Refilling your prescription while abroad

You may be able to get prescribed medicine at your destination if you need it from a local pharmacy, but you may have to pay for it. There may also be other restrictions depending on the medicine you need.¹

You are advised to get a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for travel within the EU. The GHIC allows you to get emergency healthcare in the European Economic Area (EEA) and some other destinations like Australia, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Your GHIC can be used to get repeat prescriptions abroad but only from state-approved doctors.¹

The GHIC has replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) as part of the new legislation and guidance from exiting the EU. If you have an EHIC, it will still be valid as long as it has not passed its expiry date.²

GHICs are free and last for 5 years.²

If you are travelling outside of the EU, make sure you get comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any medical care you may need while abroad.

You should check your destination’s travel requirements on the gov.uk website or their embassy website before your holiday. The foreign travel advice will outline:

• How to access emergency care
• How you can access pharmacy medicines, including with your GHIC
• What you need to do before you travel to ensure that you can access the medicines you need
• Vaccination advice.

You can contact your GP for advice if you run out of your prescription while you are abroad and cannot access the right medication for your needs.³

Preparing well in advance of your travel date can help you avoid needing to refill your prescription.

You can:

• Check how much medication you currently have and work out:
• How much you will need before you go away
• How much you will need during your trip
• How much you will have left when you get home


• Request a prescription for all medications you need while you are away. You may need to discuss your travel plans with your GP.
• Check the travel advice for your destination for information about prescriptions and emergency medical care, or contact the destination’s embassy
• Find out and keep the emergency services numbers for your destination
• Discuss any concerns you may have about any medical conditions you have or prescriptions you’ve been issued with your GP
• Buy travel insurance and ensure it covers your current medical conditions. Failing to declare medical conditions can invalidate your policy.³

If you have a prescription for a controlled drug, you must travel with proof of ownership. This may either be your prescription script or a letter from your prescriber. You must also check that your medication is legal in your destination and its territories. Every country will have its own rules on the use of controlled medicines within its borders.

It’s your responsibility to find out if they can be brought on your trip. You can call the Home Office for more advice on travelling with a controlled drug at 0300 105 0248 or email dflu.ie@homeoffice.gov.uk.⁴

If you need to refill your controlled medication while you are away, contact your destination’s embassy for help. The Home Office may also be able to offer you advice on refilling prescriptions for controlled medicines while you are away.

When taking your prescription abroad, there are a few things you have to remember.

• Keep your medicine’s original packaging
• Take a copy of your prescription or a letter from your GP with you to prove the medicine is yours
• Carry all essential prescription medication in your hand luggage. You can take spares with you in your hold luggage. This helps make sure you aren’t without your medication when flying if your hold luggage gets lost.
• Check with your airline or tour company about any liquid medications you are taking on board an aeroplane. You will need to make sure you have your prescription script or a letter from your doctor if the medication is liquid and over the 100ml limit.^3,5

If you have any questions or concerns about travelling with pharmacy medicine, talk to your GP or pharmacist.