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Travelling with prescribed narcotics: Schengen and beyond
The Schengen certificate, the 30-day limit and what to check before travelling outside the Schengen area.
Taking a prescribed narcotic abroad is possible, but the rules depend on where you are going. Here is what applies to medication with controlled substances, which includes medical cannabis with 1 percent THC or more.
Within Switzerland
Inside Switzerland you carry your medication with you. Keep it in the original pharmacy packaging and carry the prescription or the pharmacy label as proof.
Schengen countries: the Schengen certificate
Article 75 of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement allows travellers to carry narcotics needed for their treatment if they can show a certificate in a check. Switzerland implements this in Article 42 of the Narcotics Control Ordinance (BetmKV):
- You may take up to 30 days' supply without an export permit, provided the destination country allows it.
- For Schengen countries you are entitled to a certificate from your treating physician.
- The certificate is authenticated by the pharmacy that dispenses the medication on the prescription. The pharmacy sends a copy to the cantonal authority.
- The certificate is valid for 30 days at most, and you need one certificate per medicine. It may cover several trips within that period.
- The official form is provided by Swissmedic.
Whether import is permitted is ultimately decided by the destination country.
Outside the Schengen area
For all other countries there is no uniform certificate. Swissmedic recommends asking the consulate of the destination country before you travel. Some countries require a medical certificate, others a permit from their own authority in advance, and some do not allow medical cannabis at all. Swissmedic provides a non-official certificate template based on United Nations guidelines, but it issues no export permit for personal medication.
Two rules apply everywhere:
- Narcotics may not be sent abroad by post. Take what you need with you.
- Many countries apply a maximum of about 30 days' supply.
Coming to Switzerland
Travellers entering Switzerland may bring up to 30 days' supply without an import permit; travellers from Schengen countries need the Schengen certificate (Art. 41 BetmKV). For a longer stay, the medicine has to be prescribed by a physician licensed in Switzerland. Our page for visitors to Switzerland explains how that works.
In our practice
Where medically indicated, our physician issues the Schengen certificate. It costs CHF 50 per destination country. Please tell us your travel date at least two weeks before departure, so there is time for the pharmacy to authenticate it.
This article is general information and not legal advice. We do not advise on foreign law.
