A practical guide for overseas travellers
Your prescription travels with you. The rules may be different.
Flying into the UK, arriving on a cruise or extending your holiday? If you need your regular medication while you are here, this guide explains when an overseas prescription may be accepted, what to bring and when a UK assessment may be needed.
Information checked against the official sources linked below on 21 October 2026. Individual pharmacy and prescribing checks still apply.
The quick answer
Some overseas prescriptions can be dispensed privately by a UK pharmacy. Others may require a new prescription after a UK clinical assessment. The country, prescriber, medicine and the pharmacist’s safety checks all matter. A prescription, photograph or translation alone does not guarantee supply.
Which overseas prescriptions may be accepted?
EEA & Switzerland
Prescriptions from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland may be dispensed privately if the country and prescriber meet the recognised rules. The pharmacist checks authenticity, clinical suitability and safety.
Other countries
Prescriptions from countries such as the USA, India or Australia are outside those arrangements. Bring them as evidence of your existing treatment. You may need a UK clinical assessment and a new prescription.
Medicine restrictions
Schedule 1–3 controlled drugs and unlicensed “specials” cannot be dispensed under the EEA/Swiss arrangements. Ask a healthcare professional about appropriate local care.
See the official government guidance on EEA and Swiss prescriptions. A pharmacy can advise whether your particular prescription meets the requirements.
What should I do if I need medication during my trip?
- Check what you have left. Note the medicine name, strength, usual dose and when your supply will run out. Seek advice early rather than waiting until your last dose.
- Ask a UK pharmacy about your prescription. Explain where it was issued and show your treatment evidence. Ask about acceptance, stock and medicine costs.
- Arrange an assessment if needed. If the pharmacy cannot supply against your overseas prescription, a UK prescriber may be able to assess whether continuing treatment is appropriate.
- Confirm the next steps before travelling to collect. A prescription decision and pharmacy supply are separate. Ask the dispensing pharmacy to confirm it can supply the medicine and what it will cost.
What to bring or have ready
- Your original overseas prescription, if available, and details of the clinician who issued it
- Labelled medicine packaging or current treatment records showing your name and dose
- A list of other medicines, allergies and relevant medical history
- Relevant monitoring or test results, if available
- Your contact details and the address where you are staying in the UK
A clear photo can help explain your treatment during an assessment, but it does not necessarily meet a pharmacy’s requirements for dispensing. Ask what documents are needed and how to provide them securely.
Arriving by plane or cruise ship?
Keep an accessible record of your medication and your usual prescriber’s contact details. If you are staying at a hotel, holiday accommodation or visiting a UK port, explain your location and travel dates when asking for help. Collection arrangements and pharmacy stock need to be confirmed before you change your plans.
For a phone or video appointment, you need a suitable connection and somewhere private to talk. Tell the clinic your preferred times and any departure deadline. An appointment can be arranged around available slots; a prescription or supply before departure cannot be promised. If you are at sea or outside the UK, seek advice from the ship’s medical team or local services about care available where you are.
Common questions from overseas visitors
Does translating my prescription make it valid?
No. A translation may help a professional understand the treatment, but it does not change the rules on recognising an overseas prescription. Ask whether an English translation or further records are needed.
What if my medicine has a different name in the UK?
Brand names, formulations and availability can differ. Show the active ingredient, strength and dosage form if you know them. A pharmacist or prescriber must assess any proposed alternative; do not choose a substitute or change your dose yourself.
Can I get help without visiting a clinic?
Where suitable, MyPharmacyServices offers phone or video assessments for overseas visitors staying in the UK. You can request an appointment from your accommodation and suggest times that fit your travel plans, subject to availability. An in-person examination or another service may be needed.
Will an assessment guarantee a UK prescription?
No. The prescriber needs enough reliable information to make a safe decision. Further records, monitoring or an examination may be required. Some medicines are outside the service’s scope.
What if I have forgotten my prescription as well as my medicine?
Contact your usual clinician or pharmacy for treatment records. Labelled packaging or other evidence may help, but the UK professional decides whether the available information is sufficient. Do not delay urgent care while trying to obtain documents.
Need a UK clinical assessment?
Discuss continuing your regular medication.
Our private prescriptions service explains eligibility, evidence, fees and how to request a phone or video assessment. The published consultation and private prescription fee is £25 for one item, plus £5 per additional item. Medicines cost extra and are paid for separately at the pharmacy.
Prescriptions are issued only when clinically appropriate. No controlled or high-risk medicines are prescribed through this online service.
View private prescription assessmentsIf you need medication urgently
A community pharmacist may assess whether an emergency supply is possible, subject to legal and clinical requirements. NHS guidance also explains options through your GP, NHS 111 and urgent care. Read the NHS advice on emergency prescriptions.
If you cannot safely wait, seek urgent medical advice through NHS 111 where available or local urgent care. Call 999 for a life-threatening emergency. This clinic’s email and WhatsApp are not emergency services.
Learn about your pharmacist prescriber or read our consultation FAQs. This guide provides general information; the pharmacist or prescriber must assess your individual circumstances.