I am unclear if and what to do at UK customs when I am coming with prescription medications. If I have a list from my doctor and the pills in a daily pill case, do I still need the original prescription bottles? That is a lot of stuff to bring in my carry on just for five days. Why bring a daily pill case if I need to bring in the prescription bottles?
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
1699 posts
You only need to declare goods that over your personal exemption (like 3 bottles of wine instead of 2), banned or restricted items (like firearms), or goods intended for sale or other business use. So no on your personal medications.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
I thought so too, but that is not what is on the UK government site.
Posted by
Chicago
4167 posts
This is what you need to follow:
Posted by
Penzance
145 posts
that is not what is on the UK government site.
You do what is on the UK Government website.
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
1699 posts
The link provided by Carrie says nothing about declaring medications upon arrival. Rather, it outlines the rules for bringing medication into the UK and indicates that certain drugs are prohibited. I guess you can check your medications against the prohibited list and not bring those. There's still nothing about making a declaration upon entry. If we all had to present our prescription medications upon entry to a country, the airports would shut down.
Posted by
Pennsylvania, USA
871 posts
I have been to England seven times since 2016 and nobody in the US or in the UK has batted an eye regarding my prescriptions. At first, I had a 10-day supply in pharmacy bottles. The last couple of years, I have put each day's dosage in small plastic baggies (I think someone on this forum recommended that--got them at Amazon).
Posted by
Duluth, MN🌲
11577 posts
Sandra, that may have been me.
I have been traveling back and forth between the UK and the US for 30 years, off and on, and I have never brought a letter from my physician. That is not saying you shouldn't, but I am just saying that it is highly unlikely that you will be asked for it.
I put my pills in small ziplock pill pouches that I buy on Amazon, and then I label them. I insert the small pouches in one large ziplock bag in my toiletries bag. If I am ever questioned (and I never have been), I would be able to pull up my account on MyChart and show them all the prescriptions. I do not bring pill bottles. They just take up too much space.
Posted by
Freedonia
18674 posts
You do not have to declare anything. You do have to have proof that the prescriptions are for you if you are asked.
A copy of the prescription label will suffice.
I have entered the UK somewhere between 75 and 100 times in the past 10 years. No one has ever asked me about prescriptions. But if they should, I have copies of my prescriptions.
My pharmacy gives copies of the labels in the paperwork it hands out for each prescription. If yours doesn't, just ask your pharmacist for a printout or have it available digitially if you have access that way.