YemenTravelling with ADHD medication: rules, permits and documents
Asia (Middle East)Last checked 20 Jul 2026Medium confidenceHow we rate a record
Every medication we track can come into Yemen on your prescription, up to 30 days' supply, carried in original packaging.
Serious penalties: Yemen has severe penalties for controlled substances amid active conflict and divided governance. The recognised authority sits in Aden, while a different de facto authority controls Sana'a, so enforcement and paperwork acceptance are uncertain. Confirm directly before travel.
By medication
Brand names first, generic in brackets. Each line resolves the drug class rule below, plus anything Yemen records specifically for that medication.
- Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine)Prescriptionmax 30 days' supply
Yemen allows all three ADHD stimulant classes with a prescription for up to 30 days. Because of the country's ongoing instability, you also need a certificate from Yemen's own Narcotic & Psychotropic Control Department (based in Aden).
- Ritalin, Concerta (methylphenidate)Prescriptionmax 30 days' supply
The same rule as Vyvanse above.
- Dexamphetamine (dexamfetamine)Prescriptionmax 30 days' supply
The same rule as Vyvanse above.
- Strattera (atomoxetine)Prescription
Atomoxetine, guanfacine ER and viloxazine are not internationally controlled; carry a valid prescription.
- Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts)Prescriptionmax 30 days' supply
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)
Prescription- Quantity
- 7 days. 7 days' supply for narcotics; 30 days for psychotropics
- Permit
- Not required. Documentation-based on the INCB table; no separate permit is named.
- Documents
- prescription, home authority certificate, medical certificate, customs declaration
Psychotropic (ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, sleep)
Prescription- Quantity
- 30 days. Up to 30 days' supply, plus a certificate from Yemen's own health authorities in addition to the prescription.
- Permit
- Not required. No Yemeni certificate is asked for on the psychotropic row: a prescription, a doctor's certificate endorsed by your home health authority, and the original prescription at customs, covering 30 days. Yemen does ask for a destination-authority certificate for narcotics, where the allowance is 7 days, so the two classes differ. The authority is contactable in Aden and the country's administration is divided, so confirm before travelling.
Not internationally controlled
PrescriptionAtomoxetine, guanfacine ER and viloxazine are not internationally controlled; carry a valid prescription.
If a country asks for a certificate from your own health authority
Australia does not issue export certificates for personal medication. There is no Australian office that endorses a traveller's certificate the way a Schengen country's health authority endorses an Article 75 certificate. The Office of Drug Control licenses commercial exporters, and the TGA regulates products rather than certifying individual travellers, so neither will stamp your paperwork.
What to do instead: ask your prescriber for a signed letter on practice letterhead giving your name and passport number, each medicine by generic and brand name, strength, daily dose, total quantity and the dates it covers, plus the prescriber's registration number and contact details. Have it dated close to departure, and carry the original dispensing labels.
Then contact the destination's authority in writing before you book, say plainly that Australia does not issue the certificate they ask for, and ask what they will accept in its place. Keep the reply. A written answer from the authority is the strongest document you can carry, and it is the only thing that closes this gap.
Responsible authority
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Department (Supreme Board of Drugs & Medical Appliances, Ministry of Health & Population)
Supreme Board of Drugs & Medical Appliances, Head Quarter - Aden, Khormaksar, Airport Street; P.O. Box 6022, Khormaksar, Aden; Tel 00967-2-237779; Fax 237780; e-mail nar.sbdma@gmail.com / info@ysbda.com; www.ysbda.com
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 Yemen, 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 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 Yemen embassy or consulate before travelling.