Carrying medications into Thailand

[MEL_Traveller]

If you have the permit, what’s the need to further declare? Does the permit have to be validated?

 

[I love to travel]

For Thailand the doctor needs to complete a form unlike other country's "permits".

See post #1 & 2 upthread @Ilovetotravel

I printed it out from memory, had all the answers ready for GP so she didn't have to think too much about it.
I am away in Vietnam but can check my Thailand travel stuff when home later next week.

Thanks any data points helpful. Would be great if @RooFlyer or someone else could provide any data points - also are you able to start the application and then save it and submit later? The problem I have is I am away for 6 weeks and therefore will need GP to action before I leave when they state it should be no earlier than a month before entry. Of course Thailand is the last place not the list. All this for codeine!!!

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm a bit reluctant to contribute here, as memory is hazy.

I registered, but made a mistake in my DoB would you believe. I e-mailed [email protected] asking for assistance and they replied almost immediately (effectively, 'don't worry' (!) ).

I recall I printed out the 'Application for inbound traveller ...' form 1C-1 - its pretty straight forward. I showed my doctor the language of what was required and he wrote a letter, listing medications, strengths, dose and reason (condition). Just a bit more than what I regularly get as my 'doctors travel letter'. Per the guidance (not prescriptions, a letter)



I then scanned the (hand written-in) permit 1C-1 and doctors letter and passport and e-mailed them in, and within a day the permit came (PDF attachment).

On arrival at BKK, I went to the red lane, bailed up the guy there, showed him the medication and the permit. He seemed a bit puzzled at what it was about (I don't think many people do it ) but glanced at the letter and waived me on.

If you have the permit, what’s the need to further declare? Does the permit have to be validated?

Permit doesn't need to be validated (other than sighted), but just that the rules say:

 

[I love to travel]

I'm a bit reluctant to contribute here, as memory is hazy.

I registered, but made a mistake in my DoB would you believe. I e-mailed [email protected] asking for assistance and they replied almost immediately (effectively, 'don't worry' (!) ).

I recall I printed out the 'Application for inbound traveller ...' form 1C-1 - its pretty straight forward. I showed my doctor the language of what was required and he wrote a letter, listing medications, strengths, dose and reason (condition). Just a bit more than what I regularly get as my 'doctors travel letter'. Per the guidance (not prescriptions, a letter)

View attachment 460305

I then scanned the (hand written-in) permit 1C-1 and doctors letter and passport and e-mailed them in, and within a day the permit came (PDF attachment).

On arrival at BKK, I went to the red lane, bailed up the guy there, showed him the medication and the permit. He seemed a bit puzzled at what it was about (I don't think many people do it ) but glanced at the letter and waived me on.



Permit doesn't need to be validated (other than sighted), but just that the rules say:

View attachment 460306

Thanks it was the ability of the doctor to write a letter that was important for me to know. I can submit closer to the time. Thanks again

 

[AuSammy]

Thanks any data points helpful. Would be great if @RooFlyer or someone else could provide any data points - also are you able to start the application and then save it and submit later? The problem I have is I am away for 6 weeks and therefore will need GP to action before I leave when they state it should be no earlier than a month before entry. Of course Thailand is the last place not the list. All this for codeine!!!

Been to Thailand several times (entries via BKK & HKT) and 75+ other countries including multiple entries to Vietnam via 4 entry points.

When I travel I only take sufficient medication for the prescribed dose x number of days +2 (in case of a delay)

I carry a generic letter from my GP which says I have prescribed the following (list of everything) to Sammy.

Never been stopped or queried anywhere in the world yet.

Unlike others above I don't carry oxycodone or mood enhancing drugs. But do carry panadeine forte and other medications with codeine etc, muscle relaxants etc

Maybe I am taking a risk but my reasoning is I’m only carrying what the dr prescribed in the quantities necessary for the duration of my trip and there is no spares to sell or donate for anyone else.

 

[Flyfrequently]

If you have the permit, what’s the need to further declare? Does the permit have to be validated?

Permit does not need to be validated @MEL_Traveller but need (should) declare as per their instructions and to go through red channel.
Like @RooFlyer @Seat0B and others, when getting permit, going to red channel to declare, staff seem not to know/understand. My experience was USM.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Thanks any data points helpful. Would be great if @RooFlyer or someone else could provide any data points - also are you able to start the application and then save it and submit later? The problem I have is I am away for 6 weeks and therefore will need GP to action before I leave when they state it should be no earlier than a month before entry. Of course Thailand is the last place not the list. All this for codeine!!!

Thanks @RooFlyer in outlining it all so well.
From what I have read on this and other forums for codeine and other meds, some don't bother to get the permits required for many countries ( UAE, Indonesia, Singapore to name a few)

@Ilovetotravel my logic (as a catastrophiser!) was that as I had the Thai permit - could I be flagged at some stage at BP if I didn't produce it with said meds?
I just never want to be "the one".

 

[RooFlyer]

When I travel I only take sufficient medication for the prescribed dose x number of days +2 (in case of a delay)

I carry a generic letter from my GP which says I have prescribed the following (list of everything) to Sammy.

Never been stopped or queried anywhere in the world yet.

