Always carry medication in your hand luggage — the hold is cold and a suitcase can be lost. Take enough for the whole trip plus a few extra days, along with documents proving the medicines are yours.
Carry medication in your hand luggage, in its original packaging, with a prescription or a medical statement. Insulin, needles and syringes are allowed with a doctor’s note. Liquid medicines may be carried over 100 ml as a medical exception — just present them separately at security. For the UAE, strong drugs require a prescription and sometimes a permit — some are banned outright.
01 / Basic rulesHow to pack your medication
The main principle — keep everything essential with you and be able to prove it’s medication, not an unidentified substance. That removes 90% of questions at security and the border.
- Hand luggage. All vital medicines go into the cabin, not the hold.
- Original packaging. Keep pills in the factory blister with the name; don’t decant into a pill box without the carton.
- Prescription or statement. Ideally with the international (Latin) name of the active substance.
- Doctor’s letter in English. For injectables, strong drugs and liquid medicines — practically required.
02 / InsulinInsulin, needles and cooling
Insulin, insulin pumps, needles, syringes and lancets are allowed in carry-on with a doctor’s note confirming the diagnosis and the need for therapy. Take more than you think you need — allow for a possible flight delay.
03 / Controlled drugsPrescription and psychotropic drugs
Strong, narcotic and psychotropic drugs — for example those containing codeine or tramadol, plus a range of antidepressants and sleeping pills — require a prescription and sometimes a separate permit from the country of entry. Quantity limits vary between countries, so check the rules of each specific state.
- Prescription required — in the passenger’s name, with the substance name and dosage.
- Country permit — some states require an import certificate for controlled drugs.
- A reasonable quantity — only enough for the trip; large stocks raise questions.
04 / The UAEEspecially strict UAE rules
The UAE is one of the strictest destinations for medication. Some drugs that are routine in Russia are controlled or banned there, and importing them without documents is treated harshly. Prepare in advance.
05 / PreparationWhat to do before departure
Pack your medicine kit into carry-on
Put all medicines in their original packaging into one transparent bag — easy to show at security without unpacking the whole bag.
Bring the prescription and doctor’s letter
The English letter should state the diagnosis, the drugs by their international names and the need to take them during travel. Keep a paper and a digital copy.
Check the entry country’s rules
For the UAE and other strict destinations, check the status of each drug and obtain a permit in advance if needed.
Declare at security
Take out liquid medicines, insulin and needles in advance and tell the officer these are medical items — they’ll be screened separately.
06 / FAQFrequently asked
Do I need to translate the prescription into English?
For most destinations an English doctor’s letter with the international substance names is advisable. For strict countries like the UAE a translation is practically mandatory.
Can I carry pills in a daily pill organiser?
Security usually allows it, but at strict borders it’s safer to keep pills in the labelled factory pack and use the organiser only for a single day’s dose.
What if the flight is delayed and I run out of medicine?
That’s exactly why you take a few extra days’ supply, always in carry-on. If it becomes critical, contact our concierge and we’ll help source the medicine locally.
Are needles and syringes allowed through?
Yes, with a doctor’s note and the matching medication (for example insulin). Without medical justification sharp items may be confiscated.