KenyaTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents

Africa

Last checked 20 Jul 2026High confidenceHow we rate a record

Kenya 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.

ActionA doctor's certificate naming you, the medication, the dose and the length of treatment, covering no more than 30 days' supply

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By medication

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

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Not named: Unclear
Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is not named in Kenya's law (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, Cap. 245, First to Fourth Schedules, pages 39 to 54), so no rule for it is published. Ask the authority listed here before you travel.
Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Restrictedmax 30 days' supply
Kenya allows travellers to bring ADHD stimulants for personal use with a valid medical prescription. Carry the original prescription, not a copy, and present it at customs on arrival. The limit is a 30-day supply. We suggest keeping the medicine in its original labelled packaging.
Dexedrine (dexamfetamine)Restrictedmax 30 days' supply
The same rule as Ritalin, Concerta 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)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. 30 days' supply for narcotic (and psychotropic) classes
Permit: Not required. No permit for a 30-day personal supply carried with the required prescription; supplies above 30 days are not addressed by the table.
Documents: prescription, customs declaration

Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)

Restricted

Quantity: 30 days. 30 days for both narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
Permit: Not required. No Kenyan authorisation. A valid prescription and the original prescription presented at customs cover 30 days. No certificate from Kenyan health authorities is asked for.
Documents: prescription

Not internationally controlled

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.

Responsible authority

Pharmacy and Poisons Board

P.O. Box 27663-00506, Nairobi, Lenana Road; Tel: +254 709 770100, +254 722 261633; e-mail: admin@ppb.go.ke, info@ppb.go.ke, jkandie@ppb.go.ke

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 Kenya, 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 Kenya embassy or consulate before travelling.