Bringing your medicines to Egypt: what tourists need to know

Bringing medication to Egypt is possible for many personal medicines. Some, however, cannot be brought in at all, even with a prescription. Pack medicines in their original packs in your hand luggage, with your prescription and a doctor’s letter. Check with the Egyptian embassy or consulate before you fly.

This guide is for holidaymakers coming to Sharm El Sheikh. It sums up what official sources say, what to pack, and what to do if you run out here.

What Egypt’s rules say

Egypt’s Ministry of Health published guidelines for travellers in 2018. They say many medicines can be brought in for personal use. Some need a permit, and others cannot be brought in at all.

Health inspectors and customs check travellers’ medicines at the port of entry. The guideline itself warns that requirements may change, so check before each trip.

The UK government (FCDO) says some prescribed and over-the-counter medicines may be controlled substances in Egypt. You may need permission from Egypt’s Ministry of Health before you arrive.

Without that permission or the required documents, the medicine will not be allowed into Egypt. You may also be prosecuted. You must declare anything that may be prohibited.

Medicines you cannot bring

Swedish Customs notes that many countries have special rules for narcotic medicines. Examples include certain painkillers, sleeping pills and ADHD medicines. Egypt is strict about them.

The 2018 guideline, published by the Egyptian Consulate General in Sydney, lists narcotic and psychotropic substances. Medicines that contain them cannot be brought into Egypt, even if they are legal at home. Examples on its lists include:

• tramadol, codeine and dihydrocodeine
• morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, tapentadol and methadone
• benzodiazepines, zolpidem and zaleplon
• methylphenidate and dexamfetamine
• cannabis and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)

Canada’s travel advice says Egyptian authorities will seize all narcotic and psychotropic medicines, even with the original prescription. The US State Department reports arrests and convictions of US citizens who entered Egypt with medical marijuana and CBD products. This has happened even with a prescription.

The lists are long and may have changed since 2018. If you take a medicine of this kind, contact the Egyptian embassy or consulate well before you travel.

Prescription medicines

For other prescription medicines, the 2018 guideline allows up to three months’ supply. You need a signed medical report and a prescription that shows the doses. The limit can be lower for a shorter stay.

The UK government advises carrying a letter from your doctor that states:

• the condition you are being treated for
• the amount of medicine you are carrying
• that the medicine is for your personal use only

Over-the-counter medicines and supplements

The same guideline limits over-the-counter medicines and food supplements to three months’ supply. They must be in a pharmaceutical dosage form, such as tablets or capsules. It also bans products with misleading medical claims, such as weight-loss, fat-burning or “detox” pads.

Before you fly: a packing checklist

• Original packs. Keep each medicine in its original packaging, with the pharmacy label intact, so it can be identified at the border.
• Papers. Carry a copy of your prescription and your doctor’s letter. Generic names help at border checks and if you need a replacement.
• Enough for the trip. Pack enough for the whole holiday, plus extra in case of delays.
• Hand luggage. Carry medicines in your hand luggage. Consider packing some extra in your checked bag in case a bag is lost.
• Liquids. At UK airports, essential liquid medicines over 100 ml can go in hand luggage. You need proof, such as a doctor’s letter or a copy of the prescription. At EU airports, the 100 ml limit does not apply to medicines. Ask your airline about the flight home.
• Injections and storage. Contact your airline in advance if you fly with insulin or other injectable medicines. Check how each medicine must be stored.
• Heat. Sharm is hot. The NHS advises never leaving adrenaline auto-injectors anywhere too hot or cold, such as outside in the sun.

Brand names can be different in Egypt

A medicine may have another name abroad, as the EU’s Your Europe portal notes. TravelHealthPro adds that a medicine abroad can look the same or similar. Even so, the amount and type of active ingredients may differ.

So learn the generic name and strength of each medicine you take. If you need a replacement in Sharm, send us a photo of the pack. We look for the Egyptian product with the same active ingredient, strength and form. See how we find the Egyptian equivalent of your medicine.

For long-term conditions, children and pregnancy, always ask a pharmacist or doctor first.

If you run out in Sharm El Sheikh

Do not wait until the last dose. Egypt’s Ministry of Health says most medicines used worldwide are available in Egyptian community pharmacies and hospitals.

• Over-the-counter medicines. Bring the empty pack or a photo, and ask for the same active ingredient.
• Prescription-only medicines. These need a valid prescription, whatever the brand. Bring your prescription and the pack, and our pharmacist will tell you which rule applies. We accept prescriptions issued abroad, and our pharmacist checks each one.
• Seeing a doctor. If you need a new prescription, see a doctor. The UK government keeps a list of medical providers in Egypt where some staff speak English. Our guide explains when to choose a pharmacy, a doctor or a hospital in Sharm.

Taking anything home at the end of your stay? Read our guide to taking medicines home from Egypt.

Holiday basics you can buy here

You do not need to pack every holiday item. Sunscreen, plasters and allergy tablets are sold in pharmacies here, so ask us what is in stock today. Our pharmacist can help you build a travel health kit for Sharm and deliver it to your hotel.

Need help in Sharm?

Ran out of a medicine, or not sure of its name here? Send a photo of the pack on WhatsApp or call +20 120 344 2201, in English, Russian, Ukrainian or Italian.

Hotel delivery is free for orders from $30. With purchases from $50, we also offer a free transfer from your hotel to our pharmacy and back.