IraqTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents

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Last checked 20 Jul 2026Low confidence: check with the embassyHow we rate a record

Iraq 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: Carrying a narcotic or psychotropic medicine into Iraq without fitting inside Article 18's personal-possession right can be charged under Article 32 (or 33, depending on which copy of the statute is consulted; the sources disagree on the number, not the content) as import for personal use, which is a criminal offence; a border officer who instead treats the same act as import 'with intent to trade' can charge it under Article 27, a far more serious criminal offence. No source states how the two are distinguished for someone carrying only their own prescribed supply.

We could not find strong recent official guidance for this country. Contact the embassy or consulate directly before you travel.

ActionA written answer from Iraq Ministry of Health (personal-import medicine permits); General Authority of Customs naming your medication, before you book

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By medication

Brand names first, generic in brackets. Each line resolves the drug class rule below, plus anything Iraq records specifically for that medication.

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Not named: Unclear
Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is not named in Iraq's law (Law 50 of 2017 on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, Tables 1 to 8, official gazette no. 4446 of 8 May 2017; Table 6 is on page 41), so no rule for it is published. Ask the authority listed here before you travel.
Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Unclear
Iraq regulates ADHD stimulants under the same Law 50/2017 as opioids, in the same articles, with the same possession right (Article 18) and the same unresolved tension against the personal-use import offence (Article 32/33) and the same institution-only import licence (Article 8/10). Carry the original prescription and packaging, and get a written answer from the Iraqi Ministry of Health or your nearest Iraqi embassy before you travel.
Dexedrine (dexamfetamine)Unclear
The same rule as Ritalin, Concerta above.
Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Atomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not internationally controlled; treat as ordinary prescription medicines, though a Ministry of Health permit may still apply to personal pharmaceutical imports. Carry prescription and original packaging.
Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Unclear
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)

Unclear

Quantity: Law 50/2017 Article 18 lets an individual possess their own narcotic medical treatment 'within the limits of the quantities the doctor prescribes': no fixed traveller allowance is published; the cap is whatever the prescription says.
Permit: Not published. No traveller permit, form or application process is published. Article 18 gives individuals a possession right for their own prescribed treatment without describing any permit; the only defined import licence structurally excludes a travelling individual. No source states whether Customs treats personal carriage as the 'import' that Article 32/33 makes an offence when done 'with intent of personal use', or as protected by Article 18. This tension is unresolved by any source found.
Documents: prescription
In force: Since 2017.

Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)

Unclear

Quantity: No traveller allowance is published. Iraq's Law 50 of 2017, article 18, lets individuals possess their own medical treatment containing narcotic or psychotropic substances, for health reasons only, within the quantities the doctor prescribes. Article 18 is about possession; it does not say you may bring the medicine into Iraq. The law defines 'the doctor' as a member of the Iraqi doctors' syndicate with an Iraqi or equivalent medical degree, so a prescription from a doctor outside Iraq may not meet it.
Permit: Not published. Same finding as narcotic.permit: no traveller permit process is published; the only defined licence structurally excludes an individual traveller; the interaction between Article 18's possession right and the Article 32/33 personal-use import offence is unresolved.
Documents: prescription
In force: Since 2017.

Not internationally controlled

Prescription

Atomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not internationally controlled; treat as ordinary prescription medicines, though a Ministry of Health permit may still apply to personal pharmaceutical imports. Carry prescription and original packaging.

Connecting through Iraq

Iraq's Law 50 of 2017 counts moving narcotic and psychotropic substances through Iraq in transit as export (article 1, sixth). Export needs a licence or approval from the Minister of Health (article 8), and customs at airports collect transit permits (article 12, second). No source says how this applies to a passenger who stays airside with their own prescribed medicine. Article 18 lets individuals possess their own prescribed medicine, but it does not mention transit. The law does not cover atomoxetine, guanfacine or viloxazine.

Responsible authority

Iraq Ministry of Health (personal-import medicine permits); General Authority of Customs

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.

Your trip pack

A doctor's letter for Iraq, filled in with your medications and your stops, ready to sign.

A$59

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 pack

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 Iraq embassy or consulate before travelling.