Travelling into and out of Canada with medications that contain controlled substances or Class A precursors
On this page
- Before you travel in or out of Canada
- Travelling into or out of Canada with a controlled substance
- Travelling into or out of Canada with a Class A precursor
- Considerations when travelling to a foreign country with a controlled substance or a Class A precursor
- Contact us
- Related Links
Before you travel in or out of Canada
Find out if your medication contains a controlled substance or a Class A precursor by:
- asking your pharmacist, doctor or other medical professional
- for controlled substances, searching the Schedules to the Controlled Drugs Regulations
- for Class A precursors, searching the Schedule to the Precursor Control Regulations
- confirming the product name in the Drug Product Database
Some commonly prescribed controlled substances include:
- amphetamines
- anabolic steroids (such as testosterone)
- clonazepam
- lorazepam
- methadone
- methylphenidate
- morphine
- oxycodone
- pentobarbital
Health products that contain Class A precursors can include:
- ephedra
- ephedrine
- potassium permanganate
- pseudoephedrine
Travelling into or out of Canada with a controlled substance
If you want to travel to Canada with a medication that contains a controlled substance, you must meet certain requirements under the Controlled Substances Regulations.
Summary of requirements
You can bring up to a 90-day supply of a controlled substance, based on the usual daily dose.
The medication must be prescribed by a practitioner, such as a:
- doctor
- dentist
- nurse practitioner
The medication must be in a container obtained from a health care provider, and it must carry a label.
The label must include the:
- name of the patient;
- name of the practitioner who prescribed the medication;
- name or brand name of the medication;
- daily dose;
- form, quantity, and the strength of the medication; and
- drug identification number, if any.
The medication must be for you or for a person you are responsible for who is travelling with you. It can be for an animal that is travelling with you. You cannot send products containing a controlled substance into Canada by mail.
You must declare the medication to customs when you arrive in Canada. You can choose to bring additional documents, such as a doctor's note, but this is not required.
The requirements are the same if you are entering or leaving Canada.
If your stay in Canada is longer than 90 days, please contact the Exemptions Section (exemption@hc-sc.gc.ca). Provide only a brief description of what you are seeking to do, without including detailed personal or medical information. If further information or an exemption is needed, instructions and the appropriate form will be provided.
Travelling into or out of Canada with a Class A precursor
If you want to travel into or out of Canada with a medication that contains a Class A precursor (precursor), you must meet certain requirements under the Precursor Control Regulations.
You may enter Canada with a Class A precursor preparation or mixture that is in your possession, to treat a medical condition, if it is for:
- you;
- a person you are responsible for who is travelling with you; or
- an animal you are responsible for who is travelling with you.
The requirements are the same if you are entering or leaving Canada.
There are additional requirements if you are travelling with medications that contain ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or ephedra, listed below.
Precursor products containing ephedra, ephedrine or pseudoephedrine
Ephedra, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are often found in cold or sinus medications or natural health products.
These products must also be:
- packaged;
- labelled as a consumer product; and
- must not exceed the following amounts of precursor:
| Precursor | Maximum amount allowed |
|---|---|
| Ephedra | 20 g |
| Ephedrine | 0.4 g |
| Pseudoephedrine | 3 g |
Considerations when travelling to a foreign country with a controlled substance or a Class A precursor
Some drugs that are legal in Canada may be illegal in other countries you plan to visit. Before you leave Canada, contact the foreign representatives in Canada of the country you plan to visit. They can tell you if your medication is legal in that country. They can also give you any travel requirements you must follow.
Foreign representatives in Canada
Contact us
Email the National Compliance Section with your questions about travelling into and out of Canada with medications containing controlled substances or Class A precursors.
Email: compliance-conformite@hc-sc.gc.ca
Email the Exemptions Section if you have any questions about exemption requests:
Email: exemption@hc-sc.gc.ca
Email the Health Products Border Compliance Program for information about travelling with medications that do not contain controlled substances or Class A precursors.
Email: healthproduct-import-produitsante@hc-sc.gc.ca