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Travelling with medicines?

You could face a fine, deportation or even imprisonment if you carry restricted medicines to certain countries without the correct supporting documents:

  • Tell us where you’re travelling
  • Find out if your medicines are restricted
  • Get the supporting documents and guidance to travel safely
Book a demo

Simple steps

Step 1

Tell us where you’re going and the medicines you plan to take

Step 2

Find out instantly if your medicines are restricted or if you’re safe to travel without documents

Step 3

Need GP-verified documents? Buy Travel Medicine Certificate*, which includes additional guidance for safe travel with your medicines

* This service is exclusively for residents of the UK.

Book a demo

Why choose us?

Get detailed Travel Medicine Certificate, online Travel Medicine Checker, bespoke Travel Guidance letter, and expert destination-specific advice on regulations and restrictions, all conveniently online with supportive follow-up.

Feature/Benefit

DocHQ

GP

Travel Medicine Certificate
Provided
Provided (may not be as comprehensive)
Travel Guidance Letter
Detailed letter provided
Not usually provided
Cost
Free initial check, fee for certificate
No free check, Paid service
Info on Additional Documents
Guidance on extra paperwork needed
May not be aware of specific needs
Medicine Strengths & Quantities restrictions
Specific details provided
Often not specified
Destination-Specific Advice
Detailed info on destination's regulations
General advice, if any
Free Travel Medicine Checker
Available
Not available
Convenience and Accessibility
Online services with instant verification
Requires appointment and may be slower
Service Turnaround
48 hrs
7-14 days

What is Travel Medicine Certificate?

Many countries impose restrictions on substances found in common medications, which can lead, in the worst cases, to jail sentences or deportation. Carrying a GP-approved Travel Medicine Certificate may be enough to travel safely through customs, but some countries require additional documents for certain strengths or quantities of your medicines. This can take up to 12 weeks, so plan ahead to travel safely.

Use our online medicine checker tool to see if your medicines are safe to take to your destination country. If not, simply buy DocHQ Travel Medicine Certificate service, where a DocHQ GP will review your prescriptions and supply the correct supporting documents for your medicines, or advise if you need to seek an alternative prescription. Included in the service is a Travel Guidance Letter, which will tell you about any further controls and restrictions at your destination country and where to source any additional documents you may need.

What does my Travel Medicine Certificate contain?

  • Date of issue, medical supervisor name, your name, date of birth and passport number
  • Travel details, destination, and departure and return dates
  • Details of prescribed medication, prescribing doctor’s name, and confirmation that medication has been reviewed and approved
  • Identification of any controlled or prohibited drug in any prescribed or over-the-counter medicines

What does my Travel Guidance Letter contain?

  • Indication of any controlled/prohibited drugs in your medicine
  • Destination country guidelines for restricted amounts that can be carried and the number of days you can travel with it
  • Authority to contact if you need to complete further forms
  • Advice for travelling with medicines

Medicine Restriction Data Sources.

NICE BNF
Travax
INCB
ISTM
NHS digital
Fit to Travel NHS
undocs.org
WHO
CDC

Take precaution when traveling with medicine

The medicines that you carry can get you jailed on foreign holidays, and anyone can get caught out

Toyota executive freed in Japan after arrest on drug charges

Toyota executive freed in Japan after arrest on drug charges

“The 55-year-old, who resigned last week, was arrested on 18 June on suspicion of importing oxycodone, a narcotic pain killer. The drug is tightly controlled in Japan...”
Read more
Foreign Office warns medication could land Brits in trouble abroad

Foreign Office warns medication could land Brits in trouble abroad

“The Foreign Office has warned Brits against taking certain medications on holiday with them. The warning comes after many Brits got into trouble with law enforcement in exotic countries over the past year...”
Read more
British man jailed in Dubai and 'denied cancer treatment' for carrying prescription anti-depressants

British man jailed in Dubai and 'denied cancer treatment' for carrying prescription anti-depressants

“A British man in urgent need of cancer treatment has spent five weeks in a Dubai jail after he was arrested for carrying anti-depressants, his lawyers have said...”
Read more
DRUG ALERT Taking painkillers on holiday could get you arrested – and it's not the only drug that could get you in trouble

DRUG ALERT Taking painkillers on holiday could get you arrested – and it's not the only drug that could get you in trouble

“A tourist in Bali has claimed she was threatened with five years in prison after being caught carrying prescribed medication into the country...”
Read more
Jailed in UAE for popping banned painkiller, Indian workers seek mercy

Jailed in UAE for popping banned painkiller, Indian workers seek mercy

“When Lakshmi Motam sent 20 tramadol tablets from her south Indian village to her laborer husband in Dubai, she didn't realize the pain relief pills would land him in jail...”
Read more
The medicines that could get you jailed on foreign holidays – and the countries where tourists should take extra care

The medicines that could get you jailed on foreign holidays – and the countries where tourists should take extra care

“A British woman, Laura Plummer, has been held in an Egyptian prison for four weeks. She was detained after she tried to bring painkillers into the country.”
Read more
Toyota executive freed in Japan after arrest on drug charges

