Costa RicaTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
North AmericaLast checked 20 Jul 2026Medium confidenceHow we rate a record
Costa Rica treats these medications differently. Of the 7 we track, 3 come in on paperwork with a supply cap, 1 has no published rule we could find and 3 need only your prescription.
Serious penalties: Costa Rica prohibits Schedule IV (1961) narcotics and fentanyl ampoules outright, allows up to one month's supply without authorisation, and requires all documents to be translated into Spanish. Courses over one month need a Ministry of Health authorisation applied for at least one month before travel.
By medication
Brand names first, generic in brackets. Each line resolves the drug class rule below, plus anything Costa Rica records specifically for that medication.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Not named: Unclear
Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is not named in Costa Rica's law (Ministry of Health national controlled substances list, September 2026, pages 1 to 27), so no rule for it is published. Ask the authority listed here before you travel.
- Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Restrictedmax 30 days' supply
Costa Rica permits ADHD stimulants for personal use with a valid prescription and the original prescription presented at customs, plus an ID, a recent medical report (under three months old) and, where applicable, a purchase receipt, all translated into Spanish. Up to one month's supply needs no authorisation; more than one month needs a Ministry of Health authorisation applied for at least one month before travel (Decreto 45161-S, art 57). Costa Rica's national list classes methylphenidate as a narcotic (estupefaciente), not a psychotropic; the traveller rule is the same either way, because article 57 treats narcotics and psychotropics alike.
- Dexedrine (dexamfetamine)Restrictedmax 30 days' supply
The same rule as Ritalin, Concerta above.
- Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Atomoxetine, guanfacine ER and viloxazine are not internationally scheduled; bring with prescription in original packaging. No specific Costa Rica ban found.
- Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Restrictedmax 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)
Prescription- Quantity
- 30 days. 1 month; courses over one month need prior assessment by the Narcotics Surveillance Board
- Permit
- Not required up to 30 days' supply. Above that, it is. No permit for up to one month, but a course over one month needs prior Board assessment. All documents must be translated into Spanish.
- Documents
- prescription, customs declaration, medical certificate
Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)
Restricted- Quantity
- 30 days. Up to one month's supply without authorisation. More than one month needs a Ministry of Health authorisation, applied for at least one month before travel (Decreto 45161-S, art 57).
- Permit
- Not required up to 30 days' supply. Above that, it is. Apply at least 30 days ahead. No authorisation is needed for up to one month's supply. More than one month needs a Ministry of Health authorisation, applied for at least one month before travel, with a copy of your ID, copies of the prescription, a medical report or case summary no more than three months old, and the purchase invoice if the medicine was bought abroad (Decreto 45161-S, art 57).
Not internationally controlled
PrescriptionAtomoxetine, guanfacine ER and viloxazine are not internationally scheduled; bring with prescription in original packaging. No specific Costa Rica ban found.
Responsible authority
Dirección de Drogas y Estupefacientes / Dirección de Regulación de Productos de Interés y Riesgo Sanitario, Ministry of Health
Email: ms.drogas@misalud.go.cr
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.
- Requisitos para los viajeros que están bajo tratamiento con sustancias sometidas a fiscalización internacionalGovernment, 2019-11-07
- Drug Control Regulation, Decreto 45161-S (2025), La Gaceta Alcance 114: travellers over one month's supply need Ministry authorisation a month ahead, art 57, page 328; import and transit, arts 45 to 54, pages 324 to 327Government, 2025-09-05
- Ministry of Health national controlled substances list (September 2026): amphetamine, dexamfetamine in List II, pages 17 to 18; methylphenidate controlled as a narcotic, page 27; lisdexamfetamine not listedGovernment, 2026-09-10
- INCB Travellers table: Costa RicaTreaty body, 2014-07-17
Your trip pack
A doctor's letter for Costa Rica, 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 Costa Rica embassy or consulate before travelling.