Travelling Abroad with Medication

January is traditionally the month when most of us book our big summer holiday, but there’s more to think about than sitting by the pool, sipping cocktails. If, like almost half of the UK’s population, you take regular prescribed medication, it’s worth thinking about travelling with your meds early, and of course finding a specialist travel insurance policy that’s right for you - well, you’re in luck, because here at MIA we can help you with both!

Taking your meds away with you

Begin by speaking with your doctor or medical team about your travel plans at least two months in advance of your departure date. It sounds like a long time, but should you need additional medication to travel with, vaccinations or adaptations to your care, you’ll need to give your medical team as much notice as possible.

Be aware

It’s your responsibility to check if your medicines are classed as controlled or restricted substances, both here in the UK, and abroad. If you travel to a country where your drug isn’t permitted, you could face deportation, a heavy fine or even legal action. But don’t worry, there’s lots of support here for you.

You can check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if your drugs are controlled or restricted under the Misuse of Drugs Act, if they are, you’ll need to take some additional measures to travel with them. In some cases, this is a letter or document from your doctor, in others it can mean applying for a special licence and in some cases, this can prevent your travel, so check before you book.

If your medication is controlled and your doctor or pharmacist confirms that you need a personal licence, you should begin the application process as soon as you can, as it can take some time. The GOV website has simple and easy to follow instructions on how to apply for a personal licence via GOV.UK - personal licence.

If you’re travelling with a large volume of drugs, restricted medication or certain types of medical care equipment, you may need a document from your doctor to travel. Once again, this should be requested with plenty of notice.

Even if your medication isn’t controlled or restricted you may still need a letter from your doctor to carry your meds through airport security or border controls.

Note that you may be charged for any documents or letters from your doctor, as this doesn’t fall into usual NHS services in most Trusts but ask your medical team to be sure.

The government have put together a help page on what you can and can’t take through airport security and on planes. Visit the GOV.UK - Hand Luggage Restrictions page for full information.

Next, check the rules of the country or countries you’re travelling to, even if you're just passing through. You can do this via the embassy of the country you're travelling to. You’ll find all contact details here GOV.UK - foreign embassies.

General Tips

Here are a few of the essentials:

Put your medication, in its original packaging, in your hand luggage to prevent loss or delay as sometimes experienced with luggage stored in the hold of the aircraft.

Travel with more medication that you need but ask your doctor how much extra they’d advise you take. For most conditions, a few extra days will be enough but if you’re diabetic for example, your doctor may recommend that you take double your usual amount with you. This is to counteract any affects that your travel plans have on your insulin levels, such as a change in diet, extreme temperature changes or an upset tummy.

If your medication needs to be kept at a controlled temperature, make sure that you check that your destination has the facilities to accommodate this. You may also consider taking a medical cool box for your journey.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition you need the comfort of knowing that you’re covered if you become unwell, you lose your medication, or your mobility equipment becomes lost or damaged while you’re away from home.

Here at MIA, we have over 20 years of experience in the specialist medical travel insurance industry, so you can be confident that we’ll find the right policy for you, so you can relax and enjoy your holiday.