Korea NorthTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
AsiaLast checked 20 Jul 2026Low confidence: check with the embassyHow we rate a record
We could not find a published rule for these medications in Korea North, and we would rather say so than infer one.
Serious penalties: No DPRK source states what happens to a traveller found with undeclared or unusual medication. The UK FCDO states in general terms that offences trivial elsewhere can carry very severe penalties in North Korea, and that foreign nationals have previously been detained for alleged legal violations without confirmed access to consular support. No specific drug or medicine penalty is published anywhere reached in this research; treat the absence of a permissive rule as a real risk, not a gap to assume away.
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 Korea North records specifically for that medication.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Unclear
We could not confirm whether Korea North's law names lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse): the list is set by a Cabinet decision that is not published. No rule for it is published. Ask the authority listed here before you travel.
- Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Unclear
No DPRK government source addressing a traveller's personal ADHD-stimulant supply could be reached. DPRK acceded to the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances in 2007, so stimulants fall within a scheduling framework the country is bound by, but no traveller-facing rule has been published anywhere this research could reach. Confirm directly with the DPRK mission or tour sponsor before travel and do not assume leniency.
- Dexedrine (dexamfetamine)Unclear
The same rule as Ritalin, Concerta above.
- Strattera (atomoxetine)Unclear
Atomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not internationally controlled, but North Korea has published no rule we could find on bringing in any prescription medicine, and its entry in the INCB travellers' list reads "Information not yet provided by country". Do not assume it is allowed. Ask your authorised tour operator or a North Korean embassy before you travel. We suggest carrying your prescription and a letter from your doctor.
- Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Unclear
The same rule as Ritalin, Concerta above.
- Intuniv (guanfacine)Unclear
The same rule as Strattera above.
- Qelbree (viloxazine)Unclear
The same rule as Strattera above.
Rules by drug class
Narcotic (opioids)
Unclear- Quantity
- No DPRK authority or INCB submission publishes any personal-supply quantity for opioids.
- Permit
- Not published. No DPRK authority publishes whether a permit is required or how to obtain one.
Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)
Unclear- Quantity
- No DPRK authority or INCB submission publishes any personal-supply quantity for ADHD stimulants.
- Permit
- Not published. No DPRK authority publishes whether a permit is required or how to obtain one.
Not internationally controlled
UnclearAtomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not internationally controlled, but North Korea has published no rule we could find on bringing in any prescription medicine, and its entry in the INCB travellers' list reads "Information not yet provided by country". Do not assume it is allowed. Ask your authorised tour operator or a North Korean embassy before you travel. We suggest carrying your prescription and a letter from your doctor.
Responsible authority
See official source
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.
- Naenara: DPRK national portal (homepage)Government
- Foreign travel advice: North Korea: Safety and securityInternational body
- Foreign travel advice: North Korea: Entry requirementsInternational body
- Foreign travel advice: North Korea (summary)International body
- Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol: status of ratificationsInternational body
- Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971: status of ratificationsInternational body
- Air Koryo: Normal Baggage GuideSecondary
- DPRK Narcotics Control Law (2021 version, reproduced by the ROK Ministry of Justice): patients hold only with approval, art 35, page 885; import by approved trade bodies only, arts 49 to 53, pages 887 to 888; no list in the lawSecondary, 2021-12-14
- INCB: Country Regulations for Travellers (index)Treaty body
Your trip pack
A doctor's letter for Korea North, 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 Korea North embassy or consulate before travelling.