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Guidance for Travellers to Thailand under Treatment Carrying
Personal Medications Containing Narcotic Drugs/Psychotropic
Substances into/out of Thailand
This guidance issued by the Narcotics Control Division, Food and Drug Administration,
provides travellers to Thailand under medical treatment with current regulations concerning
the transport of personal medications containing narcotic drugs of Category 2, or
psychotropic substances of Categories 2, 3, and 4.
The transport of any medications into/out of Thailand for personal use may be subject to a
range of stringent import and export controls.
The import and export of narcotics and/or psychotropic substances into/out of Thailand are
general prohibited. Those travellers to Thailand under treatment who need to carry
medications containing narcotic drugs and/or psychotropic substances into/out of Thailand
must follow the applicable regulations strictly.
With the exception of medications containing narcotic drugs of Category 2 under the
Narcotics Act B.E. 2522 (1979), or psychotropic substances of Categories 2, 3, and 4 under
the Psychotropic Substances Act B.E. 2518 (1975), the importation/exportation of narcotic
drugs or psychotropic substances into/out of Thailand is prohibited.
1. Carrying Personal Medications into Thailand
A. Medications containing narcotic drugs of category 2
The Ministry of Public Health issued the Ministerial Regulation B.E. 2552 (2009)
under the Narcotics Act B.E. 2522 (1979), amended by the Narcotics Act B.E. 2545
(2002). It became effective on September 29, 2009. According to the new
regulation, travellers to Thailand under medical treatment are allowed to carry
medications containing narcotic drugs of Category 2 for personal treatment in a
quantity not exceeding 30 days of prescribed usage and must follow the
applicable regulations strictly.
Travellers to Thailand under treatment of these medications are required to obtain a
permit (Form IC-2) issued by the Food and Drug Administration before travelling
to Thailand.
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The quantity of the medication transported into Thailand must not exceed 30
days of prescribed usage.
To apply for the permit, please download the application form (Form IC-1) and
supplement from http://narcotic.fda.moph.go.th/faq/download.php and
submit the completed form along with copies of the medical prescription and the
required certificate at least two weeks before the arrival date by:
Fax: (66) 2591 8471 or
Email: tnarcotics@fda.moph.go.th or
Mail:
Narcotics Control Division
Food and Drug Administration
Ministry of Public Health
Nonthaburi 11000, THAILAND
[If the documents are submitted by Fax or Email, the original copies of the documents
must still be sent by post - airmail if possible]
The following documents must be submitted:
1.1 Application form (Form IC-1)
1.2 Medical prescription written by the physician who provided the medical
treatment, which must contain the following:
the name and address of the patient
the identified medical condition
the name of the medications and the reason that those medications were
prescribed for the patient's treatment
the posology and total amount of medications prescribed
the name, address, and license number of the prescribing physician
1.3 Certificate issued by a competent authority of the country of departure to
confirm the patient’s legal authorization to carry those medications for
personal use. [see Appendix A. Model Form of the Certificate for the
Carrying by Travellers under Treatment of Medications Containing Narcotic
Drugs and/or Psychotropic Substances]
Examples of narcotic drugs in Category 2 according to The Narcotics Act B.E. 2522
(1979), which are controlled under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961):
Codeine, Dextropropoxyphene, Dihydrocodeine, Fentanyl, Hydrocodone,
Hydromorphone, Methadone, Morphine, Oxycodone, Pethidine.
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B. Medications containing psychotropic substances of
categories 2, 3, and 4
According to the Psychotropic Substances Act B.E. 2518 (1975), Travellers to
Thailand under treatment are allowed to transport medications containing
psychotropic substances of Categories 2, 3, and 4 for personal treatment in a
quantity not exceeding 30 days of prescribed usage when accompanied by a
certificate/medical prescription from the prescribing physician.
The certificate/medical prescription from the prescribing physician must indicate:
the name and address of the patient
the identified medical condition
the name of the medications and the reason that those medications were
prescribed for the patient's treatment
the posology and total amount of medications prescribed
the name, address, and license number of the prescribing physician
The quantity of the medications carried into Thailand must not exceed 30 days
of prescribed usage.
Examples of psychotropic substances in Categories 2, 3, and 4 according to the
Psychotropic Substances Act B.E. 2518 (1975):
Category 2: Buprenorphine, Methylphenidate, Midazolam, Nitrazepam,
Phentermine, Temazepam, Triazolam, Zolpidem.
Category 3: Pentazocine.
Category 4: Alprazolam, Bromazepam, Chlordiazepoxide, Clonazepam,
Clorazepate, Diazepam, Oxazepam, Lorazepam, Phenobarbital.
2. Carrying Personal Medications out of Thailand
A. Medications containing narcotic drugs of category 2
The Ministry of Public Health issued the Ministerial Regulation B.E. 2552 (2009)
under the Narcotics Act B.E. 2522 (1979), amended by the Narcotics Act B.E. 2545
(2002). It became effective on September 29, 2009. According to the new
regulation, travellers to Thailand under medical treatment are allowed to carry
medications containing narcotic drugs of Category 2 for personal treatment out of
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Thailand in a quantity not exceeding 30 days of prescribed usage and must
follow the regulations strictly.
Travellers to Thailand who acquire these medications in Thailand are required to
obtain a permit (Form OC-2) issued by the Food and Drug Administration before
departing Thailand while in possession of the medication in question.
The quantity of the medication transported out of Thailand must not exceed 30
days of prescribed usage.
