Traveling with ADHD medications abroad (from Germany)
If you are traveling abroad from Germany, you need to go through some bureaucratic processes to legally bring your ADHD medication with you. ADHD stimulant medications are classified as narcotics in most Europe countries.
The form for carrying your ADHD meds within the EU looks like this
It is necessary to carry a certificate filled out and signed not only by your doctor but also certified by the highest health authority in the federal state you live in. In Berlin, this is Landesamt für Gesundheit und Soziales (LAGeSo).
If you are traveling outside of the EU/Schengen, you should first check on the website of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), to make sure your ADHD meds are not prohibited in the countries you are visiting! If they are prohibited, there are not allowed even with a signed form.
Which form to use?
Which form you need, depends on what countries you are travelling:
- Within the EU: Bescheinigung für das Mitführen von Betäubungsmitteln (Schengener Abkommen)
- Outside the EU (e.g. US/Canada): Bescheinigung für das Mitführen von Betäubungsmitteln (außerhalb des Schengener Abkommen)
You will need to visit your doctor so that they can fill out the appropriate form above and sign it. My doctor charges me €5 for this form if they fill it out completely. Once I got my first of these forms, I simply copied the info and fill it out myself with the new travel info so it's easier to get it quickly signed at my doctor's office (and also end up saving me their €5 fee). If you take more than one ADHD medication, you will need a separate form for each medication. Then, you will need to make an appointment at the appropriate german bureaucratic office to have it signed and certified.
How to get your form certified by the German authorities in Berlin
In Berlin, you will need to go to the office of the Landesamt für Gesundheit und Soziales (LAGeSo). You no longer need to make an appointment! You can drop by during their office hours on Tuesday and Friday from 9:00-12:00 and Thursday from 15:00-18:00. You can find all the information & additional contact info on their website. They will give you a info sheet with a bank account where you will need to transfer the €5 fee.
What to bring to the appointment
- Passport
- Filled out and signed form from above
The procedure at the appointment is fast and straight-forward. You go to Raum 1.35, the person signs and stamps your form, writes down your details in a ledger, gives you back the forms (remember to take it with you on your trip!), and hands you a sheet with their banking details. You will need to remember to transfer €5 after the appointment!