Before You Go · Medication import compliance
Can I Bring My Medication to China?
Ordinary and controlled medicines have different quantity and document requirements. Carry your prescription and original labelled package where applicable, and do not assume any brand is cleared until you check its ingredients and the current Customs rule. Choose your medication path below.
60-second route
Which medication path should you use?
Do not start with “Is my brand allowed?” Start with the active ingredient and the control category.
Ordinary, non-controlled medicine
Keep the quantity reasonable for personal use and carry the prescription / medical evidence and original labelled packaging when practical.
Read the ordinary-medicine ruleVyvanse / Elvanse or Adderall
These need ingredient-level controlled-substance checks. Use the dedicated decision page rather than a generic medication answer.
Not sure whether it is controlled
Find the active ingredient on the box or prescription, then verify that ingredient against the current Chinese narcotic / psychotropic catalogues. Do not infer the rule from the brand name alone.
Use the verification methodVyvanse
Can I Bring Vyvanse to China?
Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate — restricted; verify before travel.
Open decisionAdderall
Can I Bring Adderall to China?
Amphetamine mixed salts — restricted via controlled ingredients.
Open decision01 Border rules
How China treats medicines at the border
Chinese traveler/customs guidance treats personal-use medicines under Customs supervision. Ordinary medicines that do not contain narcotic or psychotropic substances are generally limited to a small/reasonable personal-use quantity. Medicines containing narcotic or psychotropic substances follow different documentation and quantity conditions. Final clearance is subject to Customs on-site review.
02 Categories
Ordinary medicine vs controlled medicine
- Ordinary medicines: small/reasonable personal-use quantity; Customs supervision.
- Controlled medicines: narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances listed in Chinese catalogues by substance/ingredient. Category I and Category II rules differ.
- For medical treatment, narcotic drugs and Category I psychotropic medicines may be carried up to the maximum quantity allowed on a single prescription when required supporting documentation is presented.
03 Documents
Documents travelers should prepare
- Prescription / medical documentation
- Diagnosis documentation when carrying controlled medicines for treatment
- Identity proof
- Original labelled packaging when possible
Travelers are advised to proactively declare controlled medicines. Customs review is final.
04 Method
Why brand name alone is not enough — and how we verify
Chinese catalogues are organized by active ingredient, not U.S. brand names. Our verification method is:
- Brand
- Active ingredient
- Chinese regulatory evidence
- Traveler / Customs rule
- Required documents and actions
Current medication pages in this release: Vyvanse and Adderall only. No fake drug search, no mega-list.
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Official sources
Last verified: 29 Sep 2026.