Can I bring Lorazepam to Korea?
Lorazepam · Ativan
Required사전 승인 필요
Lorazepam requires prior approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) before you travel.
Korea lists lorazepam in annex 6 of the Narcotics Control Act enforcement decree. You need written MFDS approval before entering Korea with it. Lorazepam is sold in Korea under the same Ativan brand, approved there since 1979, so continuing treatment locally is straightforward with a Korean prescription.
How to apply for MFDS approval →How Korea classifies it
Under the Narcotics Control Act, Lorazepam is a psychotropic substance (향정신성의약품), listed in annex 6 of the enforcement decree, the schedule for psychotropic medicines in medical use with comparatively lower abuse risk. 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
Can a Korean doctor prescribe Ativan?
Yes, under the identical brand name. Ativan tablets have been MFDS-approved since 1979 and generics exist. Lorazepam is among the benzodiazepines most used for anxiety in Korea, so any psychiatrist will know it.
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Verified 2026-08-23
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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.