Medicines

Prescription medicines

If you are arriving into New Zealand with prescription medicines (other than medicines containing controlled drugs), on you or in your luggage you must:

• have a copy of the prescription from your doctor, or a letter from your doctor stating that you are being treated with the medicine(s), and
• carry the medicine(s) in their original containers, and
• have a quantity not exceeding three months’ supply for prescription medicines (with the exception of oral contraceptives which can be supplied in six-month quantities).

If you are carrying more than three months’ supply of prescription medicines or medicine that is not prescribed to you or a family member, this must be declared on your arrival declaration.

Learn more about bringing medicines into New Zealand on Medsafe’s website.

Controlled drugs

If you are arriving into New Zealand with controlled drugs on you or in your luggage, you must:

• declare the controlled drugs on your arrival declaration, and
• carry your controlled drugs in the original labelled containers, and
• carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating that you are being treated with the controlled drug(s) and the name and strength of these drugs, and
• have a quantity not exceeding one months’ supply.

All controlled drugs must be declared on your arrival declaration.

Learn more about bringing medicines and controlled drugs into New Zealand (Ministry of Health) and on Medsafe's website.