Can I bring Prescription Medication to Germany?
Prescription Medication→Germany
⚠️ Allowed with Conditions
📋 Carrying Limits
- Quantity Limit:Up to 3 months' supply of each medicine at the recommended dose (personal needs); narcotics: amount appropriate for the trip
✅ Declaration Requirements
⚠️Entering from a non-EU country: medicines for your personal needs (up to 3 months' supply of each medicine) are a separate duty-free allowance, and personal luggage and duty-free travel goods count as declared when you use the green exit at airports or ports. Goods exceeding the travellers' allowances must be declared verbally at the customs office. Controlled narcotics additionally need the route-specific medical certificate (Schengen Article 75 certificate, or an authenticated multilingual doctor's certificate when entering from outside the Schengen area); this is a document to carry, not a customs form.
📌 Quick Summary
🔗 Official Information Source:
Last Updated:October 20, 2026
Reliability:
📝 Important Notes
- •⚠️ CONDITIONAL — Prescription Required for Controlled Substances
- •Germany medication rules 2026:
- •General Rules:
- •Medicines for personal needs (prescription or OTC): up to 3 months' supply of each medicine at its recommended dose, whether bought abroad or taken out of Germany and brought back; German authorisation or registration is not relevant
- •Food supplements, vitamin preparations or herbal remedies sold freely at home may be treated as medicinal products in Germany
- •Not allowed even for personal use: counterfeit medicines and certain doping substances listed in the Annex to Section 6a of the Medicinal Products Act (e.g. testosterone, nandrolone, clenbuterol)
- •Preparations containing certain plant or animal substances may also fall under species-protection rules
- •Controlled Substances (narcotics):
- •Narcotics (substances listed in Annexes I–III of the Narcotic Drugs Act, e.g. morphine) must be prescribed by your doctor; carry only an appropriate quantity for your own use during the trip — carrying them on someone else's behalf is not permitted
- •From a Schengen country: for trips of up to 30 days, carry an Article 75 Schengen certificate completed by your treating doctor and certified before travel by the highest regional health authority or a body acting on its behalf. Valid for max 30 days; one certificate per prescribed narcotic. This procedure applies to citizens of Schengen states and, for entry into Germany, to people resident in another Schengen state — also if the narcotic is prescribable in the country of origin but not in Germany
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a translated doctor's prescription for Medication?
While not mandatory in all countries, to avoid delays, it's recommended to carry an English translation of your prescription or a doctor's letter, and ensure Medication is kept in its original packaging with labels.
❓ More Questions
What is a Schengen Certificate?
A certificate under Article 75 of the Schengen Agreement for carrying doctor-prescribed narcotics on trips of up to 30 days within the Schengen area. Your treating doctor completes it, and before travel it must be certified by the highest regional health authority or a body acting on its behalf. It is valid for max 30 days, and you need a separate certificate for each prescribed narcotic. It applies to citizens of Schengen states and, for entry into Germany, to people resident in another Schengen state. If you enter Germany from outside the Schengen area, you instead need a multilingual certificate from your prescribing doctor (single and daily doses, active ingredient, trip duration), authenticated by the competent health authority of the country of departure. Whether a medicine is a narcotic depends on its classification under the Narcotic Drugs Act — ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Can I buy medicine at German supermarkets?
No. Most medicines (even common ones like ibuprofen) must be purchased at pharmacies (Apotheke). Only basic items like vitamins are at supermarkets.
How do I find a pharmacy in Germany?
Look for the red 'A' (Apotheke) sign. Open Mon-Sat. For emergencies, check the Notdienst (emergency pharmacy) schedule — at least one pharmacy is always open 24/7 in each area.
🔗 Related Items
Prescription Medication in other countries
Complete Germany Entry Guide
Entry process, prohibited items, duty-free allowances, and more
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