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 - this includes guidance on non-prescription medicines.

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.

Pseudoephedrine

• Medicines containing pseudoephedrine are controlled drugs. 
• People lawfully supplied with a medicine containing pseudoephedrine overseas may bring up to one month’s supply with them back to New Zealand for personal use to treat their medical condition. The medicine must physically accompany the traveller.
• Travellers cannot bring in these medicines for friends and family.

Find out more about pseudoephedrine at Ministry of Health

More information on controlled drugs and importing medicines

• Ministry of Health: Bringing medicines and controlled drugs into New Zealand
• Medsafe: Importing medicines