IraqTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
AsiaLast 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, carrying 1-3 years' imprisonment and a fine of at least IQD 5,000,000 (the available copy of the statute writes the ceiling as the numeral 1,000,000 against the words 'ten million dinars', so the maximum is not stated reliably); a border officer who instead treats the same act as import 'with intent to trade' can charge it under Article 27, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. No source states how the two are distinguished for someone carrying only their own prescribed supply, or corrects the earlier draft of this record, which misattributed the death-penalty provision to Article 28 (
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 Iraq records specifically for that medication.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)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.
- 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, 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 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
- 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
- Same Article 18 possession right and the same limit — 'the quantities the doctor prescribes' — applies to psychotropic substances as to narcotics under Law 50/2017; no fixed traveller allowance is published.
- 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
PrescriptionAtomoxetine, 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.
Responsible authority
Iraq Ministry of Health (personal-import medicine permits); General Authority of Customs
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 Iraq, 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 Iraq embassy or consulate before travelling.