How to get MFDS approval for your medication
If your medication is a controlled substance in Korea, you must get approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) before you arrive. The process takes five steps and roughly three weeks, most of it waiting.
1. Check if you need approval
You need MFDS approval if your medication contains a narcotic or psychotropic substance. This applies to every traveler, regardless of nationality or visa type. Common examples include ADHD medications, sleeping pills, anxiety medications, and strong painkillers. If you are not sure, search your medication on this site or contact the MFDS directly.
2. Prepare your documents
Ask your doctor for a letter in English that states your diagnosis, the medication name and active ingredient, your daily dose, and the total amount you will carry. You will also need a copy of your prescription, your passport, and your flight itinerary showing travel dates. The permit covers at most a 90-day supply, so match your doctor's letter to that limit.
3. Apply online
Since December 2024, you can apply through the MFDS online system (linked below). Chrome or Edge is recommended. If the online system does not work for you, you can still apply by email at narcotics@korea.kr or by fax at +82-43-719-2800.
4. Wait for the result
The MFDS issues a decision within 10 business days. Apply at least 3 to 4 weeks before your trip to leave room for questions or corrections.
5. Carry the approval when you travel
Bring the approval document with your medication. Keep the medication in its original packaging with the pharmacy label, and on arrival take the goods-to-declare channel and show the permit.
Questions
How much medication does the permit cover?
Up to a 90-day supply. If your stay is longer, plan a handover to a Korean doctor: many controlled medications (methylphenidate, zolpidem, alprazolam) are prescribed within Korea, though some (Adderall, Vyvanse, temazepam) are not available there at all.
I only have a layover at Incheon. Do I still need approval?
Yes. The US Embassy in Seoul warns that the controlled-substance rules apply during airport layovers too, so a connecting passenger carrying a narcotic or psychotropic medication needs the same permit as an arriving one.
How long does the whole process take?
The MFDS issues a decision within 10 business days of a complete application. Budget 3 to 4 weeks total: gathering the doctor's letter and prescription copies usually takes longer than the review itself, and corrections restart the clock.
Does the rule depend on my nationality or visa?
No. Since 2009-10-23, anyone entering Korea with a medicine containing a narcotic or psychotropic substance needs the permit: tourists, business travelers, students, and returning residents alike.
Anything else: MFDS Narcotics Policy Division, +82-43-719-2813 (English-speaking staff: +82-43-719-1564), or email narcotics@korea.kr.
Medications this applies to
The ones travelers ask about most. Search the full list from any page.
Sources
- MFDS: Manual on Permit to Bring in Narcotics to Korea · Last verified: 2026-08-23
- MFDS: Self Treatment Narcotics notice · Last verified: 2026-08-23
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.