Is It Legal to Send Medicines Internationally from India?
India’s Foreign Trade Policy permits export of medicines for personal use through licensed international couriers when the medicines are for the named recipient’s personal health and not for resale or commercial distribution. This applies to prescription medicines (Schedule H and H1), over-the-counter drugs, Ayurvedic and homeopathic products, and dietary supplements.
What is prohibited in every case: narcotic analgesics, opioids, strong controlled substances under India’s NDPS Act, medicines that have been removed from original sealed packs, expired medicines, and quantities that clearly exceed personal use.
SLP Express reviews your medicine list via WhatsApp before pickup and will honestly advise you if anything on the list cannot travel.
Legal Limits by Destination Country
Each country sets its own import rules for medicines. The table below summarises the key rules for the most popular destinations from Hyderabad.
| Country | Personal supply limit | Prescription required | Ayurvedic / herbal | Key restriction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 90 days per medicine | Yes, for Rx drugs | Allowed (English labels) | No controlled substances (DEA Schedule II–V) |
| UK | 3–6 months personal supply | Yes, for POM drugs | Allowed if properly labelled | No Class A/B controlled drugs; MHRA governs |
| Canada | 90-day personal supply | Yes, prescription + invoice | Allowed (NHP regulations apply) | No Schedule I controlled substances (Controlled Drugs Act) |
| Australia | 3-month supply; 15 months for ongoing therapy with TGA exemption | Yes, doctor’s letter | Assessed case by case; biosecurity rules apply | TGA exemptions required for some medicines; no Poisons Standard 8 drugs |
| UAE / Gulf | 3-month personal supply | Yes, Ministry of Health attested | Generally allowed | Several opioids, psychotropics and sedatives banned; check DHA/MOHAP list |
| Germany / EU | 3-month supply | Yes, for prescription drugs | Allowed if not on EU banned list | No BtMG narcotic substances |
| Singapore | 3-month supply | Yes | Allowed (HSA regulations) | Misuse of Drugs Act strictly enforced; no psychotropics |
| New Zealand | 3-month supply | Yes | Biosecurity clearance required for some herbs | Medsafe classification applies; controlled drugs prohibited |
Prescription Handling: What Documents You Need
When you ship prescription medicines (Schedule H / H1 in India) internationally, customs officers at the destination need proof the shipment is for one person’s personal health. Prepare these before SLP Express collects from your door:
- Doctor’s prescription or letter — On letterhead with patient name, medicine names, doses, duration and a statement of personal use. The letter should ideally be from the treating doctor in India or the receiving country.
- Pharmacy purchase invoice — Shows date, quantities, brand name and purchase price. Useful even for OTC and Ayurvedic items.
- Medicine list in English — Brand name, generic name, strength (e.g. Metformin 500 mg), quantity per pack and number of packs.
- Sender and receiver ID copy — Aadhaar/PAN for sender; passport copy or address proof for receiver. Required for export KYC.
SLP Express prepares the commercial invoice and customs declaration, attaches prescription copies in a sealed document pouch on the carton exterior, and files the correct export declaration with the carrier so the shipment clears both Indian export and destination import customs without hold.
Prohibited Drugs You Cannot Send Internationally
These categories are refused by all reputable carriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS, Aramex) and may result in seizure and legal action against the sender:
- Narcotic analgesics and opioids: morphine, oxycodone, tramadol in large quantities, pethidine, codeine in combination products above threshold doses.
- Benzodiazepines and sleeping pills classified as controlled substances in the destination country: alprazolam, diazepam, nitrazepam, zolpidem.
- Anabolic steroids, testosterone and growth hormones without specific medical exemption.
- Psychedelic compounds and substances listed under the NDPS Act.
- Any medicine flagged by the destination country’s health authority as requiring import permits.
If you are unsure whether a medicine is permitted, WhatsApp us the medicine name and destination country before booking. We consult our carrier guidelines and advise honestly.
Packing Medicines for International Courier
Medicine boxes need different handling from food or general parcels. Our packing sequence ensures your medicines arrive in the same condition they left your home:
- Sort and verify — Check expiry dates, confirm seals are intact and that all prescription items match the doctor’s letter. Reject any open or damaged packs before packing.
- Individual bubble wrap — Wrap each medicine box separately to prevent carton-to-carton movement that can break seals.
- Cold chain for temperature-sensitive medicines — Insulin, certain injectables and biological medicines go into an insulated liner with gel ice packs. Exterior carries KEEP COOL labelling. Schedule morning pickup for cold-chain items to minimise warm exposure time.
