Q: I will be travelling to Shanghai from Frankfurt, Germany, arriving in the morning and departing in the evening of the same day. After my short stay in China, I will be travelling to other countries.

I'm currently taking 40 mg methylphenidate extended release and 150 mg bupropion daily. Therefore, I will have to bring 39 pills of 40 mg methylphenidate (1,560 mg methylphenidate in total) and 39 pills of 150 mg bupropion (5,850 mg bupropion in total). Even though I will only be in China for half a day, I will have all 39 pills of methylphenidate and 39 pills of bupropion with me because I will need them for the rest of my trip.

I will bring a doctor's letter, the official EU form for travelling with medication, and a copy of my prescription. I will also carry the medication in its original packaging. I'm also happy to print out proof of the booking of my other flights to Australia and Japan and back to Berlin if needed.

Will this suffice or do I need to bring any additional documents to prove that I am allowed to bring these medications into China?

Do I need to declare the medication upon arrival?

A: The following regulations apply to travelers bringing medication into China:

I. Medications without narcotic and psychotropic ingredients

Travelers may carry a reasonable quantity of medication for personal use when entering or leaving the country. Such medication must be for self-use only and is subject to customs supervision.

II. Medications containing narcotic or psychotropic ingredients

Individuals who need to bring narcotic or psychotropic drugs for medical treatment must present:

A medical diagnosis or prescription issued by a qualified medical institution; and valid personal identification, such as a passport.

Travelers may bring narcotic or Class I psychotropic drugs within the maximum prescribed dosage per prescription. Customs will permit entry based on the principle of reasonable personal use.

Medical professionals carrying small amounts of such drugs for clinical purposes must hold a certificate issued by the provincial or higher-level drug authority, which customs will verify before release.

Accordingly, if the medication is required for medical treatment, individuals may bring narcotic drugs or Class I psychotropic substances within the maximum dosage of a single prescription by presenting a medical diagnosis from a healthcare institution and personal identification documents. Customs will permit the entry or exit of such medications based on the principles of reasonable quantity and personal use.

For Class II psychotropic substances, the permitted amount may be appropriately extended.

Travelers are advised to carry prescriptions, medical records, or diagnostic certificates along with the medications and declare them to customs officers upon arrival.

Source: Shanghai Customs