Doctor’s letter for travelling with medication
Written confirmation that the prescription medicines in your luggage are yours — for airport security, customs and border control.
The short answer. A travel medication letter confirms that the medicines you are carrying were prescribed for you, what they are and what they treat. It is what airport security and border officials ask for when you carry prescription medication, injectables or liquids above the usual cabin limit — and it is close to essential for controlled drugs.
When you need one
- You carry prescription medication in your hand luggage, especially liquids, injectables, needles or an EpiPen
- Your medication is a controlled drug — strong painkillers, ADHD medication, some sedatives
- You are travelling somewhere with strict import rules on medicines
- You carry more than a short course, or medicines that must stay refrigerated
- You need medication with you in the cabin because you may need it during the flight
What the letter contains
Your name and date of birth, each medicine by generic name with its dose and quantity, the condition being treated, confirmation that the medication was prescribed for you and is needed during travel, the travel dates, and the doctor’s name, GMC number, signature and date.
Rules differ sharply by country and some medicines that are unremarkable in the UK are banned elsewhere. Check the destination country’s embassy before you travel, and see our guide to taking medication abroad for the country-by-country position.
Common questions
Do I need a doctor's letter to take medication abroad?
Not always, but it is strongly advisable if you carry prescription medicines, particularly controlled drugs, injectable medication, or anything you need in your hand luggage. Some countries require documentation and a few ban medicines that are routine in the UK.
What should the letter say?
Your name, the medicines you are carrying with their generic names and doses, the condition they treat, confirmation that they were prescribed for you, and the doctor’s details and signature. Generic names matter — brand names differ between countries and mean little to a border officer.
What about controlled drugs?
Stronger painkillers, ADHD medication, some sedatives and similar are controlled drugs, and the rules are stricter. If you are travelling for three months or more, or carrying quantities above the personal limits, you may need a Home Office licence in addition to a doctor’s letter. Check the destination country’s embassy too — some prohibit medicines that are entirely legal here.
Can I keep medication in my hand luggage?
Yes, and for essential medication you should. Airport security allows medicines in the cabin, including liquids above the usual limit, when they are accompanied by supporting documentation such as a prescription or doctor’s letter. Keep them in the original labelled packaging.
Related
Get a travel medication letter
List the medicines you are carrying and where you are travelling. A GMC-registered GP issues the letter the same day on weekdays.
Get startedReviewed by a GMC-registered GP. Full refund if a certificate cannot be issued on clinical grounds.