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Travelling into Ireland from Schengen Countries with prescribed narcotics and/or psychotropic substances
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
The Schengen Area is the name given to a region of Europe where there is border-free travel between member states.
Under Article 75 of the Schengen Acquis, as regards the movement of travellers to the territories of the Contracting Parties or their movement within these territories, persons may carry the narcotics and/or psychotropic substances that are necessary for their medical treatment provided that, at any check, they produce a certificate issued or authenticated by a competent authority of their State of residence
Ireland is not a full member of the Schengen Area, which means that if you travel to Ireland from the Schengen Area, you are required to show your passport. However, from April 1st, 2023, it is a requirement for Schengen residents to have an Article 75 Schengen Certificate for prescribed narcotics and/or psychotropic substances on entry into Ireland if travelling from a Schengen area country.
The Schengen area brings together 27 European states which allow the free movement of people across: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.
The following other European Union countries are not part of the Schengen Area: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania.
The United Kingdom is not part of the Schengen Area.
Many prescribed medicines contain drugs that are internationally controlled. Schengen residents travelling within the area with their prescribed narcotics and/or psychotropic substances need to be aware of controlled drug requirements in their destination country before departing on their trip.
If you intend to travel between Schengen countries, you may bring up to a maximum of 30 days’ supply of your prescribed narcotics and/or psychotropic substances which must be accompanied by the Article 75 Schengen Certificate stamped by a competent authority in your country. Separate certificates are required for each individual prescribed controlled drug.
From 01 April 2023, for Schengen Area residents, an Article 75 Certificate issued by your own country’s competent authority will be required in order to carry certain prescribed narcotics and/or psychotropic substances when travelling to Ireland from within the Schengen Area.
The Article 75 Certificate will be required if the prescribed narcotics and/or psychotropic substances contain a controlled drug listed in either Schedule II or Schedule III of the ‘Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017’. A separate certificate is required for each prescribed controlled drug. Please note that prescribed cannabis-based products are not permitted to be brought into Ireland.
If you are unsure as to whether your medicinal products require a certificate to enter Ireland, please contact your medical practitioner or dispensing pharmacist to verify whether your prescribed products contain either a Schedule II or Schedule III active substance.
Methadone and Buprenorphine, used by patients for opioid substitution treatment, are both Schedule II controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 and may be brought into Ireland from the Schengen Area with an Article 75 Certificate.
An Article 75 Certificate will shortly be introduced for Irish residents travelling to Schengen countries. Until then persons travelling out of Ireland with narcotics and/or psychotropic substances for personal use should check with the relevant authorities of the country to which they are travelling to ensure that they will be permitted to bring their medicines with them. Useful information is also available on the website of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).
Until the Article 75 Certificate is introduced for Irish residents, we recommend that they carry their medicines in the original packaging, with the patient’s name clearly labelled. They should also have a copy of their prescription and/or a letter from their doctor and/or dispensing pharmacist outlining their condition and stating that the medicines in question are for their own personal use.
In Ireland, the current practice is that the customs officer must be satisfied that the documentation supports the amount and personal use of the prescribed medical products in the possession of the traveller.
It should be noted that the customs authority has the final say in all such matters.
Medicines that have been granted a marketing authorisation in Ireland can be found at the following HPRA link. . An Irish marketing authorisation for your prescribed products is not a requirement in bringing narcotics and/or psychotropic substances prescribed in a Schengen Area country into Ireland with an Article 75 Certificate.
People travelling to Ireland should enter the product information or the name of the narcotic drug or psychotropic substance into the search bar on ‘search for a medicine’ on the HPRA website [Enter a Trade Name, Active Substance or Licence Number].
Underneath the ‘Status’ heading it will specify (if any) what Schedule in the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 the controlled drug is categorised under. All Schedule II and Schedule III substances will require an Article 75 Certificate.
The certificate provides for carrying of controlled drugs for a maximum of 30 days’ supply for personal use.
If you have any further queries about your personal medication, you should email the Health Products Regulatory Authority at: enforcementcontrol@hpra.ie
Visitors to Ireland may bring up to 3 months’ supply of prescription medicines with them for their own personal use. We recommend that travellers bring the prescription medicines in their original packaging, with their name clearly displayed.
This should be accompanied by their prescription or a copy thereof, and/or a letter from their doctor and/or dispensing pharmacist outlining their condition and stating that the medicines are for their own personal use. This information should be inside the package in which the medication is being transported, as a means of proving the legitimacy of consignment for importation to Ireland.
In Ireland, the current practice is that the customs officer must be satisfied that the documentation supports the amount and personal use of the medical products in the possession of the traveller.
It should be noted that the Irish Customs Authority has the final say in all such matters.