Can I bring my medicines?

You can bring your own prescribed medicines to Portugal for personal use, but UK prescriptions aren’t recognised there. Carry the right paperwork, bring enough to last until you have a Portuguese doctor, and check controlled medicines well before you fly.

What to carry when you fly

• Keep medicines in their original pharmacy packaging, with labels and leaflets, so officials can identify them
• Carry your prescription, or a copy, and a letter from your doctor naming you, each medicine, the dose and any devices such as needles. INFARMED advises having it in English or the language of the country
• List your medicines by their international generic name (in Portuguese, DCI): brand names differ between countries
• Pack essential medicines in your hand luggage, with some extra in the hold in case a bag is lost. Check airline rules on liquids
• Allow for delays when you work out how much to bring, and don’t leave medicines in a hot car

How much to bring

Bring what fits your prescription, enough to last until you are registered with a Portuguese family doctor. Portugal doesn’t publish a simple personal allowance that we could confirm, so if you plan to bring a large supply, or anything unusual, ask INFARMED or the Portuguese consulate before you travel. The FCDO warns that Portugal has strict rules on dispensing some medicines, including antibiotics.

Controlled medicines

Some medicines contain narcotic or psychotropic substances under international control. Ask your UK doctor or pharmacist whether any of yours are controlled, then check with INFARMED what Portugal needs before you fly. Amphetamine-based medicines can be illegal in some countries, so check every country you pass through too.

The UK has its own rules: you may need a Home Office export licence to take 3 months’ supply or more of some controlled drugs out of the UK. For smaller amounts, carry a letter from your prescriber.

Travelling on from Portugal: the Schengen certificate

Once you live in Portugal, Article 75 of the Schengen rules lets you carry prescribed controlled medicines to other Schengen countries if you show a certificate issued or authenticated by the authorities of your country of residence. It covers up to 30 days’ supply, with a separate certificate for each drug. Ask your Portuguese doctor or INFARMED how to get one. For trips to the UK, check the UK’s rules on bringing controlled drugs in.

Getting prescriptions in Portugal

UK prescriptions can’t be filled in Portugal. The simplest route is to register with the SNS as soon as you are resident and see a family doctor at your centro de saúde. Bring your UK records and your medicines list. A brand may have a different name, or may not be sold in Portugal, so your doctor may switch you to a local equivalent. Portuguese prescriptions are often electronic (receita eletrónica), and you pay part of the price at the pharmacy.

See How does Portuguese healthcare work for Brits?