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Travellers to Australia are allowed to bring in certain medicines and medical devices for personal use or for the use of an immediate family member travelling with them under the traveller's exemption. However, there are restrictions on some medications and substances. For example, any medication containing codeine requires a prescription or a letter from a doctor. Travellers are also not permitted to bring in abortifacients, amygdalin/laetrile, or herbal medicines containing ingredients from endangered plants. It is important to respect the laws and cultural attitudes of the destination country when travelling with medication, as the Australian government's ability to help citizens who break local laws is limited.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can bring medications | Only for yourself or an immediate family member travelling with you |
| Packaging | Original packaging with dispensing labels |
| Prescription medicines | Carry a prescription or a letter from your doctor that outlines what you are taking and how much you are bringing |
| Vapes | Allowed under traveller's exemption with stricter quantity limits |
| Herbal and traditional medicines | Allowed if permitted under Australian law and in original packaging |
| Biologicals | Subject to quarantine procedures and must be declared at the border |
| Abortifacients | Not allowed |
| Codeine | Requires a prescription from a medical doctor |
| Narcotics and medicinal cannabis products | Not allowed |
| Medical marijuana/cannabis | Not allowed |
| Allowed quantity | Up to 3 months' supply |
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What You'll Learn
Narcotics and medicinal cannabis products
Australia has strict rules regarding certain types of medications, especially narcotics and medicinal cannabis products.
Narcotics
Narcotics such as morphine, oxycodone, methadone, methylphenidate, Adderall, and benzodiazepines are allowed into Australia under the traveller's exemption. This exemption permits travellers to bring in prescription medications for their own personal use or for the use of an immediate family member who is travelling with them. To utilise the exemption, travellers must have a valid prescription from their doctor or a letter from their doctor stating that they are under their treatment and specifying the name and dosage of the medication.
Medicinal Cannabis Products
Medicinal cannabis is legal in Australia but highly regulated. It is used to help with chronic pain, cancer symptoms, and epilepsy. To use medicinal cannabis in Australia, one must have a prescription from a registered healthcare practitioner or be part of a medical trial. When travelling to Australia with medicinal cannabis, a traveller's exemption is required, meaning a medical prescription from a medical practitioner is necessary. Foreign documents such as a 'medicinal cannabis licence' are not sufficient. Up to three months' supply of medicinal cannabis can be brought into Australia for personal use, but it is important to keep the medication in its original packaging and carry a copy of the prescription.
It is worth noting that the laws regarding medicinal cannabis differ in each Australian state and territory, and some states have additional requirements for CBD products. Therefore, it is recommended to check the specific requirements of the state or territory being travelled to. Additionally, when travelling with medicinal cannabis, it is crucial to consider the regulations of any countries being transited through, as some have very strict laws with significant jail terms for possessing cannabis.
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Medication for personal use only
When travelling to Australia, you may bring medication for your own personal use or for the use of an immediate family member who is travelling with you. It is important to note that some countries have very strict rules regarding certain types of medications, especially narcotics and medicinal cannabis products.
If you are an Australian resident, you will need a valid prescription from an Australian doctor for the medication you are travelling with. International visitors should have a valid prescription from their doctor. Prescription medicines such as morphine, oxycodone, methadone, methylphenidate, Adderall, and benzodiazepines are all covered by the traveller exemption. You can obtain a prescription to confirm that the medicines you are carrying have been prescribed to you, or you can provide a letter from your doctor stating that you are under their treatment and that the medication has been prescribed for your personal use. The letter must specify the name of the medicine and dosage. It is recommended that you keep the medication in its original packaging with dispensing labels, so it can be easily identified by the Australian Border Force.
If you are bringing herbal and traditional medicines, check that they are allowed under Australian law. If they contain ingredients from endangered plants, they are subject to import controls and require a permit. Any medicine or medical device that contains biological material (taken from living cells and tissues) is subject to quarantine procedures and must be declared at the border.
If you are a visiting athlete, there are special rules that apply. A list of medicines and medical devices must be prepared and maintained in English, including their strengths, and this list must be produced if requested by an Australian Border Force officer. Medicines brought by athletes must not be given or sold to anyone who is not an official athlete or member of the sports team.
If you have run out of medication or will run out during your stay in Australia, you may visit an Australian-registered prescriber (e.g. a General Practitioner, Nurse Practitioner, Dentist) to obtain a valid Australian prescription. The prescription can be used to purchase medication from Australian pharmacies. Alternatively, if the item is not restricted in Australia, a maximum of 3 months' supply can be imported from overseas. All medications containing codeine require a prescription from your doctor.
