Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents

North America

Last checked 20 Jul 2026Medium confidenceHow we rate a record

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines treats these medications differently. Of the 7 we track, 3 need approval before you arrive, 1 has no published rule we could find and 3 need only your prescription.

Serious penalties: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' stated policy requires pre-approval from the Chief Medical Officer, obtained through your prescribing physician, before any opioid or ADHD stimulant medicine is brought in for personal use; arriving without it, or without declaring pharmaceuticals to Customs, is what the Ministry's own guidance identifies as the risk point, and there is no public form to fall back on if you have not already arranged this.

ActionChief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environmental Health and Energy approval before you arrive, and no processing time is published, so the earlier it goes in the better

Work out my dates

By medication

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

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Not named: Unclear
Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is not named in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines's law (the 1971 Convention schedules it adopts do not name it), so no rule for it is published. Ask the authority listed here before you travel.
Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Permit required
SVG recognises and adopts the full Schedules I to IV of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which name methylphenidate, dexamfetamine and amfetamine. You need approval before you travel. Your doctor writes to the Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health on your behalf with the details of your medicine and how you use it. Once approval is granted you are given proof of permission to carry the medicine. Carry that proof and show it at the border, and declare all medicines to Customs on arrival. The Ministry publishes no form and no list of what the doctor's request must contain. We suggest also carrying your prescription and a letter from your doctor.
Dexedrine (dexamfetamine)Permit required
The same rule as Ritalin, Concerta above.
Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Atomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not on the international control lists that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines applies. The Ministry of Health states its pre-approval policy only for narcotic and psychotropic medicines. For regular prescription medicines it lists: a letter from your physician naming you and your treatment; a copy of your prescription showing the name, strength and quantity of the medicine for the length of your stay; your flight details (dates and times of arrival and departure); your address and contact details in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; and the contact details of any physician who will manage your treatment there. The Ministry does not say whether these are to be sent ahead or carried. We suggest carrying them all and asking the Ministry if you are unsure. All pharmaceutical items must be declared at Customs on arrival. Customs advises keeping prescription medicines in their original containers with labels showing the name, date of issue and pharmacy or hospital.
Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Permit required
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)

Permit required

Quantity: No numeric or day-count cap is published. The prescription must show 'the name, strength and quantity of the drugs for the duration of the stay': quantity is whatever the traveller's trip and treatment require, not a government-set figure.
Permit: Required. Pre-approval must be obtained before travel. The traveller's prescribing physician writes directly to the Chief Medical Officer (or contacts the SVG Pharmacy Council) with a letter and supporting documents; there is no downloadable form or online process: the Ministry says so explicitly. No processing time or fee is published, so start well before booking.
Documents: prescription, doctor letter, customs declaration
In force: Since May 2023.

Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)

Permit required

Quantity: Same as the narcotic class: only a duration-of-stay standard is published, not a numeric cap.
Permit: Required. Same pre-approval process as the narcotic class. No form, portal, processing time or fee is published.
Documents: import permit, customs declaration
In force: Since May 2023.

Not internationally controlled

Prescription

Quantity: No numeric cap is published. The prescription must show 'the name, strength and quantity of the drugs for the duration of the stay'.
Documents: prescription, doctor letter, customs declaration

Leaving Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines publishes a different rule for taking these medicines out than for bringing them in. Only the differences are below. Anything not listed here is the same as the rule above.

Narcotic (opioids)

SVG's own guidance describes no SVG-issued export permit or additional SVG approval step for departure. It instead tells departing travellers to obtain pre-approval from the destination country so that its own requirements are met: the outbound instruction points outward, not back to an SVG authority.

Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)

Same as the narcotic class: no SVG export permit is described; departing travellers are told to satisfy the destination country's own requirements.

Responsible authority

Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environmental Health and Energy

Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, Halifax Street, Kingstown: mohesvg@gov.vc; Tel +1 784 457 2586 or +1 784 456 1111 ext 511. SVG Pharmacy Council: svgpco8@yahoo.com, +1 784 485 6994.

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

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines needs a permit before you fly. The pack works out your apply-by date from your travel date.

A$59

We have not found an application form or portal for travellers here, so the pack gives you Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environmental Health and Energy to contact, what to put in the request, and how long to allow. Plus a doctor's letter pre-filled with your medications and every stop, and a checklist in travel order.

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 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines embassy or consulate before travelling.