Can you fly with liquid medication?

Liquid medicine is exempt from the 100 ml rule at US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian airport security, as long as you declare it. What gets confiscated is usually something else: the ice pack, a loose syringe, or a codeine syrup that is controlled where you land. This guide covers every liquid, gel and injectable a traveller is likely to carry, from insulin and GLP-1 pens to children's paracetamol and eye drops.

This guide is general information, not medical advice. Rules change; check with the destination's embassy or health ministry and your prescriber before you travel.

The short answer: medicine beats the 100 ml rule, with three catches

The TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels and aerosols^[2] if you declare them. Canada's CATSA says needed medication is not subject to the usual 100 ml liquid limit^[13]. The UK lets essential medical liquids through in containers up to 2 litres at all UK airports^[7].

There are three catches. Some regimes cap the cabin quantity at what you need for the journey, and cooling packs are treated differently from the medicine itself. Most important, airport security and border customs are separate checks, and passing one says nothing about the other.

For the general rules on tablets, prescriptions and controlled drugs, see our pillar on flying with prescription medication. For the storage side of fridge medicines, see the companion guide on travelling with insulin, biologics and refrigerated medication.

Liquid medicine allowances at airport security, region by region

Region	Liquid medicine allowance	What to show	Gel packs and ice packs
United States (TSA)	Above 3.4 oz (100 ml) in reasonable quantities for the trip	Declare at checkpoint; labels recommended, not required	Allowed frozen, part-frozen or melted if cooling medicine
United Kingdom	Containers up to 2 litres at all UK airports	Prescription or doctor's letter for liquids over 100 ml	Cooling gel packs allowed; ice packs: contact the airport
European Union	Exempt if needed during the trip	Present separately; proof may be requested	Not set out uniformly; ask the airport
Canada (CATSA)	Prescription and essential OTC liquids over 100 ml	Declare; pharmacy label on original container	Exempt when cooling medication
Australia (international)	Reasonable amount for the flight plus delays	Doctor's letter or medical ID; label name matches boarding pass	Allowed if listed in the doctor's letter
Japan (international)	Only the amount needed in the cabin	Evidence may be requested	Ice or gel to cool items such as insulin, packed with the medicine
Singapore (Changi)	Exemption on a bona fide doctor's letter	Doctor's letter	Not specified; carry the letter

The table covers departure security only. Each row is expanded below, with the official process and the gaps.

United States: declare, separate, keep the cooling packs

Tell the TSA officer before screening starts that you have medically necessary liquids. Put them in a separate bin along with accessories such as freezer packs, IV bags, pumps and syringes^[1]. Officers may test the liquid or ask you to open it, but screening will never include placing anything into the medically necessary liquid^[1].

You can ask for a liquid not to be X-rayed or opened. The trade-off is additional screening, which may include AIT screening, a pat-down and extra checks of your carry-on^[1]. Labels are recommended, but not required^[6], and the TSA officer has the final say if an item alarms and the alarm cannot be cleared.

One wrinkle confuses people: TSA's item page lists eye drops as allowed in the cabin at 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less^[5]. A larger prescription bottle falls under the general medical-liquids exemption, so declare it rather than hiding it in the quart bag.

United Kingdom: 2 litres for medicine, proof above 100 ml

GOV.UK sets a ceiling as well as an exemption: medical liquids may go through in containers up to 2 litres at all UK airports^[7]. For liquid in a container over 100 ml, you need proof that the medication is prescribed to you^[8], such as a doctor's letter. Tablets and liquid in containers of 100 ml or less need no proof.

Ordinary liquid limits now vary by airport because of the new CT scanners. In January 2026, Which? listed Heathrow, Gatwick, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol and both Belfast airports^[10] as allowing up to 2 litres. Luton and Manchester kept 100 ml. That affects your toiletries, not your medicine, but the return airport abroad may still run the old rules.

Cooling is where the UK is stricter than the US. GOV.UK says you cannot carry frozen liquids in your hand luggage^[7], and for ice packs in the cabin it says contact the airport^[8]. Cooling gel packs and hypodermic syringes are allowed in both hand and hold luggage.

European Union: exempt if used during the trip

The European Commission exempts liquids needed during the trip for medical purposes or special dietary requirements, including baby food^[11]. In practice, staff will separate them: Spain's aviation security agency says medicines are removed from the luggage and passed through the liquid control^[12].

