Adderall and other medicines containing amphetamine or dexamfetamine cannot be brought into Thailand at all. Elvanse and Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) are allowed only with a Thai FDA permit, while Ritalin, Concerta and Medikinet (methylphenidate) may come with you for up to 30 days with a doctor's certificate (Thai FDA tables, as of October 2026).
Thailand does not have one rule for "ADHD medication". Each active ingredient sits in its own place in the Thai drug laws, and the rule for travelers follows that place. Two medicines that treat the same condition, and that your doctor may see as close alternatives, can be treated in completely different ways at Thai customs.
This page takes the common ADHD medicines one by one, using the classification tables that the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published in September 2025. It explains the rules; it is not medical advice. Never stop, reduce or switch a medicine because of a trip without talking to your doctor first. For medicines in general, start with our guide to taking prescription medicine into Thailand.
ADHD medicines and Thai entry rules (October 2026)
- Amphetamine (Adderall), dexamfetamine
- Category I narcotic: no permit route
- Lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse, Vyvanse)
- Category II narcotic: up to 90 days with a Thai FDA permit
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Medikinet)
- Category II psychotropic: up to 30 days with a doctor's certificate; 31 to 90 days with a permit
- Atomoxetine (Strattera)
- On neither list: ordinary medicine rule, up to 30 days
- Permit deadline
- Apply online at least 15 days before arrival or departure
- Permit office
- Narcotics Control Division, Thai FDA: +66 2590 7346
The Thai classification, medicine by medicine
Thailand's Narcotics Code puts controlled substances in two lists. Narcotics have five categories and psychotropic substances have four. What matters for a traveler is which list and which category the active ingredient is in, not the brand name on the box, so check the ingredient on your label against this table.
| Active ingredient | Common brands | Thai list and category | What a traveler needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amphetamine | Adderall | Narcotic, Category I | Cannot be brought in |
| Dexamfetamine (dextroamphetamine) | Various | Narcotic, Category I | Cannot be brought in |
| Lisdexamfetamine | Elvanse, Vyvanse | Narcotic, Category II | Thai FDA permit, max 90 days' supply |
| Methylphenidate | Ritalin, Concerta, Medikinet | Psychotropic, Category II | Up to 30 days: doctor's certificate or prescription; 31–90 days: permit |
| Atomoxetine | Strattera | Not listed | Up to 30 days, original packaging, prescription or doctor's letter |
| Guanfacine | Various | Not listed | Up to 30 days, as for atomoxetine |
The table is based on the FDA's narcotics list (updated 15 September 2025) and psychotropics list (updated 18 September 2025). Lists can change, so check the current versions on the Thai FDA's control page shortly before you travel.
Adderall and dexamfetamine: no legal way in
Amphetamine, the active ingredient in Adderall, is a Category I narcotic in Thailand. So are dexamfetamine, levamfetamine and methamphetamine. Category I is the most serious group in Thai narcotics law, the one the FDA describes with heroin as its example.
The FDA's guidance for travelers sets out a permit route for Category II and III narcotics and for psychotropics. It offers nothing for Category I. That means a prescription, a doctor's letter or a note from your embassy will not make Adderall legal to carry into Thailand, and there is no form to fill in. The rule applies to generic versions too: any medicine whose label lists amphetamine or dexamfetamine is covered.
"Only a few Adderall tablets for the flight" is still a Category I narcotic in your bag. There is no small-quantity exception for amphetamine in Thailand. Raise the trip with your prescribing doctor well before you book, and let them decide what is safe for you.
What you and your doctor do about this is a medical decision. Some people discuss a different medicine for the trip, some decide that Thailand is not the right destination for now. Do not make the change on your own, and do not leave it until the week before you fly.
Elvanse and Vyvanse: allowed with a permit
Many websites put lisdexamfetamine in the same group as Adderall. The Thai FDA does not. Its narcotics list places lisdexamfetamine in Category II, the same column as morphine and codeine, and Category II medicines can be brought in for personal use with a permit.
The rules, as the FDA states them for travelers under treatment:
- You may bring up to a 90-day supply as prescribed, never more.
- You need a Thai FDA permit for any amount of Elvanse or Vyvanse, even one week's supply.
- Apply online at least 15 days before you arrive; the FDA says it issues the permit in about three working days once the application is complete.
- The rule covers travel into and out of Thailand.
The application itself, from the online portal to the documents, is explained step by step in our guide to the Thai FDA medicine permit. Once you land, the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv tells travelers carrying permitted narcotic medicines to declare them at the red customs exit, with the permit printed out.
Count back 15 days from landing, then add a margin. The FDA deadline is 15 days before arrival, and a missing document can delay approval. Starting a month ahead leaves time to ask your doctor for a new certificate if the first one is not accepted.
Ritalin, Concerta and Medikinet: 30 days with a certificate
Methylphenidate is a psychotropic substance in Thailand, in Category II, not a narcotic. For travelers that makes a large difference. According to the FDA, you may bring up to a 30-day supply as prescribed if you carry "a certificate or medical prescription from the prescribing physician". No permit is needed for that amount.