Toyota executive freed in Japan after arrest on drug charges

“The 55-year-old, who resigned last week, was arrested on 18 June on suspicion of importing oxycodone, a narcotic pain killer. The drug is tightly controlled in Japan...”
Read more
Foreign Office warns medication could land Brits in trouble abroad

Foreign Office warns medication could land Brits in trouble abroad

“The Foreign Office has warned Brits against taking certain medications on holiday with them. The warning comes after many Brits got into trouble with law enforcement in exotic countries over the past year...”
Read more
British man jailed in Dubai and 'denied cancer treatment' for carrying prescription anti-depressants

British man jailed in Dubai and 'denied cancer treatment' for carrying prescription anti-depressants

“A British man in urgent need of cancer treatment has spent five weeks in a Dubai jail after he was arrested for carrying anti-depressants, his lawyers have said...”
Read more
DRUG ALERT Taking painkillers on holiday could get you arrested – and it's not the only drug that could get you in trouble

DRUG ALERT Taking painkillers on holiday could get you arrested – and it's not the only drug that could get you in trouble

“A tourist in Bali has claimed she was threatened with five years in prison after being caught carrying prescribed medication into the country...”
Read more
Jailed in UAE for popping banned painkiller, Indian workers seek mercy

Jailed in UAE for popping banned painkiller, Indian workers seek mercy

“When Lakshmi Motam sent 20 tramadol tablets from her south Indian village to her laborer husband in Dubai, she didn't realize the pain relief pills would land him in jail...”
Read more
The medicines that could get you jailed on foreign holidays – and the countries where tourists should take extra care

The medicines that could get you jailed on foreign holidays – and the countries where tourists should take extra care

“A British woman, Laura Plummer, has been held in an Egyptian prison for four weeks. She was detained after she tried to bring painkillers into the country.”
Read more
Toyota executive freed in Japan after arrest on drug charges

Toyota executive freed in Japan after arrest on drug charges

“The 55-year-old, who resigned last week, was arrested on 18 June on suspicion of importing oxycodone, a narcotic pain killer. The drug is tightly controlled in Japan...”
Read more
Foreign Office warns medication could land Brits in trouble abroad

Foreign Office warns medication could land Brits in trouble abroad

“The Foreign Office has warned Brits against taking certain medications on holiday with them. The warning comes after many Brits got into trouble with law enforcement in exotic countries over the past year...”
Read more
British man jailed in Dubai and 'denied cancer treatment' for carrying prescription anti-depressants

British man jailed in Dubai and 'denied cancer treatment' for carrying prescription anti-depressants

“A British man in urgent need of cancer treatment has spent five weeks in a Dubai jail after he was arrested for carrying anti-depressants, his lawyers have said...”
Read more
DRUG ALERT Taking painkillers on holiday could get you arrested – and it's not the only drug that could get you in trouble

DRUG ALERT Taking painkillers on holiday could get you arrested – and it's not the only drug that could get you in trouble

“A tourist in Bali has claimed she was threatened with five years in prison after being caught carrying prescribed medication into the country...”
Read more
Jailed in UAE for popping banned painkiller, Indian workers seek mercy

Jailed in UAE for popping banned painkiller, Indian workers seek mercy

“When Lakshmi Motam sent 20 tramadol tablets from her south Indian village to her laborer husband in Dubai, she didn't realize the pain relief pills would land him in jail...”
Read more
The medicines that could get you jailed on foreign holidays – and the countries where tourists should take extra care

The medicines that could get you jailed on foreign holidays – and the countries where tourists should take extra care

“A British woman, Laura Plummer, has been held in an Egyptian prison for four weeks. She was detained after she tried to bring painkillers into the country.”
Read more

FAQ

Your common questions answered

Absolutely. We want you to only pay for what you need to, which is why our free online tool allows you to check every active ingredient in every medication you wish to travel with against the rules and regulations of your destination country. You’ll find out instantly if your medicines are restricted and you need to purchase DocHQ Travel Medicine Certificate, or if you are safe to travel without documents.
We advise checking your medicine at least 12 weeks in advance of outbound overseas travel. Some countries require you to complete further documentation in addition to a Travel Medicine Certificate, which can take up to 12 weeks to process.
To check your prescription and over-the-counter medicine using our free online tool, you’ll need to tell us the active ingredient in your medication (you’ll find this on the packaging) and tell us where you’re travelling from and to.

If you need to purchase DocHQ Travel Medicine Certificate, you’ll need to tell us your travel dates and where you’re travelling to and from and what medications you wish to travel with, and upload relevant GP prescriptions and photo of your passport.
All certificates and documents are dispatched Monday-Friday. If there are no controls or restrictions at your destination country for any of the medicines you wish to carry, we offer a next-day service within the working week. We encourage you to plan ahead as far as possible, as any medicine restrictions will delay you receiving these documents and you may need to obtain further documents which can take up to 12 weeks to process.

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