Can I Send Medicines to South Korea?
Rules for shipping personal medicines to Korea from India — prescriptions, quantities, documentation and what's not allowed.
Key takeaways
- Personal-use medicines can often be sent with a prescription and clear labelling.
- Quantities are limited; controlled substances and narcotics are prohibited.
- Send us the medicine details first so we can confirm and document correctly.
Quick answer
Personal-use medicines can often be sent from India to South Korea with a doctor's prescription and clear documentation, but quantities are limited and some substances are controlled or prohibited. Always contact ShipKorea.in with the medicine details before shipping so we can confirm eligibility and prepare the paperwork correctly.
What you'll need
A copy of the prescription, the patient's details, and the medicine in its original packaging showing the drug name, strength and dosage. A short doctor's note explaining the treatment can also help. This documentation lets Korean customs verify the shipment is genuinely for personal medical use.
Quantity limits
Personal shipments are limited to a reasonable supply — typically up to a few months' worth for one patient. Sending large or repeated quantities of the same medicine looks commercial and may be held, taxed, or refused without an import licence.
What's restricted or prohibited
Narcotics, psychotropic drugs and other controlled substances are prohibited without special licences and permits. Some over-the-counter and herbal/Ayurvedic products still need documentation because of regulated or restricted ingredients under Korean law.
Ayurvedic & herbal products
Many Ayurvedic and herbal supplements can be shipped, but certain ingredients (some botanicals, animal-derived components, or high-potency actives) are regulated in Korea. Share the product name and full ingredient list and we'll check eligibility before you ship to avoid seizure at customs.
How to pack medicines
Keep medicines in original sealed packaging with the label intact, protect from heat and crushing, and include the prescription copy inside and a duplicate for customs. Don't decant tablets into unlabelled containers — unlabelled medicine is a common reason for holds.
Common scenarios we handle
Sending a maintenance medication to a family member studying or working in Korea, replacing a prescription that's unavailable locally, or forwarding a short supply during travel. In each case, correct documentation and reasonable quantity are what keep the shipment compliant.
Our advice
Send us the medicine name, strength, quantity and prescription details in advance. We'll confirm whether it can be shipped, how much you can send, and exactly how to document it — then clear it through customs and deliver door-to-door so it reaches your recipient safely.
