Some countries restrict bringing certain drugs across their borders, and your medicine might have rules for packing and storing it on holiday.
Let’s talk about what you need to know when travelling with medicine.
Checking your medicine is legal to travel with
Different countries have different laws and rules about medicines.
You might be taking a medicine that contains a ‘controlled drug’. This is one that the Home Office features on its controlled drugs list.
There are five schedules (levels) of controlled drugs on the list. It’s a list of the scientific names of drugs that medicines might contain – not just a list of medications.
You’ll need to check the ingredients on your medicine packaging to see if any of them are on it.
If they are, you need to be able to prove the drug has been prescribed to you to travel with it.
Ask your GP if they can give you a letter and make sure you have a paper version of your prescription with you too.
GOV.UK has a handy webpage explaining a little more about scheduled drug rules and travelling with medication.
What to do before travelling with controlled drugs
It depends how long you’re travelling for, and what type of medication you’re taking.
I’m travelling with Schedule 1 drugs
Drugs listed as Schedule 1 on the controlled drugs list are usually illegal to travel with.
If your medication contains drugs in this category, talk to the Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit before making any travel plans.
I’m travelling for under three months with Schedule 2, 3 or 4 drugs
You should get a letter from the medical professional who prescribed your medicine.
Make sure this letter includes:
- your full name
- the countries you’re visiting
- the dates you’ll be visiting them
- a list of your medication, including the amount, dosage and strength
- the signature of the health professional who prescribed your drugs
I’m travelling for more than three months
If you’re travelling for three or more months with medicine containing any controlled drugs, you’ll need to apply for a license.
You can do this by filling in a personal import/export license application form. It’s free to download on the government website.
Apply as early as you can. It can take at least 10 days for the licence to be approved.
You'll also need a license if you’re travelling for less than three months but bringing a supply of controlled drugs that would last you three months or more.
We can’t cover you if you get ill abroad because you haven’t brought your prescribed medication with you on holiday. The same goes if you haven't brought enough medication with you.
Foreign countries with strict regulations
Certain countries have particularly strict drug and medicine regulations.
Some popular examples are:
- Japan
- Pakistan
- Singapore
- Turkey
- the United Arab Emirates
Every country has different rules, so contact their embassy before you travel. It’s the easiest way to avoid problems on your trip.
You can find contact details on the UK government’s online list of foreign embassies.
Advice for travelling abroad with medication
When travelling with medicine, you should bring:
- proof of your prescription – to prove it’s your medication if you’re questioned
- your medicine’s original packaging and leaflet – these should show the scientific name (not only the brand) and list all drugs the medicine contains
This information helps if you’re stopped at customs. It also helps doctors give you the right treatment if you need care while abroad.
It’s useful to have the information translated into the local language, so it’s easier for locals to understand.
If you need more advice, read our guide on travelling with medical conditions.
Flying with medication
There are a few things to think about before flying with medication.
Keep your medicine in your hand luggage
This lowers the chances of your medication being lost in transit. Some airlines might have rules against this, so check before you fly.
You should also keep a copy of your prescription on you just in case.
Split your medication up
Think about splitting your medicines across bags so that if one goes missing, you’ll still have some on hand.
Check the size of the medication
If you have liquid medicine, check if it’s over 100ml. If it is, you’ll need to contact your airline and all airports you’ll travel through to check their regulations.
How to travel with medication that needs to be refrigerated
Some medicines need to be stored in a specific way, like being refrigerated.
If your medicine needs to be kept cool, you can use:
- insulated pouches
- cool bags
- thermos flasks
Always speak to a medical professional to make sure you’re using the proper type of storage.
Will my travel insurance cover lost or stolen medication?
Your travel insurance can help with lost or stolen medication if you’ve declared it on your policy.
You can do this when you take out your policy when we ask you if you’ve got any medication to declare.
Don’t forget that limits and exclusions always apply here, so check your policy book to see what you’re covered for.
If you’ve already got travel insurance with us but have medication that you want to declare for your next trip, get in touch with us.
Do I need to declare all medication?
This depends on what you’re taking and what you want covered.
If you’ve got prescribed medication that you need for the trip, it’s really important to declare it before your trip starts.
If you don’t, we can’t help if the medication is lost, stolen or damaged on holiday. It might also affect your insurance cover if you don’t declare your medication.
For non-prescribed drugs like over-the-counter painkillers, it's up to you whether you want to declare them. If they’re very inexpensive and you won’t claim if they’re lost, stolen or damaged, there’s no need to declare them.
But if you want cover for all the medication you take with you, make sure you declare it all with us.
