Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines can’t be sent or transported to you by another person from Australia while you’re overseas.
The PBS only applies to medicines supplied in Australia. PBS medicines can’t be posted, taken, couriered or supplied to another person who is travelling or living overseas. Once you leave Australia, you can’t get medicines under the PBS.
If you illegally take or send PBS medicines overseas, you risk both the following:
- a fine of up to $16,500 as of February 2026
- up to 2 years in prison.
You shouldn’t go over the allowable limit of PBS medicine when you go overseas. You should only take enough medicine to cover your trip.
This is subject to PBS rules, your prescriber’s clinical judgement, Australian export laws and import laws of other countries.
If you run out of medicine while you’re travelling, you can’t receive a further supply under the PBS. PBS medicines can’t be dispensed to you if you’re not in Australia. They also can’t be sent or taken to you by another person from Australia, even if they were dispensed before your departure.
You can go to a doctor in the country you’re visiting. You can ask the doctor to prescribe the medicine you need.
Take the original packaging with you showing the dose and strength of the medicine. This will assist the doctor when prescribing the medicine.
Non-PBS medicines may be able to be sent, depending on Australian export laws and import laws of the destination country.
Medicines purchased overseas aren’t subsidised under the PBS and aren’t eligible for PBS refunds. The medicine may cost less if the country has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with us.
Non-PBS medicines may be able to be sent, depending on Australian export laws and import laws of the destination country.