New scanners let some EU airports relax the 100 ml limit, but the rollout is uneven, so your outbound and return airports may apply different general limits. The medical exemption does not depend on the scanner. Carry the prescription or a doctor's letter anyway, because the EU text leaves room for staff to ask for proof.

Canada: declare it and keep the pharmacy label

CATSA allows prescription and essential non-prescription liquid, gel and aerosol medications^[14] over 100 ml, outside your 1 litre bag. Carry them in their original containers with a pharmacy label identifying the medication^[14]. Ice and gel packs are exempt when used for refrigerating medicine or other medically necessary items^[14], and CATSA accepts a non-electric insulated container^[13].

Australia: the flight amount in the cabin, and a letter for needles

Australia is the outlier. Home Affairs allows a reasonable amount to cover the duration of the flight, including possible delays^[15], and recommends packing the rest in checked baggage. For prescription medicine, the name on the prescription label must match the name on your boarding pass^[15].

The doctor's letter should list liquid, aerosol or gel medicines and items used to regulate the temperature of prescription medications, such as ice packs^[15]. If you travel with hypodermic needles, you must have a doctor's letter or a medical certificate with you^[15]. For insulin or biologics, ask your doctor to state that the whole supply must stay in the cabin, because the hold can freeze it.

Japan and Singapore

Japan's transport ministry permits prescription and OTC liquids, including eye drops and cough syrup, but only the amount necessary in the cabin^[16]. Ice, gel or frozen liquids used to cool items such as insulin must be packed with the medicine^[16], and you may be asked for evidence.

Changi's rule is shorter: outside baby food and breast milk, other items may also be exempted upon presentation of a bona fide doctor's letter^[19]. Without the letter, you are relying on the screener's discretion.

Country guides for these departure points: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan and Singapore. For the Gulf, see the UAE guide and our UAE and Gulf medication import rules.

How to get through security with liquid medicine

·
Pack all liquid medicine, injectables and their cooling packs in one pouch at the top of your carry-on, separate from the toiletries bag.
·
Keep each item in its original pharmacy-labelled box or bottle. Canada and Australia rely on the label; the US recommends it.
·
Tell the officer before your bag goes on the belt: "I have medically necessary liquids and injectables." Then put the pouch in its own tray.
·
Hand over the prescription or doctor's letter if asked. In the UK it is required for any liquid medicine over 100 ml.
·
If you do not want a liquid X-rayed or opened, say so first, and expect a pat-down and bag search instead.
·
Do not let a pump, CGM or pen go through a scanner your device maker advises against. The TSA lets you keep attached devices on and request alternative screening^[1].

At transfer airports you will usually be screened again under that country's rules. Keep the paperwork with the medicine, not in your checked bag.

Medicine by medicine: security, customs and storage

Medicine type	Security	Customs watch-outs	Storage note
Insulin vials and pens	Declare; exempt from liquid limit	Japan: pre-filled pens fine up to a month; check vials	In-use window varies by brand
Insulin pumps and CGMs	Wear through; ask for alternative screening	Carry spares and letter	Spares in cabin, not hold
GLP-1 pens (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro)	Declare with needles	Approval or permit in some countries	Fridge before use; 14 to 56 days out, by brand
Biologics (Humira, Dupixent)	Declare; pre-filled pens	Letter naming condition and dose	Humira, Dupixent: 14 days up to 25°C
CGRP migraine pens	Declare	Not stocked everywhere	About 7 days out of fridge
Enoxaparin (Clexane)	Declare syringes	Prescription copy	Below 25°C; no fridge; do not freeze
EpiPen and auto-injectors	Allowed in cabin	Brand names differ abroad	Below 25°C; never fridge
Codeine cough syrup	Liquid exemption if needed	Controlled or banned in several countries	Room temperature
Children's paracetamol or ibuprofen	Declare; under 100 ml easiest	Usually unrestricted	Room temperature
Liquid antibiotics	Declare	Prescription copy	Many need fridge once mixed
Methadone, oral morphine	Declare; carry letter	Permit often required	Room temperature; locked pouch
Eye drops (incl. glaucoma)	Declare if over 100 ml	Usually unrestricted	Check label; some need fridge
Nasal sprays	Liquid or aerosol rules	Decongestant or steroid status varies	Room temperature
Inhalers and nebuliser liquids	Allowed; nebuliser liquids exempt (US)	Brand names differ	Room temperature
Creams, gels, ointments	Count as liquids	Steroid strength may need a prescription	Room temperature

Customs watch-outs are general flags, not verdicts for every country. Each medicine is covered in more detail below, with links to our country-level guides.

