Many medicines and medical devices can be brought with you into Australia if they are for your personal use. Some require a permit or prescription, and others cannot be brought with you at all.
Your medicine or device may be covered by the traveller’s exemption, or you may belong in a special category.
It is against the law to bring medicines and medical devices into Australia to give to someone else.
Traveller's exemption
The traveller's exemption allows you to bring certain medicines and medical devices into Australia for your personal use, or use by an immediate family member travelling with you, without needing special permission.
This includes:
- medicines that lower blood cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and/or gastric acid
- contraception medicines (birth control pill)
- antibiotics
- blood glucose monitoring devices
- medications to aid sleep (sedatives).
Case Study – Travelling safely with medicines
Dante has diabetes and needs to have insulin with him at all times. When he travelled to Australia, he made sure the product was in its original packaging, and he had his prescription and a letter from his doctor with him. Because it was a long-haul flight and he needed to keep his medicine cool, Dante kept the insulin in a small cooler that he brought onboard with him.
Some requirements that need to be followed for the traveller’s exemption
- Do not bring medicines or medical devices into Australia for anyone other than yourself or an immediate family member travelling with you (such as a child travelling with a parent)
- Do not sell or supply the product to another person
- Keep the product in its original packaging with dispensing labels (if possible) so they can be easily identified
- For prescription medicines, carry the prescription or letter from your doctor that outlines what you are taking and how much you are bringing
- Do not bring in more than a 3-month supply
- Take any remaining medicines or devices with you when you leave Australia
- Comply with requests and directions from customs officers.
Case study – Travelling to Australia for more than 3 months
Matthew is travelling to Australia for 4.5 months and he takes a prescription antihistamine regularly. Prior to travelling, he looked at the TGA website and noted that he was only allowed to bring a 3-month supply at the time of entering the country.
He also discovered that once he is in Australia, he can use the Personal Importation Scheme to receive more of his medication, when required, to cover the rest of his visit. Matthew therefore arranged for his mother to ship his medication to him before his initial 3-month supply runs out.
For more information about bringing certain medicines into Australia, including prohibited substances, visit the Australian Border Force and Office of Drug Control websites.
You can travel with medicinal cannabis under the traveller’s exemption. Further information can be found at Medicinal cannabis: importation and the traveller's exemption.
A traveller’s exemption applies to persons bringing vapes into Australia by ship or aircraft with stricter quantity limits. Further information can be found at Vapes: information for patients.
Special categories
Herbal and traditional medicine products
To bring any herbal and traditional medicines with you, check they are allowed under Australian law. Keep these medicines in their original packaging so the Australian Border Force can identify what the substances are and can determine if the products are subject to any import restrictions.
If they contain ingredients from endangered plants, they are subject to import controls and require a permit. This includes Hoodia and weight loss products derived from Hoodia. Find out more at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water website.
Biological materials
Any medicine or medical device that contains a biological – which is material taken from living cells and tissues – is subject to quarantine procedures and must be declared at the border. Learn more at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website
Sports teams and athletes
Visiting sports teams and athletes must comply with special rules when visiting Australia to participate in national or international sporting events. Organisers should follow these general rules
- Prepare a list of medicines and medical devices participants are bringing with them. This list must be in English and include the medicines and their strengths
- Maintain a record of the medicines and their use while the team is in Australia. This list must be produced if requested by an Australian Border Force officer
- Check the list of substances that are subject to import controls. Some additional restrictions exist for substances that athletes can import
- Medicines brought by the team must not be given or sold to anyone who is not an official athlete or member of the sports team
- Medicines and medical devices brought by the team must not be used by anyone who is not an official athlete or member of the sports team
- Any unused medicines or devices must be dropped off to a local pharmacy for destruction or taken with you when you leave Australia
- An official member of the visiting team must be responsible for any medicines and medical devices and how they are used.
For further guidance for travelling as part of a sporting team, visit the Office of Drug Control website.