For a supply of 31 to 90 days, you need the same FDA permit as for Elvanse, applied for at least 15 days ahead. More than 90 days' supply cannot be brought in on one trip.
The 30 days are counted as prescribed use, so the limit depends on your dose. Ask your doctor to state the daily dose and the number of days the medicine covers in the certificate, so an officer can see the supply matches the rule. This applies to every form of methylphenidate, including slow-release tablets such as Concerta and capsules such as Medikinet.
Atomoxetine and other non-stimulants
Atomoxetine (Strattera) is not on either Thai list, and neither is guanfacine. Neither needs an FDA permit or a narcotics certificate. They fall under the ordinary rule for prescription medicines that the Royal Thai Embassy in London describes: a personal quantity of no more than 30 days' use, in the original labeled packaging, with a letter or prescription from your doctor.
The FDA does not name these two medicines in its traveler guidance, so this is a reading of the lists rather than a direct statement. For a written answer, the London embassy gives the FDA's Bureau of Drug Control as the contact for non-controlled medicines (drug@fda.moph.go.th). Modafinil, which is sometimes grouped with ADHD medicines, is also absent from both lists.
Two medicines, long stays and other special cases
Taking more than one ADHD medicine. Each ingredient follows its own rule. If you take Elvanse in the morning and a short-acting methylphenidate later in the day, you need a permit for the Elvanse, and a certificate (or a permit beyond 30 days) for the methylphenidate. Ask your doctor to list both in one certificate.
Staying longer than 90 days. The FDA rules cap what you can bring at 90 days' supply. People spending the winter in Thailand or living there on a Destination Thailand Visa will need a plan for the months after that, which normally means seeing a doctor in Thailand. The UK Foreign Office says hospitals and pharmacies across Thailand will usually accept UK prescriptions, but that general statement does not tell you whether a particular ADHD medicine is stocked. Contact a hospital before you rely on it; our guide to hospitals in Thailand explains the choice between private and public care. Do not expect a pharmacy to sell controlled medicines over the counter, whatever our article on what Thai pharmacies sell says about ordinary medicines.
Changing planes in Bangkok. We found no official statement on airside transit with ADHD medicine. The FDA's rules speak of carrying medicines "into/out of Thailand" without a transit exception. If your connection is in Bangkok and you carry Adderall, ask the Narcotics Control Division before you book rather than assume transit is safe.
Other controlled medicines on the same trip. Sleeping pills and strong painkillers follow the same two lists, with their own categories. See our pages on sleeping pills and codeine and other painkillers.
Leaving Thailand and arriving home
The FDA's permit rules apply to departures as well as arrivals: the guidance tells travelers to apply at least 15 days before their arrival or departure date. If you hold a permit for Elvanse, ask the Narcotics Control Division whether it also covers your departure or whether you need a second one. If a doctor in Thailand prescribes a controlled ADHD medicine and you fly home with it, the same rules apply.
Your home country has its own rules for bringing ADHD medicines back, and Norway and Denmark, for example, limit how many days of a controlled medicine you may carry on foreign papers. Our guide to taking medicine home from Thailand covers those rules. Make sure your travel insurance covers replacement medicine and doctor visits, and that you have declared your condition if the policy asks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring Adderall to Thailand with a prescription?
No. Amphetamine, the active ingredient in Adderall, is a Category I narcotic in Thailand, and the Thai FDA offers no permit route for Category I. A prescription or doctor's letter does not change that. Talk to your prescribing doctor well before the trip about what to do.
Is Elvanse or Vyvanse allowed in Thailand?
Yes, with a permit. Lisdexamfetamine is a Category II narcotic on the Thai FDA list, so you may bring up to 90 days' supply if you hold a Thai FDA permit, applied for online at least 15 days before you arrive (as of October 2026).
Do I need a permit for Ritalin or Concerta in Thailand?
Not for up to 30 days' supply. Methylphenidate is a Category II psychotropic, so a certificate or prescription from your doctor is enough for 30 days. For 31 to 90 days you need a Thai FDA permit, applied for at least 15 days ahead.
How long does the Thai FDA permit take?
The FDA says it issues the permit in approximately three working days after it receives a complete online application. It also requires you to apply at least 15 days before arrival or departure, so the deadline, not the processing time, decides when you must start.
Can I buy ADHD medication in Thailand?
Not over the counter. Stimulant ADHD medicines are controlled in Thailand, so you would need to see a doctor, usually at a hospital. Which brands are available locally is something we could not verify, so ask the hospital before you travel.
Sources
- Thai FDA – Guidance for travelers under treatment carrying personal medications (checked October 2026)
- Thai FDA – Control of narcotics, psychotropic substances and volatile substances (checked October 2026)
- Thai FDA – Table of controlled narcotic drugs (update 15 September 2025) (checked October 2026)
- Thai FDA – Table of controlled psychotropic substances (update 18 September 2025) (checked October 2026)
- Royal Thai Embassy London – Bringing medications to Thailand (checked October 2026)
- Royal Thai Embassy Tel Aviv – Guidance for travelers carrying personal medications (checked October 2026)
- UK FCDO – Thailand travel advice: health (checked October 2026)