Carry-On Intelligence
Airport Rules
Carry-on rules for peptides, syringes, and ice packs at major international airports.
Field Notes
Field Notes from the Terminal
What we've learned the hard way, so you don't have to.
The Letter
Carry a signed prescription or doctor's note for anything injectable. Not a printout — an actual letter, on letterhead, with a phone number. Officers in Dubai and Singapore have asked for both.
Original Packaging, Always
Loose vials in a ziplock will get you pulled aside every time. Keep peptides in their labeled boxes, even if it costs you bag space.
Freeze the Packs Solid
Slushy ice packs get confiscated under the 100ml rule. Twenty-four hours in a real freezer, not a hotel mini-bar. Bring a backup — gel packs at airport pharmacies are useless.
Give Yourself the Extra Hour
Medical declarations add fifteen to forty minutes depending on the checkpoint. Heathrow Terminal 5 and JFK Terminal 4 are the slowest.
Check the Destination, Not the Airline
Airlines rarely care. Customs always does. Saudi Arabia, Japan, and South Korea require pre-approval paperwork that takes weeks — start before you book.
Compiled from 200+ traveler reports submitted through our logbook.
EuropeCDG
🇫🇷 Charles de Gaulle Airport · Paris
- Liquids rule applies — peptide vials under 100ml allowed in clear bag
- Ice packs must be frozen solid at security checkpoint
- Syringes allowed with prescription or doctor's letter
- Medications permitted in carry-on with supporting documentation
- Declare pharmaceutical items at security if asked
View full airport guide →
EuropeLHR
🇬🇧 Heathrow Airport · London
- Medical liquids EXEMPT from 100ml limit with a doctor's letter
- Carry doctor's note or prescription for syringes and needles
- Ice packs in medical cooling bags generally accepted
- Expect security screening delays for medical liquids
- Post-Brexit: declare medications if arriving from outside UK
View full airport guide →
AmericasJFK
🇺🇸 John F. Kennedy International Airport · New York
- TSA allows medically necessary liquids and gels over 3.4oz if declared separately
- Medications allowed in carry-on without limit
- Ice packs for medical cooling permitted — frozen or partially frozen
- Notify TSA officer at the start of screening
- International arrivals — CBP may inspect medications
View full airport guide →
Middle EastDXB
🇦🇪 Dubai International Airport · Dubai
- STRICT — obtain UAE Ministry of Health approval before travel
- Strict controls on needles and syringes
- Prescription must be notarized/translated into Arabic for large quantities
- Some substances that are legal elsewhere may be banned in UAE
- Maximum 3-month supply for personal use
- Declare all medications at customs — non-declaration is an offense
View full airport guide →
EuropeFRA
🇩🇪 Frankfurt Airport · Frankfurt
Frankfurt is Germany's largest airport and a major European hub. German authorities are strict on syringe documentation — always carry a doctor's note.
- Strict adherence to EU 100ml liquid rule for non-medical items
- Medical certificate required for ice packs in carry-on
- Syringes allowed with prescription or medical documentation
- Medications in original packaging with labels
- Declare pharmaceutical items when arriving from outside EU
View full airport guide →
Asia-PacificSIN
🇸🇬 Changi Airport · Singapore
- Check HSA import requirements before travel
- Carry doctor's letter and prescription
- Controlled substances require import permit
- Personal medications must be in original packaging
- Strict drug enforcement — ensure full compliance
View full airport guide →
AmericasLAX
🇺🇸 Los Angeles International Airport · Los Angeles
- TSA allows medications in carry-on — no quantity limit for solids
- Liquid medications exempt from 3-1-1 rule but must be declared
- Ice packs permitted — frozen or partially frozen
- Syringes allowed when accompanied by injectable medication
- Notify TSA officer at the start of screening
View full airport guide →
Asia-PacificSYD
🇦🇺 Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport · Sydney
- Declare all medications to Australian Border Force
- Carry prescription from Australian-registered or equivalent doctor
- Maximum 3-month supply for personal use
- Injectable medications — carry doctor's letter explaining medical need
- Biosecurity — all biological products may be inspected
View full airport guide →
Asia-PacificNRT
🇯🇵 Narita International Airport · Tokyo
- Apply for Yakkan Shoumei (import certificate) BEFORE arrival
- Japan has one of the strictest pharmaceutical import regimes
- Carry all documentation in Japanese and English
- Some common peptides may be prohibited — check in advance
- Customs declaration mandatory for all pharmaceutical products
View full airport guide →
Asia-PacificBKK
🇹🇭 Suvarnabhumi Airport · Bangkok
- Medications for personal use generally accepted
- Carry doctor's letter and prescription
- Thai FDA may inspect pharmaceutical items at customs
- Keep in original or clearly labeled packaging
- Reasonable personal quantities — avoid bulk amounts
View full airport guide →
EuropeFCO
🇮🇹 Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport · Rome
- EU regulations — medications permitted with documentation
- Carry prescription or doctor's letter
- Liquids rule applies — vials under 100ml in clear bag
- Schengen internal flights — minimal additional screening
- Ice packs permitted for medical cooling
View full airport guide →
EuropeMXP
🇮🇹 Milan Malpensa Airport · Milan
- Same EU regulations as Fiumicino
- Medications with supporting documentation permitted
- Standard Schengen liquid rules apply
- Ice packs and cooling cases accepted in carry-on
- Declare if arriving from outside EU/Schengen
View full airport guide →
EuropeMCO
🇲🇨 Monaco Heliport · Monaco
Monaco has no commercial airport. Most travelers arrive via Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) and transfer by helicopter (7 min) or car (30 min).
