Travelling to China with medication is usually straightforward if your medicines are for personal use and you carry the right documentation. However, China has stricter rules around controlled medicines, narcotics, psychotropic drugs, and some common medications that may be legal elsewhere.
This guide covers over-the-counter medication, prescription medication, and controlled medication, along with how much you can bring and what documents you should carry.
Quick wins for bringing medication to China
- Keep all medication in original packaging with pharmacy labels
- Carry a copy of your prescription and a doctor’s letter
- Use generic medication names as well as brand names
- Only bring a reasonable amount for personal use
- Check carefully if your medicine contains narcotic or psychotropic ingredients
- Avoid carrying CBD products, cannabis-based medicines, or undeclared strong stimulants
- If unsure, contact the Chinese Embassy before travel
The UK Foreign Office also advises travellers to check with both your GP and the Chinese Embassy before travelling, as some medicines commonly prescribed in the UK may not be allowed in China
Can you bring medication into China?
Yes – travellers can bring medication into China for personal use.
According to official guidance from Shanghai Government and China customs information, individuals may bring a small or reasonable quantity of medicine for personal use when entering or leaving China, and it is subject to customs inspection and supervision
The key phrase used by Chinese authorities is “reasonable quantity for personal use.”
This means:
- enough for your own treatment
- not for resale or for other people
- not excessive for the length of your trip
Large quantities may trigger customs checks.
Bringing over-the-counter (OTC) medication into China
Most standard over-the-counter medicines are allowed when carried for personal use, including:
- paracetamol
- ibuprofen
- antihistamines
- antacids
- travel sickness tablets
- diarrhoea medication
- allergy medication
- vitamins and supplements
However, some cold and flu medicines can cause problems if they contain restricted ingredients such as:
- pseudoephedrine
- codeine
- strong sedatives
Always check the active ingredients, not just the brand name.
Keep OTC medicines in original packaging where possible.
Bringing prescription medication into China
Prescription medication is allowed for personal use, but it is strongly recommended that you carry:
- your original prescription
- a doctor’s letter
- medication in original labelled packaging
- your passport for identification
The CDC also advises travellers to carry prescriptions using the generic medicine name rather than only the brand name.
Your doctor’s letter should include:
- your full name
- your medical condition
- medication name (generic + brand if relevant)
- dosage and strength
- confirmation the medicine is for personal use during travel
This is especially important for:
- insulin
- injectable medication
- ADHD medication
- antidepressants
- anxiety medication
- sleeping tablets
- pain medication
I have a guide which breaks down what to include on a doctor travel letter and includes real-life examples from my travels.
Bringing controlled medication into China
This is where travellers need to be much more careful.
China applies stricter rules to medicines containing:
- narcotic ingredients
- psychotropic substances
- stimulant medication
- opioid painkillers
- some sedatives and sleeping tablets
Examples that may require extra caution include:
- codeine-containing medication
- tramadol
- morphine
- diazepam
- strong sleeping tablets
- some ADHD medication
- certain anti-anxiety medicines
According to official Shanghai government guidance:
For medicines containing narcotic or psychotropic ingredients, travellers must provide:
- a medical diagnosis or prescription issued by a qualified medical institution
- valid personal identification such as a passport
Travellers may bring:
Narcotic drugs and Class I psychotropic drugs
Only up to the maximum prescribed dosage per prescription.
This is not based on months of supply – it is based on what is stated on the prescription.
Medical professionals carrying these substances for professional medical use require separate official permits.
How much medication can you bring into China?
There is no simple “3-month rule” written into Chinese customs law for all medicines.
The official rule is:
A reasonable amount for personal use
For standard medicines without narcotic or psychotropic ingredients, travellers may carry a reasonable quantity for self-use.
Short-stay visitors
Some customs guidance references that foreign short-stay tourists should generally keep medicine within a “reasonable amount for personal use,” and historically some guidance references a 7-day ration unless supported by medical documentation.
In practice:
- bring enough for your trip
- plus a small buffer for delays
- avoid carrying excessive multi-month supplies unless clearly medically justified
If carrying a larger amount, your prescription and doctor’s letter become even more important.
Traditional Chinese medicines and herbal products
China also has export and import rules for traditional Chinese medicines.
For outbound travellers, there are value limits on some herbal medicines and Chinese patent medicines, with limits such as:
- 300 RMB for foreign destinations
- 150 RMB for Hong Kong and Macau
If you are bringing herbal remedies into China, ensure they are clearly labelled and legal.