- Document pouch — Sealed transparent pouch containing prescription copies and medicine list attached to the carton exterior — accessible to customs without opening the shipment.
- Double-wall outer carton — Export-grade double-wall cardboard, waterproof tape, correct address label and fragile stickers where needed.
Free packing is included with every SLP Express pickup across Hyderabad — no need to bring your own boxes or bubble wrap.
Customs Clearance: What Happens at the Destination
International customs officers at the destination scan the air waybill and review the commercial invoice before deciding whether to release or inspect a medicine parcel. Parcels clear quickly when:
- Medicines are in sealed, branded original packs with English or bilingual labelling.
- Quantities match personal supply limits for the named patient.
- Prescription copies are in the document pouch on the exterior.
- Declared value is honest and consistent with retail price.
- No controlled or prohibited substances are included.
Holds and seizures happen primarily when medicines are loose strips without branded packaging, the prescription is missing, quantities look commercial, or a prohibited substance appears on the invoice. SLP Express has 25 years of experience structuring declarations that clear customs smoothly for all the major destinations.
Top Medicine Shipping Destinations from Hyderabad
The most frequently shipped medicine corridors from SLP Express’s Hyderabad hub:
- USA — New Jersey, Texas, California, Georgia and other states with large Indian communities. 90-day personal supply rule; DHL Express 3–5 days.
- UK — London, Birmingham, Leicester, Manchester. Up to 6 months supply with doctor’s letter; DHL 3–5 days.
- Canada — Toronto, Brampton, Vancouver, Calgary. 90-day rule; FedEx or DHL 4–6 days.
- Australia — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane. TGA personal importation scheme; 3-month supply; DHL 4–6 days.
- UAE — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah. MOH import permission may be required for some drugs; check MOHAP list. DHL 2–3 days.
- Germany — Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich. EU import rules; 3-month supply; DHL 3–5 days.
- Singapore — Strict HSA regulations; no psychotropics. DHL 2–4 days.
- New Zealand — Auckland, Wellington. Medsafe rules; biosecurity check on herbal ingredients. DHL 5–7 days.
Ayurvedic and Homeopathic Medicines: Special Considerations
Himalaya, Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath and similar branded Ayurvedic products ship weekly from Hyderabad to NRI families in the USA, UK and Gulf. Key rules:
- Products must be in factory-sealed packaging with an English ingredients list.
- Australia and New Zealand may screen for specific botanical ingredients that are listed under their biosecurity schedules (e.g. certain ashwagandha preparations or neem products).
- USA FDA classifies many Ayurvedic products as dietary supplements rather than medicines — these generally clear customs without a prescription when in sealed retail packs.
- UAE requires honest declaration; certain herbal stimulants or products containing opium-derived ingredients are banned.
Provide pharmacy bills for all Ayurvedic items even if not prescription-only. We format them correctly for the air waybill.
Splitting Shipments: When and How
When two family members in different cities need the same chronic medicine, ship separate parcels with separate prescriptions and receiver names. Combining medicine for multiple patients in one parcel looks like redistribution to customs and may trigger inspection.
When quantity exceeds the personal supply limit but medical need is genuine (e.g. a patient who cannot easily access the brand abroad for six months), ask the treating doctor for a letter explaining the full treatment period. We attach it in the document pouch. Splitting into two parcels dispatched one week apart also reduces customs scrutiny.
Common Mistakes That Cause Medicine Courier Delays
- Sending loose blister strips without the branded outer box — customs needs the labelled box to verify the medicine.
- Missing prescription for Schedule H / H1 drugs — the most common cause of holds.
- Wrong receiver name on customs papers versus the delivery address — customs checks these match.
- Declaring zero value on the customs invoice — every parcel needs a declared value even for personal-use medicines.
- Including a controlled substance without realising it is prohibited at destination — check before packing.
- Sending expired stock — check dates before pickup; expired medicine at customs creates unnecessary complications.
How to Book Free Medicine Pickup in Hyderabad
- WhatsApp +91 99510 83676 with photos of medicine packs, the destination country and city, prescription availability and approximate total weight.
- We confirm which medicines are shippable, advise on quantity limits, quote the chargeable weight price and schedule same-day pickup when possible.
- At your doorstep we weigh, pack (including cold chain if needed), prepare customs paperwork and share the tracking number before the parcel leaves for DHL or FedEx.
ISO certified, 30,000+ satisfied customers, 25 years of medicine courier experience, insured shipment options and wholesale carrier rates. SLP Express is the courier Hyderabad families trust when medicines must reach the right person on time.
See also: Sending Medicine to USA: Legal Limits & Rules | Medicine Courier service page