SamoaTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents

Oceania

Last checked 20 Jul 2026Low confidence: check with the embassyHow we rate a record

Samoa 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: Because the Narcotics Act 1967 has no traveller exemption, carrying a First- or Second-Schedule opioid or stimulant into Samoa without a Samoa-issued import/dealing licence risks seizure and prosecution even with a valid overseas prescription.

We could not find strong recent official guidance for this country. Contact the embassy or consulate directly before you travel.

ActionA written answer from Ministry of Health, Samoa naming your medication, before you book

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By medication

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

Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Not named: Unclear
Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is not named in Samoa's law (Narcotics Act 1967, First to Fourth Schedules, pages 21 to 35), so no rule for it is published. Ask the authority listed here before you travel.
Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Unclear
Samoa's Narcotics Act 1967 prohibits bringing methylphenidate or any amphetamine into Samoa without a licence from the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Health (section 10), and that licence can only be granted to someone already licensed to deal in the drug. The Act has no exemption for a traveller carrying medicine prescribed overseas. Samoa's Law Reform Commission reported in 2017 that drugs found at the border are seized and detained, and also that travellers holding a prescription have at times been let through in practice. It recommended a traveller exemption, but the Act as officially published to 31 December 2023 does not contain one. We suggest not relying on a prescription alone and contacting the Ministry of Health in Samoa before you travel.
Dexedrine (dexamfetamine)Unclear
The same rule as Ritalin, Concerta above.
Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Atomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not internationally controlled; carry a prescription as a precaution.
Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Unclear
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)

Unclear

Quantity: No enacted quantity exists. A 2018 Law Reform Commission proposal (not law) suggested a 30-day cap for a future exemption that has not been legislated.
Permit: Not published. There is no traveller permit to apply for. Section 10(2)-(3) of the Narcotics Act 1967 allows an import licence to be granted only to a person already licensed under section 11 to DEAL in that narcotic, which is a commercial licence an ordinary traveller cannot hold. Samoa's own Law Reform Commission has recorded that the Act contains no exemption for travellers authorised by their home country, and that drugs found at the border are seized and detained. It has recommended a New Zealand or Tonga style exemption, which has not been enacted. Contact the Ministry of Health and a Samoan mission well before travelling.

Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)

Unclear

Quantity: Same as narcotic class.
Permit: Required. The Narcotics Act 1967 requires an import licence from the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Health (section 10). That licence can only be granted to someone already licensed to deal in the drug, and Samoa publishes no way for a traveller to apply. Contact the Ministry of Health in Samoa before you travel.

Not internationally controlled

Prescription

Atomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not internationally controlled; carry a prescription as a precaution.

Responsible authority

Ministry of Health, Samoa

Samoa Ministry of Customs and Revenue: +685 21562

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

Samoa 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 Ministry of Health, Samoa 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.

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Common questions

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 Samoa embassy or consulate before travelling.