SamoaTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
OceaniaLast 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 (up to 14 years' imprisonment for a trafficable quantity) 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.
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)Unclear
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. Amphetamine, dexamfetamine, methamphetamine and methylphenidate are named Second-Schedule narcotics under the same Act, with the same s.7/s.10 mechanics and the same absence of a traveller exemption as opioids.
- Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Unclear
The same rule as Vyvanse above.
- Dexamphetamine (dexamfetamine)Unclear
The same rule as Vyvanse 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 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)
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
- 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.
Not internationally controlled
PrescriptionAtomoxetine, 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, info_services@customs.
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 Samoa, 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 packCommon 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.