ColombiaTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
South AmericaLast checked 20 Jul 2026Medium confidenceHow we rate a record
Colombia treats these medications differently. Of the 7 we track, 4 come in on paperwork with a supply cap and 3 need only your prescription.
By medication
Brand names first, generic in brackets. Each line resolves the drug class rule below, plus anything Colombia records specifically for that medication.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Restrictedmax 30 days' supply
Colombia allows travellers to bring ADHD stimulants (psychotropic substances) for personal use with a valid medical prescription presented at customs, in a maximum quantity sufficient for a 30-day treatment (Resolution No. 1478 of 2006, Art. 83). On the traveller's request, the competent authority can issue a certification/endorsement of the prescription if the destination country requires it.
- Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Restrictedmax 30 days' supply
The same rule as Vyvanse above.
- Dexamphetamine (dexamfetamine)Restrictedmax 30 days' supply
The same rule as Vyvanse above.
- Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Atomoxetine, guanfacine ER and viloxazine are not internationally scheduled; bring with prescription in original packaging. No specific Colombia ban found.
- Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Restrictedmax 30 days' supply
The same rule as Vyvanse 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
- 30 days. Enough for a standard 30-day treatment (Resolution 1478 of 2006)
- Permit
- Not required. No routine pre-authorization; the FNE may issue a certification/endorsement at the traveller's request when the destination country requires it.
- Documents
- prescription, home authority certificate, medical certificate, customs declaration
Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)
Restricted- Quantity
- 30 days. Enough for a standard treatment of 30 days
- Permit
- Not required. No Colombian authorisation. A valid prescription, with the original presented at customs, covering enough for a standard 30-day treatment. No certificate from Colombian health authorities is asked for. The governing instrument is Resolution 1478 of 2006.
Not internationally controlled
PrescriptionAtomoxetine, guanfacine ER and viloxazine are not internationally scheduled; bring with prescription in original packaging. No specific Colombia ban found.
If a country asks for a certificate from your own health authority
Australia does not issue export certificates for personal medication. There is no Australian office that endorses a traveller's certificate the way a Schengen country's health authority endorses an Article 75 certificate. The Office of Drug Control licenses commercial exporters, and the TGA regulates products rather than certifying individual travellers, so neither will stamp your paperwork.
What to do instead: ask your prescriber for a signed letter on practice letterhead giving your name and passport number, each medicine by generic and brand name, strength, daily dose, total quantity and the dates it covers, plus the prescriber's registration number and contact details. Have it dated close to departure, and carry the original dispensing labels.
Then contact the destination's authority in writing before you book, say plainly that Australia does not issue the certificate they ask for, and ask what they will accept in its place. Keep the reply. A written answer from the authority is the strongest document you can carry, and it is the only thing that closes this gap.
Responsible authority
Fondo Nacional de Estupefacientes, Ministerio de Salud y Proteccion Social (contact: Andres Lopez Velasco)
Address: Av. Caracas No.1-85 Sur, Bogota D.C., Colombia; Tel: (57 1) 3331088 Ext. 109; email: anlopez@minsalud.gov.co
Sources
The source 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.
Your trip pack
A doctor's letter for Colombia, 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 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 Colombia embassy or consulate before travelling.