Can you bring Xanax to the United States?
Short answer
Allowed, within limits
The official rule for the United States below names Xanax. The same rule also covers the other medicines it lists, so read the conditions carefully.
Controlled medication
allowed, within limitsIndividuals may cross the U.S. border with a Schedule II-V controlled substance for personal medical use if (1) it is in the original container it was dispensed in, and (2) the traveler declares it to a CBP officer, stating either the trade/chemical name and schedule, or the prescribing practitioner/pharmacy and prescription number. U.S. residents bringing such medication back into the U.S. after obtaining it abroad are capped at 50 dosage units combined across all such medication; that cap does not apply to medication lawfully obtained in the U.S. before departure, and the source does not state it applying to non-resident visitors entering with their own foreign prescription.
This is a DEA regulation (21 CFR 1301.26), separate from CBP's 90-day-supply guidance on the site's general 'prescription medication' entry -- the two operate together. Under the DEA's schedules, Schedule II (21 CFR 1308.12) lists amphetamine (Adderall), methylphenidate (Ritalin), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), oxycodone and codeine, and Schedule IV (21 CFR 1308.14) lists alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin), tramadol and modafinil, so all fall within the II-V range this exemption covers. The regulation text itself does not name these drugs by brand, only by schedule.
Also covers: controlled substance, narcotic medication, psychotropic medication, adderall, amphetamine, vyvanse, lisdexamfetamine, ritalin, methylphenidate, xanax, alprazolam, valium, diazepam, klonopin
Source U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration / eCFR -- 21 CFR 1301.26, Exemption of certain persons from registration for personal use of controlled substancesChecked against the source on 2026-10-18
Check your specific trip →All medication rules for the United States →
Xanax in other countries
- Albaniaprohibited
- Australiaallowed, within limits
- Brazildepends on specifics
- Canadaallowed, within limits
- 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
- New Zealanddepends on specifics
- Philippinesdepends on specifics
- Qatardepends on specifics
- Saudi Arabiadepends on specifics
- Serbiadepends on specifics
- Singaporedepends on specifics
- Taiwandepends on specifics
- Thailanddepends on specifics
- United Arab Emiratesdepends on specifics
- United Kingdomallowed, 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