Medicines you should be very careful with
Extra caution is advised with:
- ADHD stimulants
- opioid painkillers
- codeine products
- pseudoephedrine cold medicines
- cannabis-derived products
- CBD oil
- medical marijuana products
CBD and cannabis products can create serious legal problems in China and should be avoided entirely.
Even products legal in your home country may be treated very differently in China.
Should you declare medication at customs?
If your medication is routine personal medication in reasonable quantities, many travellers pass without issue.
However, if you are carrying:
- controlled medication
- injectable medicines
- large quantities
- unusual prescription drugs
…you should be prepared for customs questions and should declare honestly if asked.
China Customs requires passengers to declare honestly and be subject to customs supervision.
Tips for flying with medication to China
- Pack essential medication in hand luggage
- Carry extra supply in case of delays
- Bring cooling bags for medicines like insulin
- Keep paperwork easy to access
- Never transfer medication into unlabelled containers
- Do not rely on replacing specialist medication locally
Some medicines available in the UK may not be easily available in China.
Bring medication to China FAQ
What happens if you bring drugs into China?
If you bring medication into China for personal use and it is in a reasonable quantity, properly packaged, and supported by a prescription where needed, it is usually allowed without problems. However, if the medication contains narcotic or psychotropic ingredients such as codeine, strong painkillers, sedatives, or stimulant medication, customs may inspect it more closely. You may be asked to show your prescription, doctor’s letter, and passport.
If you bring prohibited drugs, undeclared controlled medication, or excessive quantities that suggest resale, the medication can be confiscated and there may be serious legal consequences. China has very strict drug laws, especially around cannabis products, CBD, opioids, and stimulant medicines.
Can I take paracetamol to China?
Yes, paracetamol is generally allowed in China for personal use. It is considered a standard over-the-counter medicine and travellers commonly carry it without issues. Keep it in its original packaging where possible and only bring a reasonable amount for your trip.
Avoid carrying very large quantities, as customs may ask questions if it looks excessive.
Do I need to declare medication in China?
For normal personal medication in small quantities, many travellers do not need to make a formal declaration. However, if you are carrying controlled medication, injectable medicines, large quantities, or medicines containing narcotic or psychotropic ingredients, you should be prepared for customs questions and should declare honestly if asked.
It is always safest to carry your prescription and a doctor’s letter, especially for ADHD medication, strong painkillers, sleeping tablets, insulin, or anxiety medication.
Can I mail medication to China?
Mailing medication to China can be much more complicated than carrying it with you. Imported medicines sent by post may be delayed, inspected, taxed, or refused by customs, especially if they contain controlled ingredients or prescription-only medication. Some medicines may require approval documents or may not be accepted at all.
If the medication is important or specialist treatment, it is usually safer to travel with it yourself rather than relying on international shipping.
Can you take over-the-counter medication to China?
Yes, most common over-the-counter medicines can be taken into China for personal use. This includes medicines like paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines, travel sickness tablets, antacids, and basic allergy medication.
You should still check the active ingredients carefully, because some cold and flu medicines contain restricted substances such as pseudoephedrine or codeine, which may need extra documentation or may cause customs issues.
Can you take co-codamol to China?
Co-codamol needs extra caution because it contains codeine, which may be treated as a controlled substance depending on the strength and formulation. Low-strength co-codamol may be accepted for personal use, but you should always carry it in the original packaging along with your prescription and a doctor’s letter clearly explaining why you need it.
Because codeine falls under stricter rules in many countries, it is best to check with the Chinese Embassy before travelling rather than assuming it will be allowed.
Bringing medication into China is usually simple if your medicine is clearly for personal use, correctly packaged, and supported by prescriptions where needed.
The biggest risks come from:
- controlled drugs
- narcotic or psychotropic medicines
- stimulant medication
- codeine and pseudoephedrine products
- CBD or cannabis products
When in doubt, check before you fly.
It is far better to confirm with the Chinese Embassy before travel than risk confiscation, delays, or legal issues at the border.
If you are still planning your trip, I also have a full guide to visiting China with autistic children, including airport tips, transport advice, family-friendly destinations and practical planning help before you book. If you plan to start in the capital, my guide to visiting Beijing with autistic kids includes all of the planning information you need to get your trip plan started.