- Thailand controls ADHD stimulants. The Thai FDA lists methylphenidate as a Category 2 psychotropic substance, which travellers may carry under set conditions.
- The Thai FDA's traveller guidance lists amphetamine and dexamphetamine as prohibited substances that cannot be carried into or out of Thailand.
- For psychotropic medicines, the Thai FDA allows up to 30 days' supply with a doctor's certificate and no permit; 31 to 90 days needs an FDA permit applied for at least 15 days before travel.
- Embassy pages and FDA documents differ on some details, so check each medicine by its generic name on the FDA's Check the Drug tool before every trip.
- For a long stay, plan to see a psychiatrist in Thailand before your supply runs out.
Why ADHD medicines need extra care in Thailand
Most ADHD medicines are stimulants, and Thailand regulates stimulants under its narcotics and psychotropic substances laws. The Thai FDA's guidance for travellers says that importing or exporting narcotics and psychotropic substances is prohibited in general, with exceptions for certain categories carried for a traveller's own treatment. Whether you can bring your medicine, and how much, depends on which category its active ingredient falls into.
This means the brand name on your box matters less than the generic name of the active ingredient. The same ingredient can be sold under different brands in different countries, and two medicines that look similar to a patient can sit in very different legal categories in Thailand. The Thai FDA's own advice is not to assume that a medicine legal in your home country is approved for use in Thailand.
Which ADHD medicines are allowed?
The Thai FDA's 2020 guidance for travellers gives examples of medicines in each category. Methylphenidate appears among the Category 2 psychotropic substances, alongside several sleeping tablets and anxiety medicines. Category 2, 3 and 4 psychotropics are the ones travellers are allowed to bring for personal treatment.
The same guidance lists amphetamine and dexamphetamine as Category 1 narcotic drugs that travellers are forbidden from carrying into or out of Thailand, describing them as having been determined to have no medical use in Thailand. If your treatment is amphetamine-based, the guidance says to talk to your doctor about an alternative before you travel.
We did not find lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine or guanfacine named in the official examples we read. Lisdexamfetamine is converted to dexamphetamine in the body, so do not assume it is treated more leniently. Search each generic name on the Thai FDA's Check the Drug tool, and if the result is unclear, email the FDA's Narcotics Control Division before booking. The examples in the 2020 guidance were written under laws that have since been consolidated, so treat them as a starting point rather than the final word.
How much you can bring, and when you need a permit
The Thai FDA's current guidance, under a Ministerial Regulation that took effect on 21 September 2024, says travellers under treatment may carry psychotropic medicines in Categories 2, 3 and 4 for personal use up to 30 days' supply, as prescribed, with a certificate or prescription from the prescribing doctor. No permit is needed at that level. For 31 to 90 days' supply, you need a permit from the Thai FDA, applied for at least 15 days before you travel.
Older sources still give the earlier rule. The Royal Thai Embassy in Stockholm says psychotropic medicines are limited to 30 days, without mentioning the 90-day permit route, and the Royal Thai Embassy in London says a permit is needed for medicines in 'Category 2' without separating narcotics from psychotropics. Where these pages disagree, follow the Thai FDA's own guidance and confirm with the FDA or your nearest Thai embassy.
The doctor's certificate should show your name and address, your diagnosis, each medicine's name, strength, instructions and reason for use, the dose and total quantity, and the prescribing doctor's name, address and licence number. The FDA's how-to guide says documents used for a permit application must be issued no more than six months before travel. Keep medicines in their original labelled containers and carry the paperwork with you.
Applying for a Thai FDA permit
Permits are requested through the FDA's traveller site, permitfortraveler.fda.moph.go.th. The FDA's how-to guide says there is no fee, that you should apply around two weeks but not more than a month before travel, and that a completed application is usually approved in about three working days. The Royal Thai Embassy in London says the application must be made on a computer rather than a phone.
You will need your exact travel dates and airports, a copy of your passport and the doctor's certificate. The permit is emailed to you; print it and carry it with your medicine. The how-to guide says a permit covers one arrival, so each new entry into Thailand needs a new application.
Getting ADHD medication prescribed in Thailand
If you are staying beyond what you can legally bring, plan to see a psychiatrist in Thailand. Private hospitals in Bangkok and other large cities run psychiatry clinics, and some see adults for ADHD. Bring your diagnosis report, your current prescription with generic names and doses, and any letters from your specialist at home. A Thai doctor will make their own assessment and may prescribe a different product or dose from the one you are used to.
Ask before your first appointment whether the clinic sees adults with ADHD, which medicines it prescribes, how often reviews are needed and where the prescription is dispensed. Buy controlled medicines only on a prescription and from a hospital or licensed pharmacy. The UK government warns that medication sold on the street may not be genuine or may have been stolen.
If you then travel out of Thailand with medicine prescribed there, the FDA's 2020 guidance for departing travellers sets the same 30-day limit for psychotropics with a doctor's certificate. Check the current rules for your destination too.
Before you travel with ADHD medication
- Find the generic name of every medicine and search each one on the Thai FDA's Check the Drug tool.
- If your medicine is amphetamine-based, speak to your prescriber well before travel.
- Ask your doctor for a signed certificate with all the details the Thai FDA lists, dated within six months of travel.
- Bring no more than 30 days' supply without a permit; apply for a permit at least 15 days ahead for up to 90 days.
- Keep medicines in original labelled packaging in your hand luggage, with your paperwork.
- Book a psychiatry appointment in Thailand before your supply runs out.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring Ritalin or Concerta to Thailand?
Both contain methylphenidate, which the Thai FDA lists as a Category 2 psychotropic. Its current guidance allows up to 30 days' supply with a doctor's certificate, and 31 to 90 days with an FDA permit. Check the latest rules on the FDA's traveller site before you go.
Can I bring Adderall to Thailand?
The Thai FDA's traveller guidance lists amphetamine and dexamphetamine as prohibited substances that travellers cannot carry into or out of Thailand. Speak to your prescriber about alternatives before you travel.
Is Elvanse or Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) allowed?
We did not find lisdexamfetamine named in the official guidance we read. Search it on the Thai FDA's Check the Drug tool and contact the FDA's Narcotics Control Division if the answer is unclear. Do not travel with it until you have a clear answer.
How far ahead do I need to apply for a permit?
The Thai FDA says at least 15 days before travel; the Royal Thai Embassy in London says at least two weeks. Processing usually takes about three working days once the application is complete.
Can I get ADHD medication prescribed in Thailand?
A psychiatrist in Thailand can assess you and decide on treatment. Bring your diagnosis and prescription records, and ask the clinic in advance whether it treats adults with ADHD.
Sources
- Thai FDA — Guidance for travellers under treatment carrying personal medications (Ministerial Regulation B.E. 2567)
- Thai FDA — Guidance for travellers carrying medications containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances into Thailand (version 3, June 2020; hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- Thai FDA — Guidance for travellers carrying medications out of Thailand (version 3, June 2020; hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- Thai FDA — How to submit an online permit application (version 3, August 2022; hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- Thai FDA, Narcotics Control Division — Permits for travellers (Check the Drug, permit requests)
- Royal Thai Embassy, London — Bringing medications to Thailand
- Royal Thai Embassy, Stockholm — Restricted medicine
- GOV.UK — Thailand travel advice: Health
