When it comes to travelling with medication to Hong Kong, most everyday medicines are fine if they’re in their original packaging, for personal use, and a reasonable quantity — but some drugs (including many ADHD medicines, strong painkillers, benzodiazepines, CBD/medical cannabis, etc.) are dangerous drugs under Hong Kong law and either require prior approval or risk seizure and prosecution.
What the law says
When it comes to legal terms, ‘importing’ in this sense means bringing medication into the country even if you bring it in your own luggage.
Hong Kong regulates pharmaceutical products and medicines under the Import & Export rules and the Pharmacy & Poisons / Dangerous Drugs legislation. Importation of medicines normally needs a licence — but medicines carried in a passenger’s accompanied personal baggage “in a reasonable quantity for personal use” may be exempted from licensing. That exemption does not automatically apply to drugs listed as “dangerous drugs” (for example, many opioids, amphetamines/stimulants, benzodiazepines, and CBD). If a medicine is a dangerous drug, an import licence/certificate from the Department of Health is required unless a clear exemption applies.
The Drug Office (Department of Health) issues and controls import/export licences for dangerous drugs and pharmaceutical imports via an online system called PLAMMS (though I have had trouble using this system as it seems to indicate this is for businesses to import medication). Applications for import/export of controlled medicines must be done online; the Drug Office’s guidance explains application types and documentation.
Customs and border police take possession of, and may prosecute for, unlicensed or illegal importation of dangerous drugs. Penalties are severe for trafficking; even possession of some substances (e.g., CBD/cannabis products) is an offence in Hong Kong. Always err on the side of caution.
Which medicines are most likely to cause problems
- Controlled / dangerous drugs: strong opioids (morphine, oxycodone), many benzodiazepines, stimulants (methylphenidate, amphetamines, lisdexamfetamine / Vyvanse), some sleeping pills — these are typically regulated and can require an import licence.
- CBD / medical cannabis: listed as a dangerous drug in Hong Kong — do not bring CBD oil or any cannabis product. Possession can lead to arrest.
- OTC medicines: (paracetamol, ibuprofen, many cold & allergy tablets): usually fine in reasonable quantities for personal use — keep in original packaging and carry proof of purpose if possible.
Step-by-step: what to do before you travel
Check the Drug Office / Customs lists: search Hong Kong Drug Office Database for your medicine name. If it’s on a “dangerous drugs” or controlled list, plan for a licence. Use the Drug Office guidance for import/export of dangerous drugs and PLAMMS instructions.
Ask your prescriber for a letter: I will include a copy of one of my travel letters for ADHD medication below for you to check out. When you travel to Hong Kong with medication you should also bring the original prescription(s). The letter should state your diagnosis, the medicine name (generic and brand), dose, total quantity needed for the trip, and that it’s for your personal use. It helps if the letter includes contact details for the prescriber and matches the dates of travel. (Keep both paper and an emailed/printed copy.)
To the left is an example travel letter issued by my ADHD clinical team.
Decide whether you need to apply for an import licence: if the Drug Office classifies your medicine as a dangerous drug (or you can’t find clear guidance online), contact the Drug Office’s Drug Information & Import/Export Control Division well before travel (the email to do this is pharmgeneral@dh.gov.hk). They will confirm whether you must apply for an import licence via PLAMMS. If required, submit the licence application and get the import certificate before you depart.
I could not work the PLAMMS system, it kept taking me to a page that indicated it was for business imports so I did some digging and via Reddit I found out that there is an email address you can contact, so I did. I attached a letter like the above and was told that it did not have enough information on it for them to give me written permission to bring my ADHD medication to Hong Kong so I had to go back to my clinic and request a new one. They provided me with this link for reference.
You can use this email to contact them: ddletter@dh.gov.hk
To apply for the licence, you must submit a letter from your doctor which contains the following information:
1) The doctor’s full name & medical registration number
2) The name and address of the clinic
3) The date of issuance of the letter
4) The patient’s full name and residential address
5) The name of the drug, its dosage form, strength, and total quantity (this information must be provided for each controlled medication you intend to bring into Hong Kong)
6) The doctor’s original physical signature.
