BelizeTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
North AmericaLast checked 20 Jul 2026Medium confidenceHow we rate a record
Belize treats these medications differently. Of the 7 we track, 3 need approval before you arrive, 1 has no published rule we could find and 3 need only your prescription.
Serious penalties: Entry requires a certificate issued by the Belize health authorities in addition to the prescription. A pre-arrival step travellers rarely hold. Supply is capped at 30 days.
By medication
Brand names first, generic in brackets. Each line resolves the drug class rule below, plus anything Belize records specifically for that medication.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Not named: Unclear
Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is not named in Belize's law (Misuse of Drugs Regulations, Cap. 103, Schedules I to V, pages 57 to 72), so no rule for it is published. Ask the authority listed here before you travel.
- Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Permit requiredmax 30 days' supply
Belize's Misuse of Drugs Act prohibits bringing in any controlled drug without a licence (section 5, page 16), and its Regulations lift that only for Schedule IV and V drugs (regulation 4(1), page 11). Amfetamine, dexamfetamine and methylphenidate are in Schedule II, so the requirement applies to a traveller's own medicine. Belize Customs lets medicinal dangerous drugs in only under an Import Authorization from the Director of Health Services (Customs Regulation (Prohibited and Restricted Goods) Order, Schedule, Part II, inward goods item 13). No procedure for a traveller is published. Email the Director of Health Services at dhs@health.gov.bz before you fly and ask for the authorisation; if that bounces, try informationofficer@health.gov.bz or phone +501 822 2325. Belize's 2014 entry in the INCB travellers table asks for a valid prescription, a certificate issued by the Belize health authorities, and the original prescription shown at customs on arrival, and limits supply to 30 days. Those details come only from that 2014 entry, and the health ministry website gives contact details only, so confirm them when you write.
- Dexedrine (dexamfetamine)Permit requiredmax 30 days' supply
The same rule as Ritalin, Concerta above.
- Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Atomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not internationally scheduled; carry with a normal prescription in original packaging.
- Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Permit requiredmax 30 days' supply
The same rule as Ritalin, Concerta above.
- Intuniv (guanfacine)Prescription
The same rule as Strattera above.
- Qelbree (viloxazine)Prescription
The same rule as Strattera above.
Rules by drug class
Narcotic (opioids)
Permit required- Quantity
- 30 days. 30 days' supply for both classes
- Permit
- Required. A certificate issued by the Belize health authorities is required alongside the prescription; no application form or lead time is published.
- Documents
- prescription, medical certificate, customs declaration
Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)
Permit required- Quantity
- 30 days. Thirty days' supply, from a 2014 source.
- Permit
- Required.
- Documents
- prescription, medical certificate, customs declaration
Not internationally controlled
PrescriptionAtomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not internationally scheduled; carry with a normal prescription in original packaging.
Connecting through Belize
Belize's Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Part VIII, regulation 31, pages 48 to 50) let a controlled drug be brought to Belize in transit only if it is moving from a country that may lawfully export it to one that may lawfully import it. An export authorisation is needed only where the drug comes from a country that is not a party to the drug conventions. A drug landed or transhipped in Belize stays under Customs control and may be moved only under a removal licence from the Director of Health Services (regulation 32). These rules are written for cargo and say nothing about a passenger's own medicine, so whether they apply on an airside connection is unclear.
Responsible authority
Director of Health Services
Director of Health Services, East Block Building, Belmopan; Tel +501 822 0809; dhs@health.gov.bz. Ministry switchboard +501 822 2325.
Sources
The sources behind everything above, so you can check it yourself rather than take our word for it. Always confirm the current rule with the source before you travel.
- Misuse of Drugs Regulations, Cap. 103 (2020): import authorisation, reg 28, page 44; ADHD stimulants in Schedule II, page 65; benzodiazepines in Schedule IV, page 69Government, 2020-12-31
- Misuse of Drugs Act, Cap. 103 (Revised Edition 2020): importing a controlled drug prohibited unless excepted by regulations or licensed, s 5, page 16Government, 2020
- Customs Regulation (Prohibited and Restricted Goods) Order, CAP. 49 scheduleGovernment
- Ministry of Health and Wellness Belize: contact detailsGovernment
- INCB Travellers table: BelizeTreaty body, 2014-06-18
Your trip pack
Belize needs a permit before you fly. The pack works out your apply-by date from your travel date.
We have not found an application form or portal for travellers here, so the pack gives you Director of Health Services to contact, what to put in the request, and how long to allow. Plus a doctor's letter pre-filled with your medications and every stop, and a checklist in travel order.
Build your trip packThis page organises publicly available government information and links. It is not legal or medical advice. Rules change and enforcement varies, so always confirm with the official sources above or the Belize embassy or consulate before travelling.