To apply for the permit, please download the application form (Form OC-1) and
supplement from http://narcotic.fda.moph.go.th/faq/download.php and
submit the completed form along with the medical prescription at least two
weeks before the departure date in Thailand by:
Fax: (66) 2591 8471 or
Email: tnarcotics@fda.moph.go.th or
Mail:
Narcotics Control Division
Food and Drug Administration
Ministry of Public Health
Nonthaburi 11000, THAILAND
[If the documents are submitted by Fax or Email, the original copies of the documents
must still be sent by post - airmail if possible]
The following documents must be submitted:
2.1) Application form (Form OC-1)
2.2) Medical prescription written by the physician who provided the medical
treatment, which must contain the following:
the name and address of the patient
the identified medical condition
the name of the medications and the reason that those medications were
prescribed for the patient's treatment
the posology and total amount of medications prescribed
the name, address, and license number of the prescribing physician
The quantity of the medications transported out of Thailand must not exceed 30
days of prescribed usage.
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Examples of narcotic drugs of Category 2 according to the Narcotics Act B.E. 2522
(1979), which is controlled under the Single convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961:
Codeine, Dextropropoxyphene, Dihydrocodeine, Fentanyl, Hydrocodone,
Hydromorphone, Methadone, Morphine, Oxycodone, Pethidine.
B. Medications containing psychotropic substances of
categories 2, 3, and 4
According to the Psychotropic Substances Act B.E. 2518 (1975), travellers to
Thailand who acquire medications in Thailand are allowed to carry medications
containing psychotropic substances of Categories 2, 3, and 4 for personal treatment
in a quantity not exceeding 30 days of prescribed usage when accompanied
by a certificate/medical prescription from the prescribing physician.
The certificate/medical prescription from the prescribing physician must indicate:
the name and address of the patient
the identified medical condition
the name of the medications and the reason that those medications were
prescribed for the patient's treatment
the posology and total amount of medications prescribed
the name, address, and license number of the prescribing physician
The quantity of the medications transported out of Thailand must not exceed 30
days of prescribed usage.
Examples of psychotropic substances in Categories 2, 3, and 4 according to the
Psychotropic Substances Act B.E. 2518 (1975):
Category 2: Buprenorphine, Flunitrazepam, Methylphenidate, Midazolam,
Nitrazepam, Phentermine, Temazepam, Triazolam, Zolpidem.
Category 3: Pentazocine, Pentobarbital.
Category 4: Alprazolam, Bromazepam, Chlordiazepoxide, Clonazepam,
Clorazepate, Diazepam, Oxazepam, Lorazepam, Phenobarbital.
3. Prohibited Medications Containing Narcotic Drugs/
Psychotropic Substances in Thailand
With the exception of medications containing narcotic drugs of Category 2 under the
Narcotics Act B.E. 2522 (1979) or psychotropic substances of Categories 2, 3, and 4
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under the Psychotropic Substances Act B.E. 2518 (1975) described above, the
importation/exportation of medications containing narcotic drugs/psychotropic
substances into/out of Thailand is prohibited.
Examples of the medications that Travellers to Thailand are forbidden from
transporting into/out of Thailand:
Narcotic drugs:
Narcotic drugs of Category 1 under The Narcotics Act B.E. 2522 (1979), e.g.
Amphetamine, Dexamphetamine, Cannabis, etc. These substances are prohibited
and have been determined to have no medical use in Thailand.
Psychotropic substances:
Psychotropic substances of Category 1 under The Psychotropic Substances Act
B.E. 2518 (1975) e.g. Cathinone, THC. These substances are prohibited and have
been determined to have no medical use in Thailand.
4. Advice for Travellers to Thailand carrying Medications
Those travellers carrying medications containing narcotics of category 2 are
required to declare the medications they are carrying into/out of Thailand.
Please have all medications and documents prepared and available for inspection:
- Entry into Thailand: you must present the medications/documents at the
Customs Dept. Red Channel
- Exit from Thailand: you must present the medications/documents at the
Customs Dept. official upon request
All related documents should be kept with the traveller throughout their stay in
Thailand.
Those travellers carrying all other medications into Thailand (including medications
containing psychotropic substances of Categories 2, 3, and 4) do not have to declare
their medications at the Customs Dept. Red Channel if the medication is for personal
treatment in a quantity not exceeding 30 days of prescribed usage and
accompanied by a certificate/medical prescription from the prescribing physician.
Those medications are then considered personal belongings. The
prescription/certificate should be kept with the traveller throughout their stay in
Thailand.
The medications must be kept in the original prescription bottles with the contents
clearly marked.
Travellers to Thailand are forbidden to sell or supply their medications to others.
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Travellers must not assume that medications which are legal in foreign countries are
also approved for use in Thailand. Those products may be illegal in Thailand. In the
case that a traveller's medications are prohibited from import into Thailand, the
traveller should consult their doctor to determine alternate medications.
As requirements concerning medications may change, travellers should check the
requirements on this website for the importation/exportation of medications prior to
each visit.
5.) For more information
The information here provides general guidance for Travellers to Thailand carrying
personal medications containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.
The travellers can find more information from the website below.
http://narcotic.fda.moph.go.th/faq/faq.php
If you have any questions, please email your inquiry to the Narcotics Control Division,
Food and Drug Administration, or contact us as follows:
Email: tnarcotics@fda.moph.go.th
Fax: (66) 2591 8471
Telephone: (66) 2590 7346
