SurinameTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
South AmericaLast checked 20 Jul 2026Low confidence: check with the embassyHow we rate a record
Suriname 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: No official personal-carry rule is published; narcotics and psychotropics are controlled under the Wet Verdovende Middelen and Suriname has filed no INCB traveller data. Confirm requirements with the Ministry of Health / Inspectorate before travel.
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 Suriname records specifically for that medication.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Not named: Unclear
Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is not named in Suriname's law (Wet Verdovende Middelen, Lists I and II, pages 9 to 15), so no rule for it is published. Ask the authority listed here before you travel.
- Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Permit required
Methylphenidate, amfetamine and dexamfetamine are on List I of Suriname's Opium Act (Wet Verdovende Middelen, List I, pages 12 to 13). Lisdexamfetamine is not named in Suriname's law, so no rule for it is published. Importing a List I substance needs permission from the Minister of Health, approved by the Procurator General at the Court of Justice (art 6(1), as restated in 2018). The exemption for your own medical use (art 7(3)) covers carrying and possessing the medicine, not importing it. To rely on the own medical use exemption you must be able to show that you need the quantity you are carrying for your own medical use and that you obtained it lawfully. The law does not say which document proves this; we suggest your prescription and a doctor's letter. No application form or processing time is published, so contact the Ministry of Health well before you travel.
- Dexedrine (dexamfetamine)Permit required
The same rule as Ritalin, Concerta above.
- Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Atomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not internationally controlled; carry them with a prescription in original packaging. No Suriname-specific restriction found.
- 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)
Unclear- Quantity
- No official traveller quantity is published
- Permit
- Not required. No INCB table and no published traveller quantity, permit, or document guidance; personal-carry status is unclear. Confirm with the Ministry of Health.
Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)
Permit required- Quantity
- personal-use quantities only (typically ~30-day supply); no specific official limit found
- Permit
- Required. Wet Verdovende Middelen, art 6(1), as restated in 2018. No application form or lead time is published.
- Documents
- import permit
Not internationally controlled
PrescriptionAtomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not internationally controlled; carry them with a prescription in original packaging. No Suriname-specific restriction found.
Connecting through Suriname
Suriname has published nothing on how its drug law applies to passengers changing planes. The law treats carrying a List I medicine (methylphenidate, amfetamine, dexamfetamine) through the country the same as importing it: it needs permission from the Minister of Health, approved by the Procurator General (Wet Verdovende Middelen, art 3(1) and art 6(1)), and it has no exemption for passengers in transit. Atomoxetine, guanfacine and viloxazine are not on the law's lists. Contact the Ministry of Health before connecting through Suriname with a List I medicine.
Responsible authority
Ministry of Health / Pharmaceutical Inspectorate (Bureau Openbare Gezondheidszorg); Suriname Customs
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.
- Wet Verdovende Middelen amendment (S.B. 2018 no. 64): import, export or transit only with the Minister's permission, Art 6, page 5; own medical use exemption for possession and transport, Art 7(3), page 6Government, 2018-07-16
- Wet Verdovende Middelen (1998, consolidated to 2002): import permit Art 6, page 3; own medical use Art 7(3), page 4; dexamfetamine in List I, page 12; methylphenidate in List I, page 13; lisdexamfetamine not listedGovernment, 2002
- INCB: Country Regulations for Travellers (index)Treaty body
Your trip pack
Suriname needs a permit before you fly. The pack works out your apply-by date from your travel date.
We have not found an application form or portal for travellers here, so the pack gives you Ministry of Health / Pharmaceutical Inspectorate (Bureau Openbare Gezondheidszorg); Suriname Customs 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 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 Suriname embassy or consulate before travelling.