Insulin, pumps and CGMs

Insulin is exempt from the liquid limit everywhere in the table above, but it must never go in the hold. Diabetes UK says insulin belongs in hand luggage, because the cold in the hold can damage it^[24]. Sensors and device spares belong in the cabin too, as hold X-rays can damage them^[24].

In-use windows differ by product. Tresiba pens can be kept for a maximum of 8 weeks below 30°C^[29] after opening, while other insulins allow less time. Read the leaflet for each insulin you carry, and do not let a pen sit directly against a frozen block.

With a pump or CGM, the TSA says you will not be required to remove medical devices attached to your body^[1]. You may be asked to pat down the device and have your hands swabbed. Country guides: insulin in Japan, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Spain.

GLP-1 pens: Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Saxenda and Trulicity

GLP-1 pens are prefilled liquid injectables, so security treats them like insulin: declare them and keep them in the cabin. Under the EU labels, an opened Ozempic pen keeps 6 or 8 weeks below 30°C^[26], depending on the pen. A Wegovy single-dose pen can be unrefrigerated for up to 28 days^[27] at up to 30°C.

Mounjaro splits by device. A single-dose pen or vial can be unrefrigerated for up to 21 cumulative days^[28] below 30°C. A KwikPen must be discarded 30 days after first use^[28].

Saxenda keeps 1 month after first use^[37] below 30°C or in a fridge. All these labels say do not freeze, which rules out the hold. Trulicity has the shortest window of the common pens: up to 14 days at a temperature not above 30°C^[36].

At the border, some countries require advance approval for GLP-1s. Read our pillar on GLP-1 customs approvals and cold chain, plus the regional guides for the Gulf, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Europe.

For the airport step by step, see GLP-1 pens at airport security.

Biologics, CGRP pens and enoxaparin

Biologics such as adalimumab (Humira), dupilumab (Dupixent), etanercept and secukinumab come as pre-filled pens or syringes. Their room-temperature allowance is short. One Humira syringe can be kept up to 25°C for up to 14 days^[30], and Dupixent up to 14 days at up to 25°C^[31].

CGRP migraine pens are shorter again. Ajovy, for example, may be stored unrefrigerated for up to 7 days at up to 30°C^[32] and must not go back in the fridge. See biologics for IBD and arthritis, biologic asthma medication and CGRP migraine biologics for more detailed storage advice.

Enoxaparin, prescribed to prevent clots after surgery and for some high-risk long-haul travellers, is the reverse case. The Clexane label says do not store above 25°C, do not freeze^[34], with no fridge requirement, so it needs shade rather than ice. Read more on deep vein thrombosis and blood thinners abroad.

EpiPens and emergency glucagon

Adrenaline auto-injectors are allowed in the cabin, and CATSA names emergency treatments such as an EpiPen^[13] among exempt items. Keep them on your person, not in an overhead locker.

The common mistake is cooling them: the EpiPen label says to store it below 25°C and not to refrigerate or freeze it^[33], so leave it out of the cool bag with your insulin. Glucagon rescue kits travel the same way as other injectables: declared, in the cabin, with the letter.

See EpiPens abroad and allergy medication and auto-injectors for import and storage requirements, plus severe-allergy guides for the UAE, Australia, Spain and Vietnam for country-specific rules.

Hormones, fertility drugs, methotrexate and vitamin B12

Fertility injections, testosterone, methotrexate pens and B12 ampoules all clear security as declared medical liquids with their needles. The differences are at customs and in storage, so carry the prescription and read each label.

Testosterone and fertility drugs can draw questions at customs when carried in quantity, so keep the quantity in line with the prescription. Our guide to hormone therapy abroad covers the customs side, and HRT abroad covers supply on long trips.

Oral liquids: syrups, suspensions and controlled solutions

Children's paracetamol and ibuprofen suspensions are the easiest liquids to carry. Bottles of 100 ml or less fit the normal liquids bag and need no proof in the UK.

