Travelling with personal medicines in Mexico (2026)

Last reviewed: 9 October 2026

In short: Importing narcotics and psychotropic substances requires authorisation from the Ministry of Health and may not be done by post. For personal use COFEPRIS issues an import permit on a prescription, a special barcoded one for narcotics.

RuleWhat applies
Ordinary medicines (not controlled)Visitor bringing personal medicines into the countryA medicine without Mexican sanitary registration that is imported for personal use needs an import permit from COFEPRIS. The applicant provides official identification and a valid prescription with the prescriber's professional licence number; the prescription is not needed for over-the-counter products. No fee applies to personal use. [1]
Document for narcotic and psychotropic medicinesVisitor bringing personal medicines into the countryImporting narcotics, psychotropic substances and products containing them requires authorisation from the Ministry of Health, may be done only through the airport customs offices the ministry designates, and may never be done by post. For personal use COFEPRIS issues an import permit on a prescription; for narcotics this must be a special prescription with a barcode and the doctor's professional licence number. [2]
Quantity limit for narcotic and psychotropic medicinesVisitor bringing personal medicines into the country⚠ Not yet verified
Maximum validity of a Schengen medicines certificateVisitor bringing personal medicines into the country⚠ Not yet verified

Notes

  • The COFEPRIS pages describe permits for imports for personal consumption. They do not say whether a traveller carrying a prescribed medicine in luggage is covered, and give no quantity limit. The General Health Law text read is the Orden Jurídico Nacional version, last reformed on 7 June 2024.

Sources

  1. Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios (COFEPRIS): Permiso sanitario de importación de materias primas o medicamentos que no sean o contengan estupefacientes o psicotrópicos, sin registro sanitario (COFEPRIS-01-010) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios (COFEPRIS): Permiso sanitario de importación, exportación y adquisición en plaza de estupefacientes, psicotrópicos y precursores químicos (COFEPRIS-03-023) (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.