Life in Australia Guide

The TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) is the Australian federal regulator responsible for medicines and medical devices. As a general rule, importing medication into Australia requires meeting import requirements, but under the traveller's exemption travellers can carry in medication without separate approval, subject to certain requirements, provided it is for treatment of themselves or family entering with them. This guide focuses specifically on the process of bringing in the medication you take and continuing it in Australia, rather than on entry declarations generally. For completing the passenger card and customs and biosecurity declarations in general, please also refer to the arrivals and customs guide.

The three core principles when carrying in medication under the traveller's exemption are the quantity limit, prescription documents, and keeping the original packaging. Just following these three will let you bring in most ordinary prescription medicines without a problem.

Most of the documents can only be prepared in your home country before you leave, not after you arrive in Australia. In particular, arrange your English prescription and doctor's letter ahead of time so you don't have to go back to a clinic right before departure.

• English prescription or doctor's letter — stating the medicine name, generic name, dose, and purpose of treatment
• Medication list — a list compiling the generic name, dose, and dosage instructions in English
• Keep document copies separate — the original in your carry-on bag, copies separately in checked baggage or the cloud

Even the same 'medication' is subject to very different levels of regulation depending on its classification. First check which case your medication falls under.

A home-country prescription cannot be used at an Australian pharmacy, so the key to a long stay is to switch to an Australian prescription through a GP before the medication you brought runs out. Preparing in the following order lets you continue without a gap.

• Book a GP 2–4 weeks before your medication runs out — there can be a wait for a first appointment, so leave yourself some room
• Bring your generic-name list and existing prescription to the appointment — this lets the same active ingredient be found quickly
• Check whether it is listed on the PBS — listed medicines are government-subsidised with a low patient co-payment, while unlisted medicines are paid for in full (see the pharmacy and PBS guide)
• Even the same active ingredient may have a different product name in Australia — if the packaging and name differ but the generic name is the same, it is an equivalent medicine
• If there is no equivalent medicine in Australia, exceptional routes led by a doctor exist, such as the TGA Special Access Scheme — talk to your GP

These are mistakes that actually happen often. Most are problems that arise 'from not knowing', so knowing about them in advance is more than enough to avoid them.

• Family sending medication by international post — the traveller's exemption does not apply, and if the requirements are not met it is seized or destroyed
• Decanting pills into a day-of-the-week pill container — unlabelled medication cannot be checked for its ingredients and becomes a problem at inspection
• Not declaring, unaware it is a controlled ingredient — checking the ingredient name for sleeping tablets, ADHD medicines, and the like is mandatory, and if in doubt, declare
• Booking a GP only after the medication has run out — a wait for a first appointment can create a gap in your treatment, so switch over ahead of time
• Stopping or changing medication on your own because the same one isn't available in Australia — any change or discontinuation of medication must be discussed with a doctor