Larger bottles go through the medical exemption. CATSA explicitly lists cough syrup^[14] among essential non-prescription liquids allowed over 100 ml.

Liquid antibiotics are trickier because many must be refrigerated once mixed. Carry the pharmacy label, and treat them like a short-life cold-chain medicine. Oral rehydration solution is easier carried as sachets of oral rehydration salts and mixed on arrival.

Codeine syrups, methadone and oral morphine pass security like any medical liquid. Customs is where they get stopped, covered in the destination section below.

Drops, sprays, inhalers and gels

Creams, gels, ointments, sprays and contact lens solution all count as liquids. GOV.UK's list includes creams, lotions, gels, sprays and contact lens solution^[7]. A tube of prescription gel goes in the medical tray or the liquids bag.

Glaucoma drops may not need the fridge you assume. The UK Xalatan label says do not store above 25°C^[35] and use within 4 weeks of opening, though other latanoprost versions differ. See glaucoma eye drops abroad for refrigeration rules.

Inhalers are allowed in hand luggage under UK rules^[8] and the TSA^[6]. The TSA also says liquids associated with the nebulizer are exempt from the 3-1-1 liquids rule^[1]. For more information, read asthma inhalers abroad and the dedicated asthma guides for the UK and the UAE.

Needles and sharps: carrying, screening and disposing abroad

You can bring needles on a plane if you also carry the medicine that needs them. The TSA allows unused syringes when accompanied by injectable medication^[3], and CATSA wants the needle guard in place^[14] with the medication present. Australia goes further: needles without proof that they are medically necessary^[15] are prohibited items.

Used needles need a hard container. The TSA allows used syringes in a sharps disposal container or other similar hard-surface container^[4]. The UK allows hypodermic syringes in hand and hold luggage.

The FDA advises you to always carry a small, travel-size sharps disposal container^[25] in case other options are not available. Ask a local pharmacy or clinic to take the full container. Hotels rarely have a sharps bin, and loose needles in a bin can injure cleaners.

Count your needles before you leave: one per injection, plus spares for a failed dose.
Pen needles are tiny but still sharps; carry them with the pen they fit.
Do not cap used needles with your fingers; drop them straight in the container.
Stop filling the container at about three-quarters full and follow local guidelines^[25] for getting rid of it.

Cooling packs and the hold: where cold-chain trips go wrong

The checked bag freeze. Insulin, GLP-1s and biologics all carry "do not freeze" labels, and the cargo hold on long flights can get cold enough to ruin them. Diabetes UK names the cold of the hold^[24] as the reason to keep insulin in the cabin.

The UK ice pack. The TSA accepts cooling packs frozen, partially frozen or melted^[1], but in the UK, for ice packs in the cabin, GOV.UK says contact the airport^[8]. Cooling gel packs are allowed, so use those or a non-electric insulated case.

The Australian split. Australia recommends carrying only the flight's supply in the cabin. For cold-chain medicine, ask your doctor to state in the letter why the whole supply must stay with you.

The pen against the block. Frozen packs can freeze a pen they touch. Diabetes UK advises making sure insulin does not come into contact with the frozen plastic containers^[24], so wrap the pen or use a case with a barrier.

Customs at the destination: where liquids get people into trouble

Security only asks whether a liquid is safe on the aircraft. Customs asks whether it is legal in the country, and the answer can differ from home. The INCB maintains country-specific information for travellers^[23] carrying medicines that contain controlled substances.

Codeine cough syrups

Codeine is the liquid that catches the most travellers. Japan's narcotics office lists codeine as a narcotic needing permission in advance^[18], applied for at least 14 days prior to your travel^[18]. In the UAE, controlled medicines need a prescription and medical report, and travellers without prior approval should use the red customs channel and declare^[21] them.

Singapore's HSA may require approval before bringing medications^[20] depending on the active ingredient, applied for at least 2 weeks before arrival. Learn more about country regulations by reading our guides on cold medicine bans and codeine combinations and where pseudoephedrine is illegal.

Methadone, oral morphine and other controlled oral solutions

Liquid opioids and other controlled oral solutions almost always need paperwork beyond a prescription. Leaving the UK, you must carry medicine containing a controlled drug in your hand luggage^[9] and check the destination's rules with its embassy. Japan requires advance permission for narcotics such as morphine, oxycodone and codeine^[18].

