Bringing prescription medicine into China: the customs rules

Everyday medicine, in a reasonable amount for your own use

China Customs' baggage rules, in force since 1 April 2025, say that what travellers bring must be for their own reasonable use, and anything beyond that is handled as goods, with the customs formalities that go with them (General Administration of Customs, Feb 2025). Shanghai Customs applies this to medicine: medicines with no narcotic or psychotropic content can be carried in reasonable quantities for personal use, under customs supervision (Shanghai government, Oct 2026). Neither source gives a limit in days or packs.

Narcotic and psychotropic medicines need a diagnosis certificate

China's regulations on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances let a patient carry narcotic medicines and Category I psychotropic medicines up to the maximum amount of a single prescription, with a diagnosis certificate from a medical institution and proof of identity. Customs clears them on the basis of personal, reasonable use (State Council regulations, Art. 44; Shanghai government, Oct 2026). For a foreign visitor the proof of identity is the passport (Shanghai government, Oct 2026), and the December 2024 amendments to the regulations left this article unchanged (State Council, Dec 2024).

The maximum amount for one prescription is set by China's health authority (State Council, Dec 2024, Art. 40), so it may be less than your own doctor prescribes. Which medicines count is set by China's 2025 catalogues of narcotic and psychotropic medicines, which Shanghai Customs links from its guidance. They include codeine, oxycodone, morphine and methylphenidate. Check your medicine's generic name against them, or ask the Chinese embassy.

We found no official statement on whether a certificate from a doctor outside China has to be translated. Carry it in English with the generic names of your medicines, and ask the embassy before you travel.

Declare controlled medicine in the red channel

If you carry anything that needs a permit or supporting papers, China Customs asks you to fill in a declaration, on paper or online in advance, and use the red channel. With nothing to declare you use the green channel and need no form (General Administration of Customs, Mar 2025). Shanghai Customs tells travellers carrying controlled medicine to declare it to customs officers at the port (Shanghai government, Oct 2026).

Cannabis is illegal, and drug tests can happen on arrival

Possessing any illegal drug, cannabis included, is a serious offence in China, and the UK government warns that the authorities can prosecute a positive test wherever and whenever the drug was taken (UK government, Aug 2026). Australia's government says random drug tests happen, including at airports and on arrival (Smartraveller, Sep 2026), and Canada's says this applies to drugs taken legally in another country before entering China (Government of Canada, Nov 2026).

What foreign governments tell travellers to carry

Some medicines that are legal at home may not be allowed into China (UK government, Aug 2026; Smartraveller, Sep 2026). Their advice is to carry:

• A copy of your prescription and a letter from your doctor with the names of the medicines, the dose, and that they are for your own use (Smartraveller, Sep 2026)
• Your medicine in its original pharmacy packaging, which is general advice for any trip abroad (Smartraveller, Aug 2026; TravelHealthPro, Oct 2025)
• For a narcotic or psychotropic medicine, the diagnosis certificate China asks for

Check with the embassy before you go

The UK and Canadian governments both tell travellers to check with the Chinese embassy before travelling with medicine (UK government, Aug 2026; Government of Canada, Nov 2026). Only the embassy can confirm the rules for a specific medicine.

Running out in China means seeing a doctor

Many medicines in China, antibiotics among them, need a prescription, and a Shanghai government guide advises seeing a doctor first if you are unwell (Shanghai government, Mar 2025). The UK government notes that doctors may want to make their own diagnosis before repeating a prescription from elsewhere (UK government, Apr 2025). Bring enough for the whole trip; our booking guide covers how to see a doctor.