Transit through Qutar with medicine

[onlymethen]

I’m hoping someone can help us. We are travelling to Australia transit through Qutar, my question is do we need Drs letters and Embassy letters for our medication. I’m on codeine and my husband Mounjaro. I know we need the medicines in their original box with labels but anything else thank you.

Ive been through Qatar with meds many times and never had any issues, all boxed and labelled in both my checked in case and hand luggage. Never been asked about them or had letters of any kind

Thanks, I was worried more about the codeine.

I strongly suggest you look on the Qatar embassy website regarding the codeine. They have very strict rules about opiates.

If you have a prescription (eg name and dosage on the box) and are just transiting I wouldn’t worry. FCDO advise a letter too. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/qatar/health

This. Don't mess around with this kind of thing.

Very much agree with both you and @endofthelinefinally.

The OP needs to look at the rules published by the Qatar authorities, not a possibly abbreviated and/or paraphrased UK Gov version of the same....

I assume you never carried opiates. Having looked into this a bit more, it seems you not only have to have the original prescription, a stamped hospital letter, the original packaging, you also have to contact the embassy ahead of time to pre-register the medication. Also, you are not allowed to carry more than 30 days supply. Personally I wouldn't risk it if I could do without the meds just for the flight and get a prescription once I got to Australia.

Thanks everyone, I think I’m just going to travel without and get pain killers in Australia, certainly don’t want to do anything that will put our trip in jeopardy.

I have had this issue and have a couple of times taken a letter and prescription which was filled in the target country. Some countries are fine with you in transit if you have full documentation and small quantities - it varies.

Totally echo the comments on not mucking around with opiates in the ME - get confirmation from the embassy and airlines about rules and if in doubt, consider if you can take evidence and get it filled at the other end.

Thanks got in touch with embassy and they replied very promptly for anyone else this is direct from the Embassy.
Kindly bring with you a copy of the valid prescription from your GP or doctor. Please ensure also that your name is on the original label on each box of your medication.

Print out and take that email with you as well. The Embassy will be reliable for the country, double check with the airline rules as well (they occasionally differ but you should be ok).

Thanks, I’ve already printed it out. Will get in touch with airline also..

For anything like this I always have hard copies. I could not count the number of times I’ve been to airports to find connectivity glitches (both 4/5g and wifi) including big hub airports. Its getting better but for the sake of a few A4 print outs I like to be absolutely sure!

I have taken controlled drugs to Dubai, and made sure in original packaging and I had a copy of prescription. Check country specific guidance incase certain drugs not allowed, but i’d imagine you’ll be ok if prescribed. I now have NHS app to show meds are prescribed to me.

I’ve gone through Dubai with medication on the way to and from Australia and I’ve absolutely always had all of these paperwork that you are told you need.

I had friends telling me that I shouldn’t bother and even to hide the medication. They didn’t seem to equate it with drug smuggling. Oh yes, I’ll just hide drugs in my luggage. Brilliant advice.

I took my meditation to Doha in the box and with the prescription.

I think anyone suggesting you hide your meds especially codeine don’t respect the country they are travelling through or the consequences of doing so.

Doubt it. Keep original box and your prescription.
we went to Bali earlier this year, on the way there transited via Singapore and on the way back via HK, my husband kept his mounjaro in the hand luggage, no questions asked anywhere not in the uk, transit or in Bali.

Agree..

Frankly there's a bit of a league table of countries where you really don't want to FAFO when it comes to customs. Some previously mentioned can indeed horribly strict and then there's Qatar.

I used to visit there occasionally (work) and always did an extra special check of the wash bag when packing to ensure I wasn't going to be carrying OTC medication that contained anything on the not approved list.

You can't compare rules between any country in the middle East, let alone a middle Eastern country with a far eastern country. You have to get the exact instructions from the embassy of the country you will be transiting through. I have gone through Dubai with barely a glance, but had every single packet opened and checked in Abu Dhabi. I have never carried controlled drugs and wouldn't risk it if I didn't have to. From what I have heard from fellow travellers, Qatar is the strictest country.