Taking medicines abroad: UK rules for leaving and returning

A holiday or a trip to see family almost always means part of your medicine cabinet travels with you. Ordinary tablets are no problem, but medicines that contain a controlled drug — a substance on the government's strictly regulated list, such as a strong painkiller or an anxiety medicine — need preparation. The rules are set out on GOV.UK and are worth reading before you pack.

How do you know if your medicine contains a controlled drug?

Ask your doctor or pharmacist, or check the packaging against the controlled drugs list. GOV.UK warns that the list names only the drugs used in medicines, not the brand names, so it is easy to get wrong without advice.

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What do you need to take medicine out of the UK?

Carry the medicine in your hand luggage and be ready to prove it is yours. The proof is a prescription or a letter from your doctor. GOV.UK warns that it may be taken away at the border if you cannot prove it was prescribed for you.

• Check the destination country's rules with its embassy before you travel.
• You could be fined or imprisoned abroad for carrying medicine that is illegal there.
• If you normally live outside the UK, check your own country's export limits too.

How much medicine can you bring back into the UK?

There is a limit on bringing medicine in: no more than a three-month supply. Anything above three months, or medicine posted to you, will be taken away. Non-residents need a letter proving the medicine was prescribed to them, showing your name, your travel dates, a list of medicines with the amount, doses and strength, and the prescriber's signature. UK residents prescribed medicine abroad must contact the Home Office licensing unit first.

When do you need a personal licence?

A personal licence is only for exceptional circumstances, such as bringing in more than a three-month supply. Apply to the Drug and Firearms Licensing Unit (DFLU) at dflu.ie@homeoffice.gov.uk about one month before travel; the phone line is 0300 105 0248. Schedule 1 drugs cannot be brought in without a licence at all, and a Schengen Certificate is not valid for them.

Anything else to keep in mind?

Keep medicine in its original packaging with the pharmacy label, so it is easy to show it is yours. Take enough for the whole trip with a small margin, but remember the three-month limit on bringing medicine in and that anything posted to you is seized. If your route passes through several countries, check the controlled-drug rules for each one separately: what is allowed in one may be banned next door.

What to check before you go

In short: confirm your medicine's status with your doctor, carry a prescription or letter, check the destination country's rules with its embassy, and do not carry more than a three-month supply. It takes one appointment but spares you trouble at the border.