Taking it home: United States
Taking it homeUnited StatesChecked: October 2026
Carry-in limit (guide)
Carry-in limit (per person): no set number of days. Check before you buy.
The conditions differ for US residents and foreign travelers. Before you buy, check which conditions apply to you.
This is for checking the quantity. It does not guarantee that you can bring it in.
What to have ready
- Doctor's certificate: You can add a certificate (¥3,000) in English and your language, showing your name, the medicine, and the quantity, on the same screen as your medicine.
- Original box: Keep the original box with the clinic's label.
- Carry-on prep: Pack it in your carry-on bag, and declare it if you're unsure.
Entry rules
Having a Japanese prescription does not make a medicine for the Japanese market FDA-approved. Before you buy for travel, check the specific product with FDA and CBP.
US citizens and permanent residents
Do not assume the rules for foreign visitors apply to you. Personal importation of unapproved medicines is generally prohibited. FDA may use enforcement discretion, but this is limited and decided case by case. It is not a right to import.
Foreign visitors staying temporarily
For people who are neither US citizens nor permanent residents, FDA describes a policy on a 90-day supply of medicine for personal use, but it does not allow a 90-day supply in every case. Other FDA, DEA, and entry requirements also apply. Check whether the Japanese product is covered.
Documents and customs
Prescription or doctor's letter in English
CBP advises having the original container and a valid prescription or doctor's letter in English. Be ready to show the medicine name and treatment instructions if inspected.
Check the entry procedure
Ask CBP how to declare and present the medicine and documents you bring. Having a prescription or a small quantity does not guarantee that you will be allowed to bring it in.
Check your injection pen
Ask FDA about the injection pen made for the Japanese market, your citizenship and residency status, and the quantity you plan to bring. Check airline and security requirements for injection pens, needles, and ice packs separately. Do these checks before you pay for medicine you plan to bring into the US.
Official sources
This is general information based on official sources, not legal advice. Rules change, so check with United States customs before you travel.