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Herbal and traditional medicines
Australia has strict rules regarding the import of certain types of medications, especially narcotics and medicinal cannabis products. Travellers are advised to check the 'Health' section of their destination country on SmartTraveller for specific information.
Regarding herbal and traditional medicines, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) advises against ordering medicines, including herbal preparations, over the internet unless the contents and legal requirements for importation and use in Australia are known. This is because products available on international websites are not regulated by the TGA. Sponsors or product owners must certify that their listed medicine meets requirements related to safety, quality, and efficacy. It is an offence for a sponsor to certify a listed medicine as safe and effective when it is not.
The TGA provides an example of restrictions on listed medicines: if a medicine contains caffeine, there are limits on the amount that can be included. Additionally, the stated intended use of a listed medicine must be selected from an approved list, and certain medical terms, known as 'restricted and prohibited representations', cannot be used. For instance, serious conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or depression cannot be mentioned on the labels, packaging, or advertising material of listed medicines as these issues are too severe to be self-treated.
When travelling to Australia with medication, it is recommended to carry it in its original packaging, along with a copy of the prescription or a letter from a doctor specifying the medicine's name, dosage, and confirming that it has been prescribed for personal use. These precautions are important as penalties for carrying or using controlled drugs can be severe, and attitudes towards certain illnesses and medications may differ from those in the traveller's home country.
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Medicines with biological ingredients
Australia has strict rules regarding the import of medicines and medical devices. The traveller's exemption allows travellers to bring certain medicines and medical devices into Australia for their personal use or for the use of an immediate family member travelling with them. However, it is illegal to bring in medications for anyone else, and penalties for doing so can be severe.
Prescription medicines, such as morphine, oxycodone, methadone, methylphenidate, Adderall, and benzodiazepines, are covered by the traveller's exemption, but a valid prescription or a letter from a doctor is required. The letter must specify the name of the medicine and the dosage. For any medication containing codeine, a prescription or doctor's letter is also mandatory.
If you are an Australian resident, you will need a valid prescription from an Australian doctor. International visitors should have a valid prescription from their doctor in their country of residence. If you are running low on medication during your stay in Australia, you may visit an Australian-registered prescriber to obtain a valid Australian prescription, which can be used to purchase more medication from Australian pharmacies.
It is important to note that some countries have very strict rules regarding certain types of medications, especially narcotics and medicinal cannabis products. It is recommended that travellers research their destination and consult resources such as the Health' section of the country on SmartTraveller to understand the specific regulations and cultural attitudes towards medications.
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Prescription medicines
When travelling to Australia, you can bring in prescription medication for your own personal use or for an immediate family member travelling with you. Australian residents will need a valid prescription from an Australian doctor, while international visitors should have a valid prescription from a doctor in their home country.
Medications that are covered by the traveller exemption include morphine, oxycodone, methadone, methylphenidate, Adderall, and benzodiazepines. All medications containing codeine require a prescription from your medical doctor.
If you are an Australian resident, you can only take prescription medicine out of Australia if it is for personal use and limits apply. This includes medicines supplied under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). It is illegal to carry PBS medicines overseas for someone other than yourself or an immediate family member travelling with you, and penalties can include up to $5,000 and 2 years imprisonment.
If you are an international visitor and you need to bring prescription medication into Australia, it is important to research your destination and check the 'Health' section of Australia on SmartTraveller. Some countries have very strict rules regarding certain types of medications, especially narcotics and medicinal cannabis products. The Australian Government is limited in how and when it can help if you get into trouble for carrying prescription drugs.
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Frequently asked questions
Travellers are not permitted to bring in medications that are not for their personal use or for an immediate family member travelling with them. Any medicines that are suspected to be for someone else may be seized by border officials. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines have an allowable limit that you can take overseas, and this differs depending on your circumstances.
Herbal and traditional medicines must be allowed under Australian law and must be kept in their original packaging so that they can be identified by the Australian Border Force. If they contain ingredients from endangered plants, they are subject to import controls and require a permit.
Hypodermic needles are prohibited unless it is medically necessary for you to carry them. They should be accompanied by proof that you require them and be kept in your hand luggage with the medicine they will be used to administer.
A traveller’s exemption applies to persons bringing vapes into Australia by ship or aircraft with stricter quantity limits.
Travellers may not bring abortifacients into Australia.
