As of 2026, yes: you can bring a regular prescription into China.
As of 2026, yes. You can bring a regular prescription into China. China Customs (海关) lets you carry a reasonable personal supply of ordinary medicine in its original box with your prescription. The catch is a short controlled list: amphetamine ADHD meds like Adderall are effectively not permitted, and strong opioids, some sleep and anxiety meds and codeine are tightly restricted. This is information, not medical or legal advice.
The easy case: ordinary prescriptions
Everyday medicine travels fine. Your SSRIs, blood pressure tablets, inhalers, insulin, birth control and the like count as ordinary prescription medicine, and you may bring a reasonable personal use quantity, the principle Chinese customs calls 合理自用. Advisory sources commonly read that as roughly a 30 to 60 day supply, though the rule is stated as a principle rather than an exact number, so keep the amount clearly personal.
Three habits keep it simple. Leave everything in its original packaging with your name on the label, carry your prescription, and a translated copy helps if an officer wants to read it. That is usually the whole story for non controlled medicine. Once you are settled, our Shanghai pharmacy guide covers what you can simply buy here instead of carrying.
The controlled list, where it gets serious
As of 2026, two categories change the rules entirely: narcotic drugs (麻醉药品) and psychotropic substances (精神药品), scheduled under China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). These can be carried, but only up to the maximum on a single prescription, and only with a medical diagnosis certificate from a medical institution plus your passport, and you must declare them. The day supply caps are tight and specific.
| Type of medicine | How much you may carry | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary non controlled (SSRIs, blood pressure, inhalers, insulin, birth control) | Reasonable personal supply, commonly cited as ~30 to 60 days | Original packaging, name on the label, your prescription |
| Category I psychotropic, non injectable (e.g. methylphenidate tablets) | Up to a 3 day supply | Diagnosis certificate, passport, declaration |
| Category I psychotropic, sustained release | Up to a 7 day supply | Same documents and declaration |
| Methylphenidate for a child with ADHD | Up to a 15 day supply per prescription | Stated exception; carry the diagnosis certificate |
| Injectable Category I psychotropic or narcotic | A single dose only | A highly restricted tier; declare and document |
| Category II psychotropic (many benzodiazepines) | Prescribed quantity, advisory sources cite ~7 days | Prescription, diagnosis certificate, declaration |
| Amphetamine ADHD meds (Adderall, Vyvanse) | Effectively not permitted | A foreign prescription carries no legal weight here |
| Codeine, strong opioids, pseudoephedrine (-D), CBD | Restricted to banned | Confirm with the embassy first; do not mail these |
The one line to remember: bring a reasonable personal supply of ordinary medicine in its original box, but narcotics and Category I psychotropics need a hospital diagnosis certificate, your passport and a declaration, and cap at a 3 day supply, 7 for sustained release.
ADHD medication, the honest version
This is a common source of worry, so here is the plain answer. Amphetamine based medicines such as Adderall and Vyvanse are effectively barred at Chinese customs, and a foreign prescription does not change that for a controlled substance. But this is not the end of treatment. Inside China, methylphenidate, sold as 专注达 and classed as a Category I psychotropic, and the non stimulant atomoxetine, sold as 择思达, are both available by prescription through a licensed hospital. Atomoxetine in particular is easier to obtain and to travel with. The move is to line up local care rather than try to carry a barred drug across the border.
What to carry, and which lane to use
For anything controlled, or anything you are unsure about, declare it. Use the Red Channel at the port rather than walking through the green nothing to declare lane, and have your diagnosis certificate, passport and prescription ready. Small quantities of ordinary medicine usually clear the green lane without drama, but when a drug is controlled or borderline, declaring proactively is the lawful step, and the on site officer always makes the final call. Because that call is theirs, confirm your specific medication with the Chinese embassy or consulate before you fly.
One firm rule: do not mail it
The personal carry procedure for controlled medicine does not extend to the post. Mailing or couriering controlled drugs into China leads to seizure and worse, and even ordinary medicine sent by post is often held. Carry what you need in your baggage instead. And opium, morphine, cannabis and similar substances cannot be brought in, sent, or posted under any circumstances, full stop.
If you are setting up healthcare for the longer term, our guides to seeing a doctor in Shanghai and choosing health insurance in Shanghai will help you find the licensed hospital that continues your prescription here.
Good to know
- Good for: anyone moving to or visiting Shanghai who takes a regular prescription and is anxious about the border.
- The one rule: ordinary medicine, bring a personal supply in its original box with the prescription. Controlled medicine needs a diagnosis certificate, passport and a Red Channel declaration.
- Before you fly: confirm your exact medication with the Chinese embassy or consulate, and if it is controlled, plan local treatment rather than carrying a barred drug.
Common questions
Can I bring my Adderall into China with a prescription?
In practice, no. Amphetamine based medicines like Adderall and Vyvanse are effectively not permitted at Chinese customs, and a foreign prescription carries no legal weight for them. For ongoing ADHD care, see a licensed hospital in China about methylphenidate (专注达) or the non stimulant atomoxetine (择思达).
How much medication can I bring into China for personal use?
For ordinary non controlled medicine, bring a reasonable personal supply, which advisory sources commonly put at roughly 30 to 60 days, in original packaging. Controlled drugs are capped much tighter: about a 3 day supply for many Category I psychotropics, and 7 days for sustained release forms, with documents.
What documents do I need to carry medication through customs?
Carry the medicine in its original packaging with your name on the label, plus your prescription. For any controlled drug you also need a medical diagnosis certificate from a medical institution and your passport, and you must declare it at customs. A translated copy of your prescription helps an officer read it quickly.
Can I mail my prescription medication to myself in China?
Do not mail controlled medicine into China. Posted controlled drugs are routinely seized, and the personal carry clearance does not extend to parcels. Ordinary medicine by post is also risky and often held, so carry what you need in your baggage rather than shipping it ahead.
Is codeine or a strong sleeping pill allowed into China?
Both are tightly controlled. Codeine and strong opioids are narcotic controlled and effectively barred without narcotic drug documentation. Prescription sleep and anxiety meds such as benzodiazepines are psychotropic restricted, cleared only in small supplies with a diagnosis certificate. Confirm your specific drug with the embassy first.
What happens if customs finds medication I did not declare?
For an ordinary personal-use prescription the usual outcome is questions and, at worst, having the excess held, so declaring in the Red Channel is safer than hoping to slip through. For a controlled or banned drug the stakes are serious, including confiscation and legal trouble, which is why you declare it and carry the prescription and diagnosis certificate.
