physician's prescription, listing the trade and generic names of the drug
  • The medicine in its original, properly labelled container (for up to 30 days' supply)

  Copy the list for your doctor

  Source Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board — Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2014 (Comprehensive Amendments to Board Regulation No. 3, Series 2003), Section 35: Carrying of Dangerous Drugs and/or Drug Preparation containing Controlled Chemical by International TravelersChecked against the official source on 2026-10-18

  If you're only changing planes here Applies in transit too

  The Philippine rules cover travellers passing through the Philippines as well as those entering it.

  Transit rule: Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board — Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2014 (Comprehensive Amendments to Board Regulation No. 3, Series 2003), Section 35: Carrying of Dangerous Drugs and/or Drug Preparation containing Controlled Chemical by International Travelers · Checked against the source on 2026-10-14

  Also covers: controlled substance, dangerous drug, narcotic medication, psychotropic medication, adderall, amphetamine, ritalin, methylphenidate, xanax, alprazolam, valium, diazepam, klonopin, clonazepam

  Download border card (PDF)

  Source Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board — Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2014 (Comprehensive Amendments to Board Regulation No. 3, Series 2003), Section 35: Carrying of Dangerous Drugs and/or Drug Preparation containing Controlled Chemical by International TravelersChecked against the source on 2026-10-18

Check your specific trip →|All medication rules for the Philippines →

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