GuatemalaTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
North AmericaLast checked 20 Jul 2026Low confidence: check with the embassyHow we rate a record
Guatemala treats these medications differently. Of the 7 we track, 4 have no published rule we could find and 3 need only your prescription.
Serious penalties: Guatemala publishes no traveller personal-carry permit or quantity allowance for opioids or ADHD stimulants anywhere; DRCPFA's entire controlled-substances programme is written for companies, establishments and prescribers, so a traveller has no official rule to point to if their medication is questioned at the border.
We could not find strong recent official guidance for this country. Contact the embassy or consulate directly before you travel.
By medication
Brand names first, generic in brackets. Each line resolves the drug class rule below, plus anything Guatemala records specifically for that medication.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Unclear
Guatemala publishes no traveller-facing rule for carrying ADHD stimulants. Methylphenidate is nationally controlled for domestic prescribing purposes, but that says nothing about a traveller bringing medication prescribed abroad. Carry the prescription, a doctor's letter, and original packaging, and contact DRCPFA or a Guatemalan consulate before travel.
- Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Unclear
The same rule as Vyvanse above.
- Dexamphetamine (dexamfetamine)Unclear
The same rule as Vyvanse above.
- Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Atomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not internationally controlled; treat as ordinary prescription medicines (up to ~3-month personal supply). Carry prescription and original packaging.
- Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Unclear
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)
Unclear- Quantity
- No Guatemalan authority publishes a traveller quantity cap for opioids. SAT's general customs-baggage rule allows medicines in 'cantidades acordes con las circunstancias y necesidades del viajero' but does not name controlled substances or resolve DRCPFA's separate regime.
- Permit
- Not published. DRCPFA's published controlled-substances procedures cover only commercial import/export certificates (F-SI-f-06, F-SI-f-07, F-SI-r-01, filed by a company's Director Técnico or Representante Legal), prescriber authorisation to write narcotic prescriptions (F-SI-f-10, F-SI-f-12), and establishment/pharmacy/practitioner licensing to handle or purchase estupefacientes (F-SI-f-11, F-SI-c-01, F-SI-f-13). None address a traveller carrying their own foreign-prescribed opioid.
Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)
Unclear- Quantity
- No Guatemalan authority publishes a traveller quantity cap for ADHD stimulants.
- Permit
- Not published. Only methylphenidate is named in a Guatemalan controlled-substances source, via a prescriber-facing prescription-authorisation form (F-SI-f-14, Normativa 30-2003). Dexamfetamine, mixed amphetamine salts and lisdexamfetamine appear in no published Guatemalan source. No page addresses a traveller carrying their own foreign-prescribed stimulant.
Not internationally controlled
PrescriptionAtomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not internationally controlled; treat as ordinary prescription medicines (up to ~3-month personal supply). Carry prescription and original packaging.
Responsible authority
Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social (MSPAS); SAT (customs)
Via Guatemalan embassy/consulate for controlled-substance authorisation
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 Guatemala, 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 Guatemala embassy or consulate before travelling.