- Helicopter terminal — no conventional airport security screening
- Most travelers arrive via Nice (NCE) airport and transfer
- French regulations apply for the Nice–Monaco corridor
- Carry documentation as you would for any French airport
- Private aviation — fewer security formalities but customs still applies
AUH
🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi International Airport · Abu Dhabi
- UAE Ministry of Health pre-approval required for controlled substances
- Arabic translation of prescription strongly recommended
- Declare all medications on arrival
- Maximum 3-month personal supply
- Etihad medical clearance available for connecting passengers
View full airport guide →
DOH
🇶🇦 Hamad International Airport · Doha
- Qatar has strict narcotics laws — declare everything
- Bring sealed original packaging with English/Arabic labels
- Doctor's letter for injectables mandatory
- Personal-use quantities only
- Major transit hub — declare even if not exiting airport
View full airport guide →
IST
🇹🇷 Istanbul Airport · Istanbul
- Turkish customs accept prescriptions in English with original packaging
- Schengen liquid rules do not apply — Turkey is non-EU
- Declare quantities over 1-month supply
- Cold-chain storage available at THY medical service desk
View full airport guide →
ICN
🇰🇷 Incheon International Airport · Seoul
- Korean MFDS strict on injectables — bring prescription
- GLP-1 analogs require additional documentation
- ICN provides English-speaking customs liaison
- Pharmacy onsite for sterile water and supplies
- Refrigerated storage at lounges (Asiana, KAL)
View full airport guide →
DEL
🇮🇳 Indira Gandhi International Airport · Delhi
- India CDSCO permits personal-use quantities with prescription
- Declare on customs form (red channel) for >1-month supply
- Heat advisory — bring insulated cold case (40°C+ summer)
- T3 international has 24/7 pharmacy
- Avoid generics labeled in Hindi only — keep English Rx
View full airport guide →
BOM
🇮🇳 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International · Mumbai
- CDSCO personal-use quantities with prescription permitted
- Declare on red channel for >1-month supply
- Humidity + monsoon — silica gel + insulated case essential
- T2 has 24/7 pharmacy with sterile water
View full airport guide →
BLR
🇮🇳 Kempegowda International Airport · Bangalore
- Calmest Indian customs — tech-corridor traveler base
- Mild climate (avg 22°C) eases cold chain
- T2 Apollo pharmacy stocks sterile water
- Same CDSCO personal-use rules as DEL/BOM
View full airport guide →
MEX
🇲🇽 Benito Juárez International · Mexico City
- COFEPRIS permits personal-use with valid prescription
- Spanish translation speeds inspection (not required)
- Altitude (2,240m) keeps temps cool — cold chain forgiving
- Farmacias del Ahorro and Benavides airside
View full airport guide →
GRU
🇧🇷 São Paulo–Guarulhos International · São Paulo
- ANVISA permits personal-use with documentation
- Portuguese translation strongly recommended
- Tropical climate — insulated case mandatory in summer
- Drogasil and Droga Raia airside in T3
View full airport guide →
JNB
🇿🇦 O.R. Tambo International · Johannesburg
- SAHPRA permits personal-use with valid Rx
- English documentation widely accepted
- Highveld altitude keeps temps moderate year-round
- Clicks and Dis-Chem pharmacies airside
View full airport guide →
CAI
🇪🇬 Cairo International · Cairo
- Egyptian Drug Authority permits personal-use with Rx
- Arabic translation strongly recommended
- Cairo summers exceed 40°C — insulated case non-negotiable
- T2 pharmacies airside; T1 is the slow lane
View full airport guide →
KUL
🇲🇾 Kuala Lumpur International · Kuala Lumpur
- NPRA permits personal-use with documentation
- Declare all pharmaceutical items — Malaysia enforces strictly
- Tropical heat + humidity — insulated case essential
- Watson's and Guardian pharmacies airside
View full airport guide →
MNL
🇵🇭 Ninoy Aquino International · Manila
- Philippine FDA permits personal-use with prescription
- English universal — simplifies documentation
- Tropical climate — insulated case mandatory year-round
- T3 dramatically faster than T1 — choose carrier accordingly
View full airport guide →
HAN
🇻🇳 Noi Bai International · Hanoi
- Drug Administration of Vietnam permits personal-use with Rx
- Vietnamese translation of prescription strongly recommended
- Hot, humid summers — insulated case essential
- Limited English among customs staff — clear documentation matters
View full airport guide →
TPE
🇹🇼 Taiwan Taoyuan International · Taipei
- Taiwan TFDA permits personal-use quantities with Rx
- English documentation widely accepted
- Watsons and Cosmed pharmacies airside (T1/T2)
- GLP-1 less scrutinized than in Korea/Japan
View full airport guide →
MEL
🇦🇺 Melbourne Tullamarine Airport · Melbourne
- TGA permits personal-use with valid Rx
- Declare ALL biological items — biosecurity strict
- Temperate climate — cold chain forgiving
- Chemist Warehouse and Priceline airside in T2
View full airport guide →
AKL
🇳🇿 Auckland International · Auckland
- Medsafe permits personal-use with valid Rx
- MPI Biosecurity: declare ALL biological items — NZ$400 minimum fine for omission
- Temperate climate — cold chain easy year-round
- Pharmacy onsite at international terminal
View full airport guide →
Last updated: April 15, 2026