ChileTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
South AmericaLast checked 20 Jul 2026High confidenceHow we rate a record
Chile treats these medications differently. Of the 7 we track, 1 has no published rule we could find and 6 need only your prescription.
By medication
Brand names first, generic in brackets. Each line resolves the drug class rule below, plus anything Chile records specifically for that medication.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Not named: Unclear
Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is not named in Chile's law (Decree 405/1983 on psychotropic products, Lists I to IV; Decree 404/1983 on narcotics, Lists I and II; Decree 867/2008, articles 1 and 2; Law 20.000), so no rule for it is published. Guidance, not law: a 2013 list from Chile's Institute of Public Health shows lisdexamfetamine dimesylate products registered as psychotropic medicines sold on a controlled 'cheque' prescription (page 3). Ask the authority listed here before you travel.
- Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Prescription
Chile asks travellers to carry a valid medical prescription and to show the original at customs. A medical certificate that states the condition, the medicines, the dose and the length of treatment is accepted in its place. Chile's medicines regulator (ISP) adds that the prescription must be dated within the last six months and signed by a doctor, should show the daily dose and length of treatment, and is ideally translated into Spanish. The amount you carry must match the prescribed dose and length of treatment; the ISP treats up to six months of treatment as reasonable. Keep the medicine in its original packaging. Chile told the INCB it has no prohibited substances for travellers. This is official guidance; Chile has no specific law on medicines in travellers' baggage.
- Dexedrine (dexamfetamine)Prescription
The same rule as Ritalin, Concerta above.
- Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Atomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not controlled substances. Chile's medicines regulator (ISP) asks all travellers to carry the prescription or a medical certificate that shows the daily dose and the length of treatment. The prescription must be dated within the last six months and signed by a doctor, and is ideally translated into Spanish. Bring an amount that matches your prescription; the ISP treats up to six months of treatment as reasonable. Keep the medicine in its original packaging. This is the regulator's guidance; Chile has no specific law on medicines in travellers' baggage.
- Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Prescription
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)
Prescription- Quantity
- Quantity must correspond to the prescribed dose and treatment duration
- Permit
- Not required. No permit for medicine carried in luggage; prescription/medical certificate (≤6 months, Spanish translation advised).
- Documents
- prescription, medical certificate
Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)
Prescription- Quantity
- Carry no more than your prescription or medical certificate covers. Chile's medicines regulator treats up to six months of treatment, counted from the date of the prescription, as reasonable personal use.
- Permit
- Not required. No Chilean authorisation. Chile asks for a valid medical prescription and the original prescription presented at customs. It does not ask for a certificate from its own health authorities.
- Documents
- prescription
Not internationally controlled
Prescription- Quantity
- Carry no more than your prescription or medical certificate covers. Chile's medicines regulator treats up to six months of treatment, counted from the date of the prescription, as reasonable personal use.
- Documents
- prescription
Responsible authority
Institute of Public Health of Chile (ISP), Narcotics and Psychotropics Section
Marathon 1000, Ñuñoa, Santiago; Tel: +56 2 258 9499; e-mail: vbartsch@ispch.cl, lvaldivia@ispch.cl, cbravog@ispch.cl
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.
- Guía para ingresar medicamentos a Chile en el equipajeGovernment, 2025-06-05
- Psychotropic Products Regulation, Decreto 405/1983 (LeyChile, current 2025): import by licensed establishments only, art 8; transit, art 15; amphetamine, dexamfetamine, methylphenidate in List IIGovernment, 2025-06-04
- Narcotics Regulation, Decreto 404/1983 (current LeyChile text, 2020): prohibited narcotics, art 5; import by licensed establishments only, art 8; transit, art 15; no ADHD medicines listedGovernment, 2020-11-19
- ISP list of medicines sold on a controlled 'receta cheque' prescription (October 2013): lisdexamfetamine and methylphenidate products classed as psychotropic, page 3Government, 2013-10-14
- Psychotropic Products Regulation, Decreto 405/1983 (ISP copy, to 2008): import by licensed establishments only, art 8, page 5; transit, art 15, page 7; ADHD stimulants in List II, page 18Government, 1984-02-20
- INCB Travellers table: ChileTreaty body, 2025-07-08
Your trip pack
A doctor's letter for Chile, filled in with your medications and your stops, ready to sign.
The rules above are free and stay free. The pack is the paperwork that goes with them: a checklist for each stop in travel order, a printable PDF, and the letter to take to your GP.
Build your trip packCommon questions
This 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 Chile embassy or consulate before travelling.