Travelling with your medication shouldn't be an overly stressful experience, however, for most travellers this is an incredibly stressful part of their trip planning. With a little bit of preparation, such as labeling your medication, bringing your prescription, and knowing the 90-day rules, you can get through security and customs smoothly and have the medication you need on hand throughout your vacation.
How to travel with medication to Canada: 7 field-tested tips
If you're visiting Canada with medication, here are our 7 field-tested tips to help you enjoy your trip stress-free.
1. Keep your medication easy to reach (carry-on wins)
Pack meds in your carry-on, not checked baggage. Security allows prescripton and essential non-prescription liquid/gel/aerosol medicationsin volumes over 100 ml, just show them to the officer. Keep them together in a pouch so you can present them quickly.
Bonus: For temperature-sensitive meds, gel/ice packs are allowed when used to keep medicine cold - declare them during screening.
2. Don't repackage if you can avoid it
Pill organizers are okay for airport screening, but original pharmacy packaging with your name, drug/generic name, and dosage is ideal. Doing so, will improve your likely hood of not being hassled by a border officer and limiting the amount of questions they have for you. If you can't use the original packaging, bring a copy of the prescription and/or a doctor's letter.
3. Travel with a copy of your perscription
A copy of your prescription is helpful if security officials need to verify who the prescription is for and what the medication is. The copy of your prescription should contain:
Your name
The generic name of the drug
The commercial name of the drug
The dosage prescribed
A brief doctor's letter helps if you're carrying injection supplies or large quantities.
4. Bring a little extra, but know the 90-day limit
Sometimes, your trip won’t go as planned. You might want to extend your stay just a little bit longer. Or, your trip might be delayed due to an unforeseen event. If you’re travelling with prescription drugs internationally, having extra medication on hand is always a good decision.
However, you will be restricted to no more than 90 days of medication at any one time. If you are staying longer than 90 days, you may need to go to a walk-in clinic in Canada to have the prescription refilled. In most cases, this is not covered by your travel insurance policy. Please check your insurance policy wording details to see if you have prescription medication coverage.
Canadian residents cannot bring an additional prescription across the border or have it delivered by mail or courier. However if you are a visitor to Canada (and not a resident) staying for more than three months, you can bring an additional 90-day prescription every three months by mail or courier.
If you are going to have prescriptions delivered, it is encouraged to indicate on the outside of your package that it is for a visitor to Canada. In addition, you could include a copy of any of the following documentation to show your visitor status:
A copy of your passport,
Student or work visa, or
A letter from an employer or university.
You should be ready to provide any of the above documents when receiving your prescription package as well.
5. Use a separate carry-on for medical equipment if needed
If you use medical equipment, you can store it in a carry-on dedicated to your medical needs.
There is no carry-on bag limit restriction for medical supplies, equipment and mobility aids. A number of supplies, including pills, gels, liquids, pumps, and ostomy bags, can be stored here.
You may need to inform your airline or the airport depending on the medical device or supplies you may have. Visit the travelling with a medical device government webpage to understand the specifics.
6. Keep a Doctor’s Note Handy
A doctor’s note can help customs officials verify that you are travelling with medication essential for your health. Your doctor should include the following in the letter:
The date
Your full name
Your doctor’s name and contact details
Your health condition
Your prescription drugs
The use of any medical supplies or equipment
What may happen if you are denied access to your medical equipment or prescriptions
Your doctor’s signature
7. Never leave your bag unattended
Leaving your bag unattended when travelling with medical supplies or prescriptions. It puts you at risk of having your prescriptions or supplies tampered with, stolen, or having controlled substances placed in your luggage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that we are frequently asked by travellers who are concerned about travelling with their presceiption medicine:
BestQuote MedEC Policy
Provincial health plans don’t cover visitors. If you’re visiting from abroad, travel medical insurance is what protects you from emergency bills in Canada. Our BestQuote MedEC policies include three pre-paid Maple doctor visits per year (nice when you need non-emergency care), and if you become eligible and enroll in a provincial plan, you can get 25% of the remaining premium refunded. (See policy for full details and eligibility.)
Read more about MedEC's unique policy benefits here.
Generate a quote today on the left-side of this page or learn more about travel medical insurance for visitors to Canada!