Trinidad and TobagoTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
North AmericaLast checked 20 Jul 2026Medium confidenceHow we rate a record
Trinidad and Tobago treats these medications differently. Of the 7 we track, 6 have no published rule we could find and 1 needs only your prescription.
Serious penalties: Trinidad and Tobago's Food and Drugs Act (Chap. 30:01) allows a controlled drug to be imported only by a licensed dealer (a doctor, pharmacist or licence holder) holding a permit from the Director; no traveller route is published. Importing a controlled drug such as amphetamine, dexamphetamine or methylphenidate without being a licensed dealer with a permit is an offence under the Food and Drugs Regulations (regulation 51). The heavier penalties of the Dangerous Drugs Act (Chap. 11:25) apply to opioids, not to these ADHD medicines. Write to the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division before you travel and carry their reply.
By medication
Brand names first, generic in brackets. Each line resolves the drug class rule below, plus anything Trinidad and Tobago records specifically for that medication.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Not named: Unclear
Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) is not named in Trinidad and Tobago's law (Food and Drugs Regulations, Division 2, para 2, pages 102 to 103, and Dangerous Drugs Act, Chap 11:25, First and Second Schedules, pages 37 to 43), so no rule for it is published. Ask the authority listed here before you travel.
- Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Unclear
Trinidad and Tobago's Food and Drugs Regulations list amphetamine, dexamphetamine and methylphenidate as controlled drugs and say that no one may import a controlled drug unless they are a licensed dealer (a doctor, pharmacist or licence holder) with an import permit from the Director (Second Schedule, Division 2, paragraphs 2 and 4, pages 102 to 103). The regulations make no exception for a traveller's own medicine, and a traveller cannot get the permit. The Ministry of Health's medicines portal says people who want to import a controlled drug for personal use should contact the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division at cfdd@health.gov.tt. It does not say what the Division will allow. We suggest you do not travel with this medicine unless you have the Division's written reply, and that you carry that reply with your prescription.
- Dexedrine (dexamfetamine)Unclear
The same rule as Ritalin, Concerta above.
- Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Guanfacine and viloxazine are not controlled drugs in Trinidad and Tobago. The Food and Drugs Regulations let a foreign visitor bring in a prescription-only medicine that is listed in the Third Schedule to the Food and Drugs Act, but neither medicine is named there, and neither appears on the Ministry of Health's list of registered drugs (1999 to 2025). The Ministry says a person may import a drug for personal use if it appears in its drug database. No official source confirms that this covers guanfacine or viloxazine, so ask the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division (cfdd@health.gov.tt) before you travel. We suggest carrying your prescription. Atomoxetine is not a controlled drug; as a prescription-only (Third Schedule) drug a visitor may import it for personal use with a valid prescription.
- Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Unclear
The same rule as Ritalin, Concerta above.
- Intuniv (guanfacine)Unclear
Guanfacine and viloxazine are not controlled drugs in Trinidad and Tobago. The Food and Drugs Regulations let a foreign visitor bring in a prescription-only medicine that is listed in the Third Schedule to the Food and Drugs Act, but neither medicine is named there, and neither appears on the Ministry of Health's list of registered drugs (1999 to 2025). The Ministry says a person may import a drug for personal use if it appears in its drug database. No official source confirms that this covers guanfacine or viloxazine, so ask the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division (cfdd@health.gov.tt) before you travel. We suggest carrying your prescription.
- Qelbree (viloxazine)Unclear
The same rule as Intuniv above.
Rules by drug class
Narcotic (opioids)
Unclear- Quantity
- No official traveller quantity is published
- Permit
- Not published. There is no traveller permit to apply for: the Food and Drugs Regulations allow an import permit to be issued only to a licensed dealer, defined as a medical practitioner, pharmacist or holder of a selling licence. The CFDD's portal tells people importing controlled drugs for personal use to contact the Division directly. Whether the Division will clear a traveller's own supply on a prescription is not published.
- Documents
- prescription
Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)
Unclear- Quantity
- No traveller allowance is published.
- Permit
- Required. The Food and Drugs Regulations require an import permit from the Director for methylphenidate, amphetamine and dexamphetamine, and a permit can be issued only to a licensed dealer (a doctor, pharmacist or licence holder) (Second Schedule, Division 2, paragraphs 4 and 5, pages 103 to 104). No way for a traveller to apply is published. The Ministry of Health's medicines portal says people who want to import a controlled drug for personal use should contact the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division.
Not internationally controlled
PrescriptionGuanfacine and viloxazine are not controlled drugs in Trinidad and Tobago. The Food and Drugs Regulations let a foreign visitor bring in a prescription-only medicine that is listed in the Third Schedule to the Food and Drugs Act, but neither medicine is named there, and neither appears on the Ministry of Health's list of registered drugs (1999 to 2025). The Ministry says a person may import a drug for personal use if it appears in its drug database. No official source confirms that this covers guanfacine or viloxazine, so ask the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division (cfdd@health.gov.tt) before you travel. We suggest carrying your prescription. Atomoxetine is not a controlled drug; as a prescription-only (Third Schedule) drug a visitor may import it for personal use with a valid prescription.
Responsible authority
Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division, Ministry of Health
Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division: cfdd@health.gov.tt; Tel +1 868 217 4664 ext 13105. Drug Inspectorate: druginspectorate@health.gov.tt, ext 13401.
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.
- Ministry of Health: List of Drugs Registered under the Food and Drugs Act, Chap 30:01, 1999 to 2025 (guanfacine and viloxazine do not appear)Government, 2025-12-20
- Regulated Medicines and Substances Portal: controlled drugs excluded from personal import; contact the CFDDGovernment
- Dangerous Drugs Act, Chap 11:25 (to 2016): possession on prescription, s 5(2)(c), page 13; narcotics in First Schedule, pages 37 to 43; ADHD stimulants not in either scheduleGovernment, 2016-12-31
- Food and Drugs Act, Chap 30:01, with Regulations (to 2016): methylphenidate and dexamphetamine controlled drugs, Division 2, page 102; import permit for licensed dealers only, para 4, page 103; lisdexamfetamine not listedGovernment
- Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division: Ministry of HealthGovernment
Your trip pack
Trinidad and Tobago 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 Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division, Ministry of Health 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 Trinidad and Tobago embassy or consulate before travelling.