If you’ve started medicinal cannabis as part of your treatment, travel can throw up a few questions. Can you take it on the plane? What about layovers? What happens at the border? The good news is that travelling with a prescription is usually straightforward, especially within New Zealand. Travelling overseas takes a bit more planning, but it is absolutely doable in many cases.
This guide walks you through what to think about before you fly, what paperwork to bring, and what to do if things do not go to plan.
A note before you start
Medicinal cannabis laws vary widely from country to country. Even though your prescription is legal in New Zealand, it may not be recognised at your destination, and some countries with very strict laws can make even a stopover risky.
The basics every patient should know
Whether you are heading to Hamilton or Hanoi, a few rules apply across the board:
- Keep your medication in its original pharmacy packaging with the label intact.
- Carry a hard copy of your prescription. A digital one on your phone is fine as backup, but paper is what officials usually want to see.
- Ask your prescriber for a travel letter. This is a short document confirming that you have been prescribed medicinal cannabis, what for, and the quantity you are carrying. It can save a lot of explaining at the border.
- Pack your medication in your carry-on, never your checked bag. Checked bags can go missing, get delayed, or be searched without you present.
- Bring only what you need for your trip. Unusually large quantities can raise questions even in places where your medication is legal.
- Check the dispensing date on your pharmacy label. Medication that was dispensed months ago can prompt questions at the border, even where your prescription is otherwise valid. For longer trips or trips overseas, it is worth timing your dispense reasonably close to your departure date.
Domestic travel within New Zealand
Travelling within New Zealand with prescribed medicinal cannabis is legal. The key things to remember:
- Your medication must be prescribed by a registered NZ prescriber.
- Keep it in its original pharmacy-labelled packaging.
- Bring a copy of your prescription or a prescriber’s letter.
- Quantity guidance: up to a three-month supply for CBD-only products, and up to a one-month supply for other medicinal cannabis products.
If you are flying domestically, it is still a good idea to check with your airline ahead of time. Most are familiar with prescribed medication, but having written confirmation can save you a stressful conversation at the gate.
The Ministry of Health publishes the most up-to-date guidance on its website (linked at the bottom of this article), and we recommend checking before each trip.
Travelling to Australia
Australia is the most common overseas destination for New Zealanders, and it has a clear pathway for travellers under the Traveller’s Exemption.
Under this exemption, you may bring up to a three-month supply of prescribed medicinal cannabis into Australia for personal use. You will need to:
- Carry a copy of your prescription.
- Carry a letter from your prescribing doctor.
- Keep your medication in its original pharmacy-labelled packaging.
- Be ready to show that the quantity matches your prescription.
If your medication is for vaporising, additional limits apply to vaping goods (currently 2 vapes and 20 cartridges, capsules or pods, plus limits on vape liquid).
Rules can vary slightly between Australian states and territories, so it is worth checking with the relevant state health department before you travel, especially for longer stays. The Australian Office of Drug Control website has the most current information.
Travelling further afield
This is where things get more complicated. Even if your prescription is perfectly legal in New Zealand, many countries do not distinguish between medicinal and recreational cannabis. Some have strict zero-tolerance laws and harsh penalties.
Before you book:
- Research the cannabis laws of your destination, and any country you will transit through.
- Contact the embassy of your destination to confirm what is allowed and what documentation they expect.
- Check with your airline. Some airlines have their own policies about prescribed cannabis on board, regardless of where you are flying.
- Plan for documentation: your prescription, a travel letter from your prescriber, and your medication in its original pharmacy packaging.
Where you cannot confirm the rules, or where they are unclear, the safest option is to leave your medication at home and talk to your prescriber about alternatives for the duration of your trip.
Transit and layovers: the bit people forget
A long-haul flight from New Zealand almost always means a stopover. This is where the trip can come unstuck. Some transit countries enforce extremely strict cannabis laws, and being in international transit does not always protect you.
Singapore is the one to watch. It enforces some of the harshest cannabis laws in the world, with severe penalties for possession and even harsher penalties for import. Avoid Singapore as a layover if you are carrying medicinal cannabis. Other Asian transit hubs (Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila) all have strict laws too.
