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Bringing medicines to Australia

Australia controls medicines tightly at the border. Bring a limited supply with the right paperwork, then move your prescriptions to an Australian doctor.

Last checked 2 Oct 2026·Information, not advice

In 30 seconds

  • Plan to bring no more than 3 months’ supply, in the original packaging, with a prescription or doctor’s letter
  • Declare medicines when you arrive. Controlled medicines and vapes have extra rules
  • Book an Australian GP early: you need a local prescription for refills and to post more in
Supply to bring3 monthsUnder the traveller’s exemption
Mail imports15 monthsMost in any 12 months, 3 months at a time
PBS prescriptionUp to A$25General patients, once on Medicare

What to carry when you fly

  • Keep medicines in their original pharmacy packaging, with labels intact
  • Carry a copy of your prescription and a letter from your GP listing each medicine by its generic (non-brand) name, the dose and the amount
  • Carry what you need for the flight, plus some extra for delays, in your hand luggage. The TGA suggests putting the rest in your checked bag
  • Bring no more than 3 months’ supply, only for yourself or an immediate family member travelling with you

This is the “traveller’s exemption” run by the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia’s medicines regulator). It covers common medicines such as those for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, antibiotics and the contraceptive pill. Some medicines need a permit or can’t be brought in at all, so check yours before you pack.

Declare it at the border

Australia has strict rules on what you can bring in. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or taxed on your Incoming Passenger Card, and you can be fined heavily for breaking the rules. If in doubt, declare it.

Controlled medicines

Some medicines are “controlled” because they can be misused, and the rules can differ between the UK and Australia. For these:

  • Your UK letter should give your name, travel dates, each medicine with the amount, dose and strength, and your prescriber’s signature
  • Ask your UK doctor or pharmacist whether any of your medicines contain a controlled drug
  • Australia may need a permit for some controlled medicines. Check with the Office of Drug Control and the Australian Border Force before you travel

Posting more medicine later

Under the TGA’s Personal Importation Scheme you can have medicine posted to you from overseas, for you or your immediate family. The rules:

  • No more than 3 months’ supply at a time at the maximum dose, and no more than 15 months’ supply in any 12 months
  • If the medicine is prescription-only in Australia, you need a valid Australian prescription when it arrives. An electronic prescription (eScript) isn’t accepted for this
  • It must not contain a controlled substance, and vapes aren’t allowed
  • It must be in its original, labelled packaging

Getting prescriptions in Australia

The simplest route is to see an Australian GP soon after you arrive and get local prescriptions. Bring your UK records and medicine list. A medicine’s legal status can differ outside the UK, so your GP may need to switch you to a local equivalent.

Your coverWhat you pay for prescriptions
On MedicarePBS medicines cost up to A$25 a script (A$7.70 with a concession card). After A$1,748.20 in a calendar year, they drop to A$7.70
On a temporary visa without MedicareFull private price, unless your health insurance helps

See Healthcare and Medicare.

What to do next

  1. Ask your GP for a letter listing your medicines by generic name
  2. Check each medicine on the TGA website, especially controlled ones
  3. Book an Australian GP within your first weeks
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