Travelling with medicines: what to check before you fly

If you take regular medicine, the practical answer is simple: check the rules for your destination before you book, carry a copy of your prescription and your repeat medication list, and pack medicines in your hand luggage. Some medicines that are legal in the UK are controlled or banned elsewhere, and UK prescriptions are not valid in every country.

Who this affects

This applies to anyone who takes prescription medicine, and to anyone who plans to carry over-the-counter medicine abroad. It matters most if you take controlled drugs, if you are travelling for more than three months, or if you are going to a country where the rules differ from the UK.

Check the rules for your destination on the UK government foreign travel advice pages, which cover 226 countries and territories. For country-specific health and medication advice, the NHS travel advice website is also recommended.

What to do step by step

1. Check your destination's rules early. Look at the foreign travel advice page for the country you are visiting. The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
2. Ask your GP in good time. If you are travelling for less than 3 months, your GP may be able to supply up to 3 months of your regular medication. This is at your GP's discretion and depends on your condition being stable and whether your medicine needs regular monitoring.
3. Know the limits for controlled medicines. Prescriptions for controlled medications are usually limited to a maximum of 30 days. A shorter prescription may be issued depending on your medicine or condition.
4. Ask about a licence if you carry larger quantities. Controlled drugs, such as morphine, may require additional documentation or a licence from the UK Home Office.
5. Prepare your paperwork. Take a copy of your repeat medication list. If you are travelling to a non-English-speaking country, take a translated prescription.
6. Check your insurance. Make sure you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation. This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
7. Pack medicines in your hand luggage. Keep them with you rather than in checked bags, along with your prescription copy and repeat list, so they are available if you are asked about them.

Costs and timing

Start at least 8 weeks before your trip if you also need to check vaccine recommendations and health risks. For medicines, the earlier the better: your GP needs time to review your request, and additional supplies for travel are not guaranteed.

NHS prescriptions are intended to support patients living in the UK and are not designed to provide ongoing medication for frequent or extended travel abroad. Requests for extra supplies should be occasional, and repeated requests may not be approved.

GPs cannot prescribe medications for possible travel-related conditions, such as travel sickness, antibiotics in case of infection, or diazepam for flying anxiety. If you need these, ask a pharmacist or travel clinic about your options.

Exceptions and special cases

Travelling for more than 3 months. If you leave the UK for more than 3 months, you are no longer entitled to ongoing NHS treatment or prescriptions while abroad. The NHS can only provide enough medication to allow you to travel and arrange ongoing care in your destination country. You may need to arrange ongoing healthcare and prescriptions in the country where you are staying.

The United States. You cannot take some prescription drugs into the US. The US Food and Drug Administration provides information on bringing medicines into the US. UK prescriptions are not valid in the US: to get pharmacy drugs, you need a prescription from a US provider, available from an urgent care facility, emergency room or a doctor.

Medical care abroad. In the US, medical treatment is expensive and there are no special arrangements for British visitors. Some hospitals ask non-US residents to pay a deposit when admitted. Send any requests for funds to your travel insurance provider first, and only pay the hospital if your travel insurance company advises you to. Your medical care will not be affected while your claim is processed.

Remote destinations. Medical facilities in some places, such as American Samoa, are basic and you may need medical evacuation by air ambulance to Hawaii, New Zealand or Australia. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

What is not yet confirmed

Rules on controlled medicines and the documentation needed vary by country and can change. This guide cannot confirm the rules for your specific medicine or destination. Always check the official foreign travel advice page for your destination, the NHS travel advice website, and the destination country's own customs or health authority before you travel. If a rule is announced but not confirmed, treat it as unconfirmed and check the official page again closer to your departure.

Health content note

This is general guidance only. Ask a doctor, pharmacist or travel clinic about your own medicines and situation, ideally weeks before you travel.

Before you fly, check the official rules for your destination, request your medicine early, carry your paperwork, and confirm your travel insurance covers treatment and evacuation. If in doubt, ask your GP, pharmacist or travel clinic weeks before departure.