Travelling with medicines
When travelling with medicines for personal use, diffrent rules apply depending on the country you are travelling to or from and whether the medicine is classified as a narcotic or not.
A preparation that is classified as a medicinal product in Sweden is subject to Swedish law regardless of whether or not it is classified as a medicinal product in another country.
The rules of the Medical Products Agency apply
The Swedish Medical Products Agency's regulations govern what applies when you are travelling with medicines and syringes, both to and from Sweden. Swedish Customs checks at the border that the Medical Products Agency's rules are followed.
Travelling with medicines – Swedish Medical Products Agency
What medicines can i bring into Sweden?
As a traveller, you can bring medicines into Sweden provided that they are:
- Intended for medical purposes and your personal use.
- The person bringing in the medicines must be able to prove that they are being imported for personal use. This can be done, for example, by presenting a prescription, pharamcy label or doctor`s certificate.
- Similarly, if you are travelling with your pet, you may bring medicines prescribed by a veterinarian for your pet.
How much medicine can I take with me?
You are not allowed to bring any amount of non-drug medicines.
- If you come from another EEA country, you can bring a maximum of one year´s consumption with you.
- If you are from a non-EEA country, the limit is three months consumption.
The EEA includes all EU countries, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
If you are travelling from Sweden, it is important to know that the rules differ from country to country - even within the EU. Contact the country's embassy if you are unsure.
Drugs and medicines classified as doping substances
You can only bring drugs classified as narcotics or doping substances into Sweden:
- Medical purposes and personal use.
- You must be able to prove medical purpose and personal use. This can be done, for example, by presenting a prescription, pharmasy label or doctor´s certificate.
In som cases, you may also need a Schengen certificate. The certificate must state the following:
- The prescribing professional.
- The person for whom the medicine is prescribed.
- Dosage, for example 2 tablets/day.
Schengen certificate – Medical Products Agency
Medicines to be used at international sports events
Buying medicines in another country
You may bring medicines you have bought in another country if they are intended for your personal use and have a medical purpose. In other words, you are not allowed to bring in medicines intended for anyone other than yourself. You do not have to pay any customs duties, VAT or other taxes on medicines you bring in for personal medical use. Otherwise, the same rules apply as when travelling with medicines.
Select the green or blue channel at the border with Sweden
If you are carrying medicines for personal use that comply with the rules of the Swedish Medical Products Agency, choose the green or blue lane, nothing to declare, when you cross the border into Sweden.
Questions and answers
Travelling to Sweden
My sister is coming to visit in two weeks. She’ll be bringing her pain-relief medicines. These are classed as narcotic medicines here in Sweden. What rules apply?
It depends on the type of narcotic medicine.
I have an acquaintance coming over to visit us from Greece. He has diabetes. Can he bring his syringes into Sweden?
Yes, he can, but he must be able to show that the syringes are for his private use (e.g. present a prescription or other certificate from a doctor).
Travelling from Sweden
I am travelling to Denmark (part of the Schengen area) with medication that is classified as a narcotic in Denmark. What do I need to consider?
Denmark is part of the Schengen area, which means you need to bring a certificate that you can obtain from a pharmacy. Each preparation requires a separate certificate. The certificate allows you to carry your medicine, provided that it is for your own use. The Swedish Medical Products Agency has more information about the certificate and how much medicine you can carry:
I am travelling to Thailand (not part of the Schengen area) with medication that is classified as a narcotic in Thailand. What do I need to consider?
Each country has its own regulations regarding how much and what medicines you are allowed to bring in. Contact the Thai embassy in Sweden to find out what applies. The Government Offices of Sweden provides contact details for embassies:
I am going to travel with a medicinal product containing doping substances. What regulations apply?
Each country has its own regulations regarding how much medicine containing doping substances you are allowed to bring in. Contact the country's embassy in Sweden to find out what applies to the country you are travelling to. The Government Offices of Sweden provides contact details for embassies:
Narcotic medicinal products or medicine containing doping substances
What is a narcotic medicinal product?
Many countries have their own rules for narcotic medicinal products. Examples of such medicines include certain painkillers, certain sleeping pills and certain medicines used to treat ADHD. The Swedish Medical Products Agency has more information:
What constitutes a medicinal product containing doping substances?
Examples of such drugs include synthetic anabolic steroids, testosterone, growth hormone and testosterone-like substances. The Swedish Medical Products Agency has more information: