If you are carrying medicines across the border of the Republic of Lithuania or receiving them by post for personal use, you must comply with the established requirements for the importation, exportation, receipt and sending by post of medicinal products. Depending on the quantity and type of medicinal products, you must hold a doctor's certificate, a copy of a prescription or other required documents.
Transport and receipt of medicinal products by post
The procedure for the importation and exportation of medicinal products to and from the Republic of Lithuania, and for their receipt and sending by post for personal use by natural persons, is established in the Description of the Procedure for the Importation and Exportation of Medicinal Products to and from the Republic of Lithuania, and for their Receipt and Sending by Post for Personal Use by Natural Persons, approved by the Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania.
Customs officers of Lithuania, in accordance with the procedure established in this description, have the right to request a doctor's certificate. The certificate must confirm that:
- the medicinal products being carried or received by post have been prescribed by a doctor
- the medicinal products are intended for the person carrying or receiving them by post
- the quantity of medicinal products is necessary for treatment
What information must be included in the doctor's certificate
The doctor's certificate must include:
- the name and address of the healthcare institution
- the patient's first name(s) and surname(s)
- the patient's personal identification number, or the number and series of the document confirming the patient's identity, where applicable
- the first name(s) and surname(s) of the treating doctor and the specialist who issued the doctor's certificate
- the name, pharmaceutical form, strength, number of doses, or, where it is not possible to indicate the number of doses, the pack size and number of packs of the medicinal product(s) required for the patient's treatment
- the duration and frequency of use of the medicinal product(s)
- the date of issue of the doctor's certificate
- the validity period of the doctor's certificate
Important. The validity period of the doctor's certificate must not be shorter than the duration of the journey and must not exceed 6 months from the date of issue of the certificate.
How many medicinal products may be carried or received without a doctor's certificate
Without a doctor's certificate, no more than 10 packs of medicinal products may be imported or received by post at one time.
The indicated quantity may be imported or received by post only once per calendar month.
When up to 40 packs of medicinal products may be imported
No more than 40 packs of medicinal products may be imported per calendar month, provided that no more than 10 packs of medicinal products are carried at one time.
This allowance applies only where a person is required to travel to a third country more than once per calendar month due to:
- their place of work
- the nature of their work
- their place of education or study or
- other circumstances
In such cases, evidence must be presented to customs confirming that the person is required to travel to a third country more than once per calendar month due to their place of work, the nature of their work, their place of education or study, or other circumstances.
Such evidence may include:
- an employment contract
- an employee identification card
- travel documents
- a document confirming learner status, such as a school or student identification card
- other documents confirming the relevant circumstances
Prohibition on carrying empty medicinal product packages
Important: For personal use, it is prohibited to carry or receive by post:
- empty medicinal product packages
- medicinal product labels
- medicinal product package leaflets, also known as information leaflets
The prohibition applies where the text in Lithuanian or another language appearing on these packages, labels or package leaflets corresponds or partially corresponds to:
- the labelling of a medicinal product
- the information contained in a medicinal product package leaflet
This prohibition was established by Order No V-1144 of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania of 16 October 2018, which amended the Description of the Procedure for the Import into and Export from the Republic of Lithuania, Receipt and Sending by Post of Medicinal Products for Personal Use by Natural Persons.
Transporting narcotic and psychotropic medicines across the border
Persons transporting narcotic or psychotropic medicines across the border of the Republic of Lithuania (both when departing and when arriving) must comply with the following rules:
- transport narcotic or psychotropic medicines only for personal use for healthcare purposes
- when travelling to a Schengen state, a certificate of the prescribed form* issued by a healthcare institution must be carried together with the medicines; when travelling to a non-Schengen state, copies of prescriptions for the medicines being transported must be carried (these copies do not need to be certified by the Ministry of Health)
- only a certificate or prescription (copy of a prescription) issued in the name of the travelling person may be carried
- the quantity of medicines carried must not exceed that indicated in the certificate or prescription (copy thereof)
- when travelling to a Schengen state, narcotic medicines may be carried for a period of no more than 30 days, and when travelling to a non-Schengen state – for no more than 15 days
- psychotropic medicines may be carried for a period of no more than 30 days
- medicines must be kept in their original packaging (as purchased at the pharmacy)
Where medicines are needed for a longer course of treatment, it is recommended to carry a doctor's certificate (in the appropriate foreign language) describing the illness and the prescribed treatment, so that it is possible to consult doctors in the foreign country, who can issue prescriptions for the medicines required.
The transport of narcotic and psychotropic medicines is controlled in all countries; however, no uniform international control rules have been established. To avoid problems with bringing narcotic and psychotropic medicines into another country for personal use, it is recommended to contact the relevant country's embassy regarding the entry requirements applicable to such medicines.
More information is available at → State Medicines Control Agency – information on transporting narcotic and psychotropic medicinal products
* The procedure for issuing the certificate and the certificate form were approved by Order No V-138 of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania of 2 March 2007 on the approval of the description of the procedure for issuing certificates authorising the transport of narcotic and/or psychotropic substances for personal use for medical purposes.
Where to seek advice if it is unclear whether a product is a medicinal product
If it is unclear whether a specific product is to be considered a medicinal product, you may contact the State Medicines Control Agency under the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania:
- free of charge telephone: 0 800 73 568
- mobile telephone: 0 673 13 124
- website: http://www.vvkt.lt/
Transport and sending of food supplements
Food supplements do not have therapeutic properties and are not medicinal products.
For personal use, one person may transport or send no more than 10 primary packaging units of food supplements or special foods, with a total weight not exceeding 20 kilograms.
These quantity and weight restrictions apply to:
- goods carried in personal baggage
- goods received in postal consignments
- goods sent through online trade
More information on food supplements is available on the website of the State Food and Veterinary Service → State Food and Veterinary Service – information on food supplements
Legal basis
- Order No V-975 of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania of 23 November 2006 on the approval of the description of the procedure for the importation and exportation of medicinal products to and from the Republic of Lithuania, and for their receipt and sending by post for personal use by natural persons: https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/TAR.F0A0AAA65AB1/asr
- Order No V-1144 of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania of 16 October 2018, amending the description of the procedure approved by Order No V-975: https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/f9ee17b0d2c911e8bea9885f77677ec1
- Order No V-138 of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania of 2 March 2007 on the approval of the description of the procedure for issuing certificates authorising the transport of narcotic and/or psychotropic substances for personal use for medical purposes: https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/TAR.359AFE24543C/asr
- Current version of the description of the procedure for the importation, exportation, receipt and sending by post of medicinal products
- State Medicines Control Agency – information on transporting narcotic and psychotropic medicinal products
- Current lists of narcotic and psychotropic substances
- State Food and Veterinary Service – information on food supplements