If you are flying via Australia or the United States (Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco), the rules of those countries apply to your transit too. Australia is generally fine if you have your paperwork. The United States is not, even for transit, because cannabis remains illegal at the federal level.
Returning to New Zealand
Coming home, the same NZ Ministry of Health rules apply: up to a three-month supply of CBD-only product, and up to a one-month supply of other medicinal cannabis. Declare it on your passenger arrival card and have your documentation ready.
Popular destinations: a quick snapshot
Cannabis laws change often, so always confirm with the relevant embassy or government website before you travel. The notes below are a starting point, not a substitute for current advice.
Pacific Islands (Fiji, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Vanuatu)
Most Pacific nations have strict cannabis laws and do not recognise foreign medical cannabis prescriptions. Travellers are generally advised not to carry medicinal cannabis to the Pacific. Talk to your prescriber about alternatives for the trip.
United States (including Hawaii)
Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, even where individual states have legalised it. Do not bring medicinal cannabis into the United States, including on transit through US airports.
United Kingdom
Medicinal cannabis is legal in the UK and travellers may bring up to a three-month supply with appropriate documentation. Check with the relevant authorities before travel.
Europe
Rules vary widely. Some countries (such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy) generally allow prescribed cannabis medicines for personal use with the right paperwork, often limited to a one-month supply. Others (such as Spain and Greece) require prior authorisation. Scandinavian countries are particularly strict, including for transit. Always check with the destination embassy.
Thailand
Medicinal cannabis is legal in Thailand, but importing it as a visitor is complicated. Patients are generally advised not to travel into Thailand with cannabis. If you need it during your stay, you may be able to access it locally under medical supervision.
Bali and the wider Indonesia
Cannabis is strictly illegal in Indonesia, including for medical use. Penalties are severe. Do not travel to Indonesia with medicinal cannabis.
Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt)
Zero-tolerance laws apply. Foreign prescriptions are not recognised, and possession can result in arrest, detention, or worse. Avoid these countries if you are carrying medicinal cannabis, including for transit.
Canada
Despite domestic legalisation, Canada prohibits cross-border transport of cannabis. Do not bring it in, even on transit.
What to do if things do not go to plan
Even when you have done everything right, you may still run into staff or officials who do not fully understand the law. Documented overseas case studies show that confiscations sometimes happen, and patients have had medication seized despite carrying full documentation.
If this happens to you:
- Stay calm and polite. Confrontation rarely helps and can make things worse.
- Have your prescription and travel letter ready in your hand luggage, not buried in your bag.
- If an officer is unfamiliar with medicinal cannabis law, you can politely ask them to consult a supervisor.
- If asked, your prescribing clinic can sometimes verify your patient status by phone. Keep the clinic’s contact number handy.
- If your medication is confiscated despite proper documentation, ask for a written record of what was taken. You may be able to follow up afterwards.
Travel checklist
Before you fly, make sure you have:
- Original pharmacy-labelled packaging
- A hard copy of your prescription
- A travel letter from your prescriber
- Country-specific documentation if required (some embassies issue letters or permits)
- Confirmation from your airline that they accept prescribed medicinal cannabis on board
- Knowledge of quantity limits for your destination
- Awareness of any countries you will transit through and their laws
- A plan for declaring on the passenger arrival card if required
Talk to our team before you go
If you are unsure about your destination, the paperwork, or what to take, we are happy to help you prepare. We can talk through the practical side and provide a travel letter to bring along.
Book a consultation here.
Disclaimer
Medicinal cannabis is an unapproved medicine in New Zealand. This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Cannabis laws change frequently and vary between jurisdictions. Always confirm current requirements with the relevant embassy, government authority, and airline before travel. Cannabis Clinic accepts no liability for actions taken based on this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Up to a three-month supply of a CBD-only product, or up to a one-month supply of any other medicinal cannabis product. You will need your prescription or a prescriber’s letter, and the medication must be in its original pharmacy packaging.
It can be. Customs officials sometimes question medication that was dispensed a long time ago, even where your prescription itself is still valid. The label on your pharmacy packaging shows the dispensing date, so it is the most visible thing officials will see. For longer trips or trips overseas, it is worth talking to your clinic about timing your next dispense closer to your departure date, so the medication you are carrying is clearly current.
