It’s illegal to take or send Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidised medicines overseas for someone other than yourself or someone you’re travelling with. This includes immediate family members or relatives.
If you illegally take or send PBS-subsidised medicines overseas, you risk one or both of these:
- a fine of up to $16,500 as of February 2026
- 2 years in prison.
You can only take your PBS medicines with you when you travel overseas for your own personal use or the personal use of someone who is travelling with you.
Before you go
Before you travel check the medicine is legal in the countries you’re visiting, this includes countries you’re transiting through.
To find out what their rules are before you take or send medicines, check with embassies, high commissions or consulates on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
If it’s legal, get a letter from your doctor or your travel companion’s doctor that lists your medicines, including the strength and daily dosage. Take the letter with you when you travel.
If you can’t do this, print and fill in the Medicine Export Declaration form. Take it with you when you go through customs.
Leave the medicine in the original packaging.
Find out more about embassies, high commissions or consulates on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
If you have concerns about any medicine you plan to take with you overseas, check the SmartTraveller website. You can search for the country you’re visiting and check what it says about medication under ‘Health’.
If you need more information, call the PBS taking or sending medicine overseas line. We can help translate this information in another language. Let us know if you need an interpreter and we’ll arrange one for free.
Contact numbers available on this page.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - taking or sending medicine overseas
Use this line if you need help managing your Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicine overseas.
There are other ways you may want to contact us.