Many countries cap the quantity or require an import permit for methadone in particular. Refer to our opioid maintenance therapy abroad and opioid pain medication abroad for document requirements and other customs-related reminders.

Japan's rule for injectables

Japan is strict on form as well as quantity. MHLW allows injectable drugs and syringes up to 1 month supply^[17] without an import certificate, but only as pre-filled syringes or self-injection kits. Above the limit, you apply online for a Yunyu Kakunin-sho (import confirmation) and must receive it before you leave home^[17].

Psychotropics in injection form need a certificate from your doctor^[18] regardless of quantity. Read our Japan medication rules guide and the GLP-1 medication in Japan page before you fly.

GLP-1s and other injectables

Prescription injectables for personal use are normally allowed in reasonable quantities, but some countries require advance approval or limit the supply you may bring. Singapore, for example, allows up to 3 months' supply^[20] of non-prohibited medication with a prescription or doctor's letter. The UAE's Emirates Drug Establishment^[22] now handles personal import permits, a service it took over on 29 December 2025^[21]. See our diabetes in the UAE guide for a practical pre-travel checklist.

Paperwork that works at both security and customs

One well-written letter covers most checkpoints. It should be on your prescriber's letterhead, in English, and translated where the destination requires it.

Your full name, matching your passport and boarding pass.
Each medicine by generic name and brand, with strength, dose and quantity carried.
A line confirming the medicine is liquid or injectable and must stay in hand luggage.
The needles, pumps, sensors and cooling packs you carry with it.
Your condition, stated as plainly as you are comfortable with.
The prescriber's signature, contact details and the dates of travel.

Carry printed copies of your prescriptions too, and keep a digital copy you can show if bags are separated. Our health records checklist and medication passport entry cover what else to carry.

More in this series

Flying with prescription medication: tablets, controlled drugs and quantity rules.
How to travel with insulin, biologics and refrigerated medication: keeping the cold chain intact.
Vitamins and supplements on a plane and abroad: powders, gummies and banned ingredients.
Replacing lost or stolen medication abroad, if the worst happens.

Frequently asked questions

Can you bring liquid medicine on a plane?

Yes. The US, UK, EU, Canada and Australia all exempt medically necessary liquids from the 100 ml limit if you declare them at security. Australia and Japan limit the cabin amount to what you need for the flight, and the UK caps each container at 2 litres.

Is liquid medication over 100ml allowed in hand luggage?

Yes, as an exemption you must declare. In the UK you also need a prescription copy or doctor's letter for any liquid medicine in a container over 100 ml. In Singapore, the exemption depends on a bona fide doctor's letter.

Can I bring cough syrup on a plane?

Security will normally let it through, and CATSA names cough syrup among essential liquids allowed over 100 ml. The risk is customs. Codeine syrups need advance permission in Japan and are controlled in the UAE, where travellers without prior approval must declare them.

Can you bring insulin on a plane?

Yes, and it should always be in your hand luggage. Declare it at security, carry spares and supplies in the cabin, and keep it away from the hold, where cold can damage it.

Can I take an EpiPen on a plane?

Yes, in your carry-on and ideally on your person. Do not pack it with ice packs, because the label says not to refrigerate or freeze it and to keep it below 25°C.

Can you bring needles and syringes on a plane?

Yes, when you carry the medicine that needs them. The TSA allows unused syringes with injectable medication and used ones in a hard sharps container. Australia requires a doctor's letter for hypodermic needles.

Can I put injectable medication in checked luggage?

Most security rules allow it, but you should not. Insulin, GLP-1 pens and biologics must not freeze, the hold can get very cold, and checked bags get lost.

Do eye drops and nasal sprays count as liquids?

Yes. Small bottles under 100 ml can go in your liquids bag, and larger prescription bottles go through the medical exemption. Declare them if they are over 100 ml.

Are ice packs allowed through security for medication?

In the US, the TSA accepts packs frozen, partly frozen or melted if they cool medicine. CATSA exempts them when used for medication. The UK allows cooling gel packs but says to contact the airport about ice packs, so gel packs are the safer choice.

Liquid Medication on a Plane: Insulin, GLP-1s, Needles and Syrups