Ideally within a few weeks of your travel. A letter dated months earlier can raise questions about whether you are still under active care. We can issue a fresh travel letter close to your departure date, just give us a heads-up so we can have it ready in time.
Generally yes, if it is prescribed and properly documented. Always check your airline’s policy and the laws of your destination, especially for international flights.
Most airlines allow vaporisers in carry-on luggage but prohibit their use on board. Some countries also have strict vape import limits. Australia, for example, has rules on the number of vapes and cartridges you can bring in. Check with your airline and destination authorities before flying.
In New Zealand, yes, declare it on your passenger arrival card. Internationally, declaration rules vary. Some countries require declaration; others do not. When in doubt, declaring is usually safer than being caught not declaring. Follow the embassy’s guidance.
This can lead to confiscation, fines, or being refused entry to a country. Always pack your documentation in your carry-on and double-check before you leave home. If you have genuinely forgotten, contact your prescribing clinic as soon as possible, as they may be able to email you a copy.
Always carry-on. Checked bags can be delayed, lost, or searched without you. Carry-on means you have access to your medication if you need it, and you can present it quickly if asked.
Talk to your prescriber before you travel. They may be able to issue a longer prescription if it is clinically appropriate. Just remember that quantity rules at the border still apply, and you cannot bring back more than the legal limit when returning to New Zealand.
Plan ahead so this does not happen. If it does, your options depend on the country. In countries with their own medicinal cannabis programmes (such as Australia or Germany), you may be able to access medication locally with the right paperwork, but it is usually a complex process. Talk to your prescribing clinic before you travel about contingency plans.
Driving laws vary by country and many have zero-tolerance roadside testing. Even where medicinal cannabis is legal, driving while affected may not be. Always check the local rules and use your judgement. If your medication contains THC, driving may not be legal at all in some countries.
THC-containing products will show up on standard drug tests. Even though your use is legal in New Zealand, this can cause issues with workplace testing or roadside testing overseas. Know the rules for any drug testing you may be subject to before you travel.
Contact the embassy of your destination country (the one based in or accredited to New Zealand). Ask them what documents they need and how long the process takes. Some countries require you to apply weeks or months in advance. Your prescribing clinic can usually provide the medical information needed for the application.
There is no formal safe list, and laws change frequently. As a general rule, Australia has the clearest pathway for NZ patients, followed by some European countries (Germany, France, the Netherlands) and the UK. Most of the Pacific, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States should be approached very cautiously, if at all. Always check current rules with the embassy before travel.
Yes, it can. Some countries treat in-transit possession the same as full entry. Singapore is the standout example for NZ travellers because of its strict cannabis laws. Plan flight paths to avoid high-risk transit countries where possible.
Cruise ships are generally subject to the laws of the country whose port they are in or whose flag they fly under. Cruise lines have their own policies, often stricter than land-based travel. Always check with the cruise operator before you book.
Your medication is prescribed to you and should stay with you. Sharing prescription medication, even with family, is not legal in most jurisdictions and can complicate matters at the border.
References and useful links
- Ministry of Health Medicinal Cannabis Agency: information for consumers (health.govt.nz)
- New Zealand Customs Service: travelling with prescription medicines (customs.govt.nz)
- Australian Office of Drug Control: medicinal cannabis importation and traveller’s exemption (odc.gov.au)
- Your destination country’s embassy: search for ‘[country] embassy New Zealand’
- https://www.ukmccs.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Medical-Cannabis_-Frequently-asked-questions-2.pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis_by_country
- https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/medicinal-cannabis-agency/medicinal-cannabis-agency-information-consumers
- https://www.odc.gov.au/medicinal-cannabis-importation-and-travellers-exemption
Disclaimer: Medicinal cannabis and CBD oil are unapproved medicines in NZ which means that there is no conclusive evidence for their effect, apart from Sativex. Many doctors do not routinely prescribe cannabis medicines. The above article was written for general educational purposes and does not intend to suggest that medicinal cannabis can be used to treat any health condition. Please consult with your healthcare provider.