Can I bring Durogesic to Korea?
Fentanyl · Duragesic · Durogesic · Matrifen
Required사전 승인 필요
Durogesic (active ingredient: Fentanyl) requires prior approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) before you travel.
Korea lists fentanyl in annex 2 of the Narcotics Control Act enforcement decree, its narcotics schedule. You need written MFDS approval before entering with it, and patches count the same as tablets. Fentanyl patches (Durogesic) are approved and used in Korea, so ongoing cancer or chronic pain care can be handed to a Korean doctor.
How to apply for MFDS approval →How Korea classifies it
Under the Narcotics Control Act, Fentanyl is a narcotic (마약), listed in annex 2 of the enforcement decree, the decree's second narcotics schedule, which covers synthetic opioids and related compounds. 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.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.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.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.On arrival, take the goods-to-declare channel and show the permit with the medication.
Questions
I travel with fentanyl patches for cancer pain. What do I prepare?
The MFDS permit application with your passport copy, flight itinerary, prescription, and a doctor's statement of diagnosis and dose, in Korean or English. The permit covers up to a 90-day supply; some home countries also require their own export approval, so check both sides before flying.
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Verified 2026-08-23
- Travel medical insuranceCovers doctor visits in Korea, including the consultation you need for a local refill.INSURANCE
- Incheon airport to Seoul (AREX train)Direct train from the airport to Seoul Station in 43 minutes. Book the ticket before you land.TRANSPORT
- KORAIL Pass (nationwide KTX)Unlimited KTX travel for 2 to 5 days, sold to foreign visitors only. Worth it if you plan trips beyond Seoul.RAIL
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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.