You can expect to wait around 10 working days for your licence to be sent back to you once all of the information is submitted.
Plan quantities: Hong Kong refers to a “reasonable quantity for personal use” — there’s no single numeric rule published for every drug. As a practical rule, bring only what you need for your stay (plus a small emergency buffer) and document it (prescription + doctor’s letter). For controlled drugs you’re likely to be asked for a licence even for small amounts, so check first.
Airline & transit rules: tell your airline about injectable supplies (needles, syringes, EpiPens) or large quantities. If transiting via other countries, check their rules too — some countries have stricter import rules for controlled meds.
At the airport and on arrival
Carry medication in your hand luggage: (carry-on), not checked baggage. Customs may want to inspect it and you’ll need it with you. Keep medicines in their original packaging with labels. Carry the doctor’s letter and prescription where it’s easy to show. This is true for anywhere you travel with your medication, not just for Hong Kong.
Declare if required / if you’re unsure: if you have a licence/import certificate, present it on arrival. If you are carrying something that could be interpreted as a dangerous drug (for example controlled ADHD meds or opioid analgesics) and you don’t have paperwork, declare it to Customs — trying to hide it risks seizure or worse.
Needles and syringes: generally permitted if for personal medical use (diabetes, EpiPen, etc.) — keep a letter or prescription and carry them in original packaging if possible. Check airline policies for medical sharps.
Examples & common questions
- ADHD meds (methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine / Vyvanse): these are stimulants and commonly controlled — check with the Drug Office and expect to need an import licence or at least to carry robust documentation. Many travellers bring them successfully with paperwork, but don’t assume they’re free to carry without checks.
- Codeine/co-codamol: lower-dose OTC codeine formulations may still be controlled depending on formulation and quantity. Carry the prescription and be cautious — if in doubt ask the Drug Office.
- Medical cannabis/CBD oil: do not bring it. CBD is listed as a dangerous drug in Hong Kong and has led to arrests for visitors in the past.
- Travel supply: if you need a large supply (e.g., >90 days) you absolutely must contact the Drug Office ahead of time and apply for whatever licence they require — do not attempt to bring many months’ worth without clearance.
Contacts & where to check
- Hong Kong Drug Office (Department of Health) — guidance on dangerous drugs, import/export licences, PLAMMS. Find their website here.
- Hong Kong Customs & Excise — Passenger clearance/Controlled imports — passenger guidance on controlled items and exemptions. Find their website here.
- Discover Hong Kong/official traveller FAQs — short summary reminders about carrying medicines and carrying a doctor’s certificate. Find their traveller info here.
Relevant laws
- Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138)
- Antibiotics Ordinance (Cap. 137)
- Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Cap. 134)
- Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance (Cap. 231)
- Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132)
- Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60)
Final tips
- Get the paperwork well before you travel — Drug Office licence processing can take time. Don’t wait until the day before. It typically takes around 10 days for the licence to be processed once everything has been submitted.
- Keep medicines and docs in your carry-on and clearly labelled. Keep copies of prescriptions and carry a letter from the prescribing doctor.
- If in doubt, declare the meds on arrival and show your paperwork — concealment is much worse than a short inspection.
- Check transit countries’ rules for controlled meds too — you’re responsible for knowing the laws in every country you pass through.
- Make sure you have a licence for every entry you plan to have for Hong Kong, so if you plan to leave and go back you will need to apply more than once.
If you are flying to Hong Kong, you might want to consider using airport special assistance to make your travel easier. If you plan to fly from the UK, every airport has information about their special assistance on their website and I made a list of every UK airport with links to their special assistance departments.
Ready to plan your trip to Hong Kong? Head to my Hong Kong travel hub for a complete list of all of my Hong Kong guides or pick one from the list below: