Anxiety medication abroad: what you need to know

Diazepam is a legal prescription medicine in your home country and a controlled substance that can get you into trouble at customs in the UAE, Thailand and several other destinations if your paperwork is missing. That gap between 'prescribed' and 'permitted abroad' is where most anxiety travellers run into serious trouble.

Medical disclaimer: This article provides general information about medication regulations and does not constitute medical advice. Regulations change and individual circumstances vary. Always consult your prescribing doctor or psychiatrist before making any changes to your anxiety medication, and verify current import rules with the destination country's official health authority before travel.

Which countries restrict or ban benzodiazepines outright

Japan treats benzodiazepines such as diazepam, alprazolam and triazolam as psychotropics: you need no permit up to set quantities, but above them, or for injections, you need a certificate from your prescribing doctor^[12]. You cannot buy them in a Japanese pharmacy without a local prescription, and a foreign prescription is not accepted.

The UAE classifies diazepam, lorazepam, and clonazepam as controlled medicines^[8] under Federal Decree-Law No. 30 of 2021, which replaced Federal Law No. 14 of 1995. As of 29 December 2025, personal-medicine import permits are issued by the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) at ede.gov.ae rather than the former Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) service. Carrying these medications without a prescription or medical report risks confiscation, fines, and criminal investigation.

Thailand requires a permit from its Food and Drug Administration for medicines in Category 2 of its controlled list, applied for online at least two weeks in advance^[13]. Alprazolam is in that category; check the Thai FDA list for your own benzodiazepine, and carry no more than 30 days' supply with your prescription. Arriving with an undeclared supply puts you at risk of seizure at the border.

Indonesia controls benzodiazepines as psychotropics under Law No. 5 of 1997. BPOM Regulation 28/2023 allows up to 90 days' treatment with a prescription^[14], while Japan's embassy advice for Indonesia says two months, so carrying no more than two months' supply, declared, with your prescription is the safer course. Possession without paperwork is treated as illegal possession of a controlled substance.

What the paperwork actually requires

A doctor's letter is not enough in most restricted destinations. The standard documents you need are different for each country, and applying too late is the most common mistake.

For Japan, check the Narcotics Control Department's table of psychotropic quantities. Within it, no paperwork is needed; above it, carry a certificate from your prescribing doctor naming the disease, why you need the medicine, the medicines with doses and strengths, and the doctor's signature and date^[12]. The obsolete Yakkan Shoumei does not apply to this.

For the UAE, apply through the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE)^[9] at ede.gov.ae. Travellers may carry the amount needed for their stay, up to three months' supply^[10], with a prescription or medical report from the treating clinic naming the medicine, dose, dosage form and duration of treatment. Approval usually takes a few working days.

For Schengen countries, the Schengen agreement provides a standardised certificate for controlled medicines. If you live in a Schengen country, your doctor completes it and your national authority authenticates it; it covers journeys of up to 30 days and must be carried alongside the original medication packaging. The certificate is not a permit but does facilitate customs clearance.

Store the medication in its original labelled packaging in all cases. Loose tablets in an unlabelled container are a fast route to confiscation, even where the drug is technically legal.

Alternatives that cross borders more cleanly

SSRIs and SNRIs are not controlled substances in any country covered by this article. If your psychiatrist has the flexibility to trial an SSRI or SNRI before your trip, it removes the customs problem entirely.

Buspirone is approved in the US and many European countries for anxiety and is not a controlled substance in most jurisdictions. It is available by prescription throughout Europe, North America, Australia, and much of South America. Japan is the notable exception, because buspirone is not approved there; the Japanese-developed analogue tandospirone (Sediel, Sumitomo Pharma) is used in its place for the same indication. The UAE permits buspirone with a standard prescription.

Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril) is an antihistamine with anxiolytic and sedating properties. It is not a controlled substance and is widely registered, but it is prescription-only in the US, UK, Japan, and most other countries, not over the counter. It is a workable benzodiazepine alternative for short-term anxiety symptoms when you already have access to a prescriber.

Beta-blockers such as propranolol are used for situational anxiety, particularly in anticipation of high-stress events. They are not controlled, require no special paperwork, and are available in pharmacies across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Pregabalin and gabapentin are controlled in some countries (the UK classifies pregabalin as Schedule 3) but are not benzodiazepines, and their regulatory status varies widely. Check each destination individually before assuming they travel freely.

How to have the switching conversation with your prescriber

Give yourself at least eight weeks before departure. Switching or trialling an alternative requires time to assess tolerability and effectiveness, and your prescriber needs lead time to adjust your plan.

Tell your doctor exactly which countries you are visiting, not just the region. Regulatory status varies country to country, and your prescriber can flag risks you may not have anticipated.

If staying on your benzodiazepine is medically necessary, ask for a letter that includes your diagnosis, the generic and brand name of the medication, the dose, the duration of the prescription, and your prescriber's contact details. Some countries require this letter to be notarised or apostilled.

Why your medication record matters more than your prescription printout

A prescription printout tells a customs officer what you were prescribed. It does not tell an emergency doctor in Bangkok or Tokyo what else you are taking, what you are allergic to, or what doses you have already been given. For anxiety disorders where treatment interactions matter, medication import rules are only one piece of the puzzle.

An International Patient Summary (IPS) gives emergency clinicians a structured, machine-readable record of your medications, allergies, and diagnoses in a format any hospital can read. Create yours on Nomedic before you travel so you have it available on your phone, offline, in any country.

Country-by-country quick reference

Japan. Benzodiazepines are psychotropics. No permit is needed up to the Narcotics Control Department's table quantities; above them, carry a certificate from your prescribing doctor.

UAE. Benzodiazepines are on the EDE controlled list (the service moved from MOHAP on 29 December 2025). Apply online at ede.gov.ae for the e-permit. Up to 3 months' supply, or the length of your stay if shorter, with a prescription or medical report.

Thailand. Alprazolam is in Category 2 and needs a Thai FDA permit applied for online at least two weeks ahead. Carry no more than 30 days' supply of any benzodiazepine, with your prescription.

Indonesia. Benzodiazepines are controlled psychotropics under Law No. 5 of 1997 (not banned). BPOM allows up to 90 days' treatment with a prescription; Japan's embassy advice says two months. Declare them and carry your prescription.

Schengen Area. Residents of Schengen countries carry a Schengen certificate, completed by their doctor and authenticated by their national authority, for journeys of up to 30 days. Visitors from outside follow each country's own rules.

Morocco. Benzodiazepines are controlled. Carry the full supply you need for your trip, with your prescription and a doctor's letter.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring diazepam to Japan?

Yes. Diazepam is a psychotropic in Japan: no permit is needed up to the Narcotics Control Department's table quantity, and above it you carry a certificate from your prescribing doctor. Bring no more than you need.

What anxiety medications are not controlled substances abroad?

SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone, hydroxyzine, and propranolol are not classified as controlled substances in most destinations. They cross international borders without the permit requirements that benzodiazepines attract, though you should still carry a prescription and doctor's letter.

Do I need a special permit to carry Xanax to the UAE?

Get one to be safe. Alprazolam (Xanax) is controlled in the UAE^[8], and the EDE^[9] allows travellers to bring it for their stay or up to three months' use with a prescription or medical report. Apply for the EDE e-permit via ede.gov.ae before travel: the EDE describes it as optional for visitors, but UK government advice^[11] says to get approval in advance.

What happens if I arrive with undeclared benzodiazepines?

In strict jurisdictions such as the UAE and Indonesia, undeclared controlled substances can be confiscated and may lead to detention or prosecution. Rules vary by country, but declaring at customs is always safer than hoping the medication goes undetected.

How far in advance should I apply for a medication import permit?

Japan needs no permit for psychotropics within its table quantities. Thailand asks for at least two weeks for Category 2 permits. The UAE's EDE e-permit is usually issued within a few working days, but apply well before you fly. Processing times vary and applying last-minute carries a high risk of not receiving approval before your departure date.

What is a Schengen certificate for medications?

A Schengen certificate is a standardised document, completed by your doctor and authenticated by your national authority in a Schengen country, that confirms you are carrying a controlled substance for personal medical use. It is valid for up to 30 days across Schengen member states and facilitates customs clearance, though it is not a formal import permit.

Anxiety Medication Abroad: When Benzodiazepines Are Banned and What to Do Instead