Medicines in luggage and postal shipments

The importation of medicines by individuals is governed by Regulation no. 1277/2022 and, where applicable, Regulation no. 233/2001 on habit-forming and narcotic substances and other controlled substances.

The rules depend on which country the medicine is coming from, i.e., whether the medicine is coming from a country within or outside the European Economic Area (EEA), whether the medicine is in luggage or arrives by mail or parcel delivery. It also matters to which category the medicines belong. Below, the medicines are categorized into three groups:

1. General medicines – These are medicines that are not narcotic or psychotropic substances, or medicines listed by WADA, but require a prescription according to Icelandic regulations, in addition to over-the-counter medicines.
2. Narcotic and psychotropic substances – Medicines that partially contain substances listed in Annex 1 of Regulation no. 233/2001 on habit-forming and narcotic substances and other controlled substances.
3. Medicines on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List – Medicines that contain substances found in Sections S1 (anabolic agents/steroids) and S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, and related substances) of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.

In general, it is permitted to import medicines for personal use, though with certain restrictions, provided that the medicines are intended for human use and have been obtained by legitimate means.

Medicine in luggage

1. General medicines

General medicines are prescription-only, meaning they require a prescription from a doctor according to Icelandic regulations, in addition to over-the-counter medicines. This does not apply to narcotic and psychotropic substances or medicines that are on the WADA list.

General medicines in luggage from a country within the European Economic Area (EEA)

Individuals may have in their luggage upon arrival in the country medicines for personal use in an amount corresponding to one year of use according to the doctor's instructions or according to the dosing guidelines in the medicine's package insert, see serlyfjaskra.is.

General medicines in luggage from a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA)

If an individual is coming from a country outside the EEA, they are allowed to carry a 100-day supply, according to the doctor's instructions or according to the dosing guidelines in the medicine's package insert, see serlyfjaskra.is.

Documents that must be presented

It is important to have these documents on hand when traveling; it is required to present to customs authorities one of the following that can demonstrate the legitimacy of the importation of the medicines that an individual is bringing into the country:

2. Narcotic and psychotropic substances

Narcotic and psychotropic substances in luggage from a country within the European Economic Area (EEA)

The rules depend on whether the individual has a registered residence in Iceland or not.

a. Individual with a registered residence in Iceland:

• If the medicines have been originally obtained in Iceland, the individual is permitted to carry narcotic and psychotropic substances upon arrival in the country corresponding to a 30-day supply. It is required to present documents demonstrating that the medicines have been obtained in the country.
• If the medicines have been obtained abroad, it is permitted to bring narcotic and psychotropic substances into the country in an amount corresponding to a 7-day supply. A 30-day supply may be brought in if the individual has a declaration (medical letter or prescription) from a doctor with a valid medical license in Iceland, stating that the medicines are necessary for the individual in a medical sense.

b. If an individual does not have a registered residence in this country, the following applies:

• Upon arrival in the country, it is permitted to carry narcotic and psychotropic substances in an amount corresponding to a 30-day supply according to the defined daily dose (DDD).

Narcotic and psychotropic substances in luggage from a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA)

Upon arrival in the country, it is permitted to carry narcotic and psychotropic substances in an amount corresponding to a 30-day supply according to the defined daily dose (e. Defined daily dose (DDD)

Documents that must be presented

It is important to have these documents on hand when traveling; it is required to present to customs authorities one of the following that can demonstrate the legitimacy of the importation of the medicines that an individual is bringing into the country:

3. Medicines on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List

Medicines that contain substances found in Sections S1 (anabolic agents/steroids) and S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, and related substances) of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List."

An individual is only permitted to import into the country in their luggage for personal use an amount corresponding to 30 days of use according to the doctor's instructions or according to the usage guidelines of the marketing authorization holder/manufacturer of the medicine

Documents that must be presented

It is important to have these documents on hand when traveling; it is required to present to customs authorities one of the following that can demonstrate the legitimacy of the importation of the medicines that an individual is bringing into the country:

Medicines in postal or parcel deliveries

1. General Medicines

General medicines in luggage from a country within the European Economic Area (EEA)

An individual is permitted to import into the country by mail or parcel delivery medicines for personal use in an amount corresponding to 100 days of use according to the usage guidelines of a doctor or according to the dosing instructions in the medicine's package insert, see serlyfjaskra.is.

Individuals may purchase general medicines online and have them shipped to Iceland by mail or parcel delivery. Legitimate entities authorized for online pharmacy have a common logo, see the logo below. If you click on the logo, a list of legitimate entities should open on the website of the relevant country's medicinal agency. The logo, created by the European Union, ensures that transactions are conducted with legitimate entities; its purpose is, among other things, to prevent the sale of counterfeit medicines, which pose a threat to individuals' health. The logo can be found on the websites of online pharmacies that are legitimate entities; if you click on the logo, a list of legitimate entities should open on the websites of the relevant country's medicinal agency. A list of legitimate entities in the relevant country can be found on the websites of the medicinal agencies, here.

Documents that must be presented

It is important to have these documents in the mail or parcel delivery. It is required to present to customs authorities one of the following that can demonstrate the legitimacy of the importation of the medicines being brought into the country:

General medicines in luggage from a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA)

It is prohibited to import medicines from outside the EEA by mail or parcel delivery.

2. Narcotic and psychotropic substances

It is prohibited to import narcotic and psychotropic substances into Iceland by mail or parcel delivery.

3. Medicines on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List

It is prohibited to import Medicines on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List into Iceland by mail or parcel delivery.

Exemptions – application for exemption from the regulation on the importation of medicines by individuals

The Medicines Agency is permitted to grant exemptions from the rules outlined in the regulations mentioned above when it is demonstrated that restrictions on the right to import medicines for personal use pose a risk to the health or life of an individual.

Application Process

Narcotic and psychotropic substances - an exemption from the Medicines Agency must be approved before the medicine arrives in the country.

General medicines - an exemption must be applied for no later than two weeks after the medicine arrives in the country.

Exemptions can be applied for in two ways, depending on whether the individual has electronic identification or not:

• With electronic identification – apply on the Icelandic Medicines Agency's My Pages. There, select 'Register Application' → 'Individuals' → 'Application for Exemption from the Regulation on the Importation of Medicines by Individuals.
• Without electronic identification – apply by email to [email protected]. The subject line of the email should read 'Application for Exemption from the Regulation on the Importation of Medicines by Individuals.'"

Documents and information that must be included in applications are as follows:

CBD and THC

Cannabidiol (CBD)

Dietary supplements containing CBD are under the authority of the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority

Cosmetics containing CBD are subject to The Environment Agency of Iceland.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

A product that contains trace amounts of THC is regarded as having a substance that is prohibited within Icelandic territory.

Travelling from Iceland with medication

What rules apply when traveling from Iceland to other countries with medication?

Different rules apply for each country.

When traveling abroad, it is advisable to keep all medications in hand luggage. It is best to store them in their original packaging, so that if there is a security check during the journey, it is easier to clarify which medications are involved.

Liquid medications (e.g., creams, mixtures, and inhalers) are exempt from the restrictions on the amount of liquid that passengers are allowed to carry in hand luggage. They do not need to fit within the transparent bag with other liquids, but they may need to be declared during security checks.

There is no guarantee that Icelandic prescriptions are valid in other countries. Foreign pharmacies do not have access to electronic prescriptions from doctors in Iceland.