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Entry medication check

Can I bring Adderall to Korea?

Amphetamine / Dextroamphetamine · Adderall · Mydayis · Dexedrine

Approval
Required사전 승인 필요
MFDS permit
Required, 3-4 wks ahead
Max quantity
Approved amount, max 90-day supply
Declare at customs
Yes, goods-to-declare channel
tablets/capsules per day

Adderall (active ingredient: Amphetamine / Dextroamphetamine) requires prior approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) before you travel.

Korea lists amphetamine in annex 4 of the Narcotics Control Act enforcement decree, the schedule for psychotropic substances with severe abuse potential and very limited medical use. No amphetamine product has ever been approved in Korea. You need written MFDS approval before entering with Adderall; without it, customs can seize the medication and you face criminal charges even with a valid home-country prescription. Approval covers at most a 90-day supply, so apply 3 to 4 weeks before you fly.

How to apply for MFDS approval →

How Korea classifies it

Under the Narcotics Control Act, Amphetamine / Dextroamphetamine is a psychotropic substance (향정신성의약품), listed in annex 4 of the enforcement decree, the schedule for psychotropic substances with severe abuse potential and very limited medical use. The classification attaches to the substance itself, so it applies to every product, brand, and dosage form that contains it. That is why the entry rule does not depend on how much you carry or whether your home prescription is valid: the substance triggers the permit requirement on its own.

Before you fly

  1. 1.Apply for the MFDS self-treatment permit at least 3 to 4 weeks before departure, online at nedrug.mfds.go.kr or by email to narcotics@korea.kr. Results are issued within 10 business days.
  2. 2.Prepare a passport copy, your flight itinerary, the prescription, and a doctor's note stating diagnosis and daily dose, in Korean or English. The permit covers up to a 90-day supply.
  3. 3.Pack the medication in its original packaging with the pharmacy label attached. Loose pills in an unmarked container invite questions you do not want at the border.
  4. 4.On arrival, take the goods-to-declare channel and show the permit with the medication.

Questions

Why is Adderall unavailable in Korea?

Amphetamine has no approved product in the MFDS drug database, so Korean doctors cannot prescribe it. ADHD in Korea is treated with methylphenidate (Concerta, Penid) or atomoxetine. If your stay is longer than your approved supply, plan a switch with a Korean psychiatrist before your medication runs out.

How much Adderall can I bring with approval?

The MFDS self-treatment permit covers up to a 90-day supply. You can apply online at nedrug.mfds.go.kr (since December 2024) or by email at narcotics@korea.kr, and the result is issued within 10 business days.

Is Adderall completely banned in Korea? Some sites say yes.

Not completely. Several blogs and AI summaries state that amphetamines cannot enter Korea at all, but the US Embassy in Seoul and the MFDS both describe the same rule that applies to other controlled medications: written approval before entry. What is true is that no amphetamine product is approved within Korea and approval reviews are strict, so apply early, bring documentation, and have a plan B with your doctor in case the permit is refused.

Related medications

Source Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Self Treatment Narcotics)
Verified 2026-08-23
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MedsToKorea is an independent site with no affiliation to the Korean government. Travel preparation only, not medical or legal advice. Regulations change: confirm with the MFDS, Korea Customs Service, or a Korean embassy before traveling. We store no searches and no health data.