Ditto for me for all of those points. But once @Flyfrequently pointed out the regulations for Thailand, I thought it foolish not to comply.

 

[AuSammy]

Ditto for me for all of those points. But once @Flyfrequently pointed out the regulations for Thailand, I thought it foolish not to comply.

[OT]

The one time I had second thoughts was traveling to North America for an extended holiday and I had to take enough medical supplies for 3+ months.

However, nobody seemed interested even with a bag search.

The immigration officer (YYZ) was more focussed on asking me more than 5 times the exact same question “why are you coming to the US for so long, I need the purpose of the trip”.

Apparently “I’m here on an extended holiday to explore the country and here is my full itinerary and the companies Ive booked tours with in several states” was insufficient reason and he went on and on and on as I gave the same answer over and over and over. Eventually he gave up, stamped and then threw my passport at me.

Not sure if there is some special code word or phrase he was looking for?

Welcome to US immigration!!!!

 

[DC3]

The immigration officer (YYZ) was more focussed on asking me more than 5 times the exact same question “why are you coming to the US for so long, I need the purpose of the trip”.

Answer: “leisure” (or, “holiday”). Keep it to a one-word answer if possible. They are not interested in tours/itineraries. The purpose of the trip is a common question.

 

[Seat0B]

@I love to travel I'll just chime in with my experience that it was really straightforward. I can understand why people don't bother, but like @Flyfrequently, I'm a worry wart and do not want to spend my holiday in a detention situation trying to explain in a language I don't speak why I need my medication! So I always get the permit.

Mine was for codeine linctus that I take for a chronic cough. My doctor wrote the letter, using the guidelines that @RooFlyer posted upthread. The biggest "issue" is my doc always wants to just write "medical condition" as the reason for prescription. I always ask him to put "chronic cough" as most countries I have had a permit for (Japan, UAE, Thailand, Singapore) don't accept blanket statements like "medical condition." The permit came through in 24 hours, once I had uploaded the documents (I supplied a letter and a prescription as I had both) and filled in the on line form.

If I understand it, you are a bit concerned about the timing because you can't apply to Thailand until1 month out and you will already be away? I would just get the letter and prescription close to when you leave Oz, and take a scanned copy (or photo) with you so you can upload the details while you are on the road. In my case, it was an online form that I filled out to apply for the permit. From memory, they were more interested in the timing of the application rather than the date on the letter/prescription, but I could be forgetting something. I think it could be explained if they questioned the small gap in the medical letter and your application.

I also applied for a permit to export the balance of my medicine as it was at the beginning of a 2 month trip and I would have a lot still with me, and they came straight back and said an export permit was not needed as it was implied by the import permission that I would take unused medication out to my next destination. So no need to apply for an export permit!

And I did present through the red channel, as required, and they were totally not interested in checking anything over (which also happened in UAE and Singapore, although in Japan, they checked most thoroughly). However, @MEL_Traveller, I always follow the instructions to present as (a) I have the right paperwork and (b) I worry they will have tagged my passport number to having narcotics and I'll cause myself a problem if I don't present. Yes, I am a goody two-shoes, girly swat, but I really don't want to be on the wrong side of a border inspection!

 

[I love to travel]

@I love to travel I'll just chime in with my experience that it was really straightforward. I can understand why people don't bother, but like @Flyfrequently, I'm a worry wart and do not want to spend my holiday in a detention situation trying to explain in a language I don't speak why I need my medication! So I always get the permit.

Mine was for codeine linctus that I take for a chronic cough. My doctor wrote the letter, using the guidelines that @RooFlyer posted upthread. The biggest "issue" is my doc always wants to just write "medical condition" as the reason for prescription. I always ask him to put "chronic cough" as most countries I have had a permit for (Japan, UAE, Thailand, Singapore) don't accept blanket statements like "medical condition." The permit came through in 24 hours, once I had uploaded the documents (I supplied a letter and a prescription as I had both) and filled in the on line form.

If I understand it, you are a bit concerned about the timing because you can't apply to Thailand until1 month out and you will already be away? I would just get the letter and prescription close to when you leave Oz, and take a scanned copy (or photo) with you so you can upload the details while you are on the road. In my case, it was an online form that I filled out to apply for the permit. From memory, they were more interested in the timing of the application rather than the date on the letter/prescription, but I could be forgetting something. I think it could be explained if they questioned the small gap in the medical letter and your application.

I also applied for a permit to export the balance of my medicine as it was at the beginning of a 2 month trip and I would have a lot still with me, and they came straight back and said an export permit was not needed as it was implied by the import permission that I would take unused medication out to my next destination. So no need to apply for an export permit!

And I did present through the red channel, as required, and they were totally not interested in checking anything over (which also happened in UAE and Singapore, although in Japan, they checked most thoroughly). However, @MEL_Traveller, I always follow the instructions to present as (a) I have the right paperwork and (b) I worry they will have tagged my passport number to having narcotics and I'll cause myself a problem if I don't present. Yes, I am a goody two-shoes, girly swat, but I really don't want to be on the wrong side of a border inspection!

Thanks so much. And yes, I would rather be safe than sorry. Whilst codeine is no big deal (you can even get it OTC in London at Boots) it is in Thailand so you need to respect the laws of the country you are going into.