KazakhstanTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
Asia (Central Asia)Last checked 20 Jul 2026High confidenceHow we rate a record
Every medication we track can come into Kazakhstan on your prescription, up to 10 days' supply, carried in original packaging.
Serious penalties: Kazakhstan treats undeclared or excess controlled medicines as illegal trafficking/possession; personal medical import is permitted only with the prescribed supporting document. Declare controlled medicines and carry the supporting documentation.
By medication
Brand names first, generic in brackets. Each line resolves the drug class rule below, plus anything Kazakhstan records specifically for that medication.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Prescriptionmax 10 days' supply
Kazakhstan permits all three ADHD stimulant classes with a prescription, subject to a short 5-10 day supply cap.
- Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Prescriptionmax 10 days' supply
The same rule as Vyvanse above.
- Dexamphetamine (dexamfetamine)Prescriptionmax 10 days' supply
The same rule as Vyvanse above.
- Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Atomoxetine (Strattera), guanfacine ER (Intuniv) and viloxazine (Qelbree) are not internationally scheduled under the 1971 Convention, so they fall outside the INCB controlled-substance travel rules. Carry them with a normal prescription in original packaging; no import permit is required unless a specific national exception applies.
- Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Prescriptionmax 10 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
- 10 days. 5–10 day course of treatment for both classes; maximum terms set administratively by the health authority
- Permit
- Not required. No separate individual import licence; personal import is allowed with a supporting document whose form is set by the health authority (national law, Art. 12(4)).
- Documents
- prescription, home authority certificate, medical certificate, customs declaration
Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)
Prescription- Quantity
- 10 days. 5-10 day course for all three classes (dated 2013 INCB submission; reverify before travel).
- Permit
- Not required. No Kazakh authorisation. A valid prescription is the document asked for. The allowance is a 5 to 10 day course of treatment, which is short, so check it against the length of your trip.
Not internationally controlled
PrescriptionAtomoxetine (Strattera), guanfacine ER (Intuniv) and viloxazine (Qelbree) are not internationally scheduled under the 1971 Convention, so they fall outside the INCB controlled-substance travel rules. Carry them with a normal prescription in original packaging; no import permit is required unless a specific national exception applies.
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
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Dom Ministerstv, entrance 5, Ul. Orynbor 8, Levy Bereg, Astana; Tel: +7 (7172) 74-32-43; Fax: +7 (7172) 74-32-40; e-mail: minzdrav@mz.gov.kz
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 Kazakhstan, 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 Kazakhstan embassy or consulate before travelling.