Medicines: the rules for travellers in 148 countries (2026 list)

⚠️ The classic traps

• ADHD medicine is the number one problem: banned outright in some countries, prescription or not.
• Codeine and tramadol are ordinary painkillers in Europe and controlled narcotics in the Gulf and Egypt.
• CBD is legal in much of Europe and completely banned in the Gulf and parts of Asia — including cosmetics.
• Pill organisers cause trouble: without the labelled box, customs cannot identify what you carry.

💉 Travelling with injections

• Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Saxenda and insulin all travel in the cabin — the hold freezes and destroys them.
• Use an insulated pouch with a cool pack; most pens tolerate room temperature for a limited number of days once started.
• Security will let needles through when they come with the labelled medicine and the prescription.
• Ask your doctor for a letter in English naming the molecule, the dose and the reason for treatment.
• Take spare needles and one extra pen: replacing them abroad without a local prescription is often impossible.

🛃 The paperwork that works

• Original labelled packaging for everything, no exceptions.
• A prescription naming the molecule, not just the brand — brands change from country to country.
• Inside Schengen, a free Article 75 certificate from your pharmacy covers narcotics and psychotropics for 30 days.
• For long stays or controlled medicines, several countries require an import permit applied for weeks in advance.

Which countries are strict on medicines?

13 countries rate medicines as banned or a serious risk for travellers: Burkina Faso, Cuba, DR Congo, Egypt, Indonesia (Bali), Japan, Libya, Mali, Niger, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, UAE (Dubai), Venezuela.

Which countries set limits on medicines?

106 countries allow it under conditions (age, place, quantity, permit): Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica….

How do I check the rules for my destination before I fly?

Open LawsTravels: pick your destination, the topic “Medicines” shows the level, the thresholds and the penalties, offline. 3 topics are free on every country.