Japan · Prescription medication
Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) on a flight to Japan
What is written here comes from the official source we verified, with the quote and the date it was checked. What has not been verified says so.
This record was researched for a trip departing from Israel. Flying from somewhere else? Mention it in the initial eligibility check — parts of the answer may differ.
This page in Hebrew: עברית
There is a route to this destination — and we go through it with you.
We explain the options, settle with you which one fits, prepare the documents and check them. We file on your behalf where that is possible; whatever only you can do, you receive ready in hand.
The bottom line
- How much you may take
- Recorded in Hebrew only
- Which documents
- 5 documents listed — names recorded in Hebrew only
- When to start
- At least 14 days before the flight · our accompaniment: 21–30 business days
What is required to enter Japan
- Permitted quantity
- Recorded in Hebrew only
- Approving body
- Recorded in Hebrew only
- Translation
- Not yet verified
- Notary
- Not yet verified
- Advance time required
- At least 14 days before the flight
- Filing by someone else
- Not yet verified
- How it is filed
- By email
- What is required of you
- You hand us documents and sign
- Israeli document
- A valid Israeli prescription in your name is required, covering the whole period of travel.
The documents this record lists
5 documents are listed; their names are recorded in Hebrew.
In this record, the quantity rule, the approving body and the document names are written in Hebrew. We do not machine-translate our records — the full text is on the Hebrew version of this page.
Where people actually come unstuck
Every line here is a failure documented in this record — not a scenario we made up.
15 documented failure points are recorded for this destination and medication in Hebrew. We do not machine-translate our records — the full text is on the Hebrew version of this page.
How to prepare properly
You fly with your own medication from home — and with an official document that covers you on entry.
- You upload the documentsThe licence and prescription you already have, through a secure link.
- We assemble and check the applicationTranslating and arranging it in exactly the format the authority requires.
- We file on your behalf where permittedAnd handle the correspondence. On a route where only you may file — you receive the file ready in hand.
- We stay with it until there is an answerFollowing up, handling requests for more information and keeping you updated. Processing time depends on the authority, not on us.
Frequently asked questions
How much pseudoephedrine may I take to Japan?
Which documents are needed?
Do I need a notarised translation?
How long before the flight should I start?
Can someone else handle this for me?
Do I need a valid Israeli prescription or licence?
Want to go through this together?
We explain the options, settle with you which one fits, prepare the documents and check them. We file on your behalf where that is possible; whatever only you can do, you receive ready in hand.
An initial eligibility check at no cost. We go over your case, tell you which routes exist for this destination, what each of them requires of you and how long it takes — and you decide whether to continue.
The sources
Every claim on this page rests on one of these. The quote is verbatim, in the language of the source.
Procedure depends on the category of the controlled substances; the category is divided into Narcotics, Psychotropics, Stimulants, Stimulants' Raw Materials, Cannabis and Opium.https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
If your medicine is in “Narcotics” and/or “Stimulants' Raw Materials”, you need to get a permission before you enter/leave Japan.https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
Srimulants Raw Materisls:Lisdexamfetamine(Vyvanse, Elvanse...), Pseudoephedrine...https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine (*Any substances containing 10% or less of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine are excluded.) SRM ―https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/dl_data/keitai/cotrolled_substances_list20241212%20.pdf
＊１：N=Narcotic、SRM＝Stimulant' Raw Material、P＝Psychotropic、O＝Opium、C＝Cannabishttps://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/dl_data/keitai/cotrolled_substances_list20241212%20.pdf
＊２：No persons shall import/export substances that have a "✔".https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/dl_data/keitai/cotrolled_substances_list20241212%20.pdf
It is strictly prohibited to import narcotics and Stimulants' Raw Materials into Japan except in the case of prescribed narcotics and Stimulants' Raw Materials for a specific patient bringing them with permission before you enter Japan.https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/iyakuhin/kojinyunyu/topics/tp010401-1_00001.html
You should apply at least 14 days prior to your travel. In case of urgency, please contact us.https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
By e-mail / FAX / mail, submit above documents to:https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
C.If you are entering Japan; To the Narcotics Control Department in charge of the area where you are arriving in Japan.https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
Kanto-Shin’etsu Office 〒102-8309 1-2-1-１７F, Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Phone：81-3-3512-8691/Fax：81-3-3512-8689 E-mail：tokyoncd●mhlw.go.jphttps://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/dl_data/keitai/area_en.pdf
Please submit the application to the office in charge of your airport of arrival in Japan.https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/dl_data/keitai/area_en.pdf
③ 海外在住の場合は、入国予定の空港等を管轄する地方厚生（支）局麻薬取締部https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/dl_data/keitai/guide_narcotics_jp20241212.pdf
You need to get a medical certificate from the doctor who prescribed your medicine. The medical certificate must include:https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
It will not be accertable just "for personal use", "for medical conditions", "for travel", "for treatment")https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
The date of issue of medical certificate (Issued date within 3 months)https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
③医師の診断書 １通（日本語又は英語）https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/shinsei6.html
Our email system cannot view "HEIC files". Please send your photos as "JPEG files", "PDF files" or "Word files".https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
許可書の発行に手数料はかかりません。https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/shinsei6.html
申請書類に不備がなく、許可が行われた場合には、麻薬携帯輸入（輸出）許可書（日本語で記載されたもの）と麻薬携帯輸入（輸出）許可証明書（英語で記載されたもの）の各１通が交付されます。https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/dl_data/keitai/guide_narcotics_jp20241212.pdf
2.Please show the “IMPORT CERTIFICATE/EXPORT CERTIFICATE” to an officer at the Customs.https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
1.When you enter/leave Japan, you must carry your medicine with yourself.https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
(You can't send your medicine to/from Japan and you can't also entrust carrying it to other people, such as your family.)https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
必ず申請した患者さん本人が、麻薬を携帯して輸入（輸出）しなければなりませんので注意してください。https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/dl_data/keitai/guide_narcotics_jp20241212.pdf
④ 返信用封筒 １枚 サイズは、長３用以上のもの。宛先を明記してください。送料は自己負担です。簡易書留以上の返信手段を推奨します。https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/dl_data/keitai/guide_narcotics_jp20241212.pdf
⑤宛先を明記した返信用封筒 １枚https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/shinsei6.html
申請書の送付及び許可書の送付に要する期間を考慮し、出国日又は入国日の２週間前までに提出してください。https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/dl_data/keitai/guide_narcotics_jp20241212.pdf
②、③については原則として、麻薬を施用されている患者さん本人が申請書に記入していただきますが、種々の事情により医師又は患者さんの家族等が代筆しても差し支えありません。https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/dl_data/keitai/guide_narcotics_jp20241212.pdf
申請書を代筆した場合には、代筆者は、その旨を申請書の枠外の下部に記載し、署名してください。https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/dl_data/keitai/guide_narcotics_jp20241212.pdf
When guardians or parents, are going to fill out application on behalf of underage persons, please fill in the name field of theapplication form with the name of the person who actually takes the medicine.https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
3.Sometimes emails may not come through successfully due to our high security setting, transmission issues or file size, and such failures are not our responsibility.https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
5. Even if you send us an email, there are cases where it may not reach us for various reasons. If we receive a follow-up email, we will check whether your original message with the application documents was received.https://www.ncd.mhlw.go.jp/en/application2.html
Last updated: — the date the source was verified, not a publication date.