How much External-use medicine (personal use) can I bring into China?
Restricted
You can bring External-use medicine (personal use) into China only within the stated limits.
What you need to know
- No stated quantity
- Channels: Carried with the traveler
Important
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
Official sources
- 药品进口管理办法 国家市场监督管理总局
Questions about External-use medicine (personal use) in China
- Do I have to declare external-use medicine (personal use) at China customs?
- Yes — it has to be declared to China customs on arrival.
- What happens if I do not declare external-use medicine (personal use) in China?
- Under 《进境物品关税、增值税、消费税征收办法》第十一条（税委会公告2024年第11号公布，自2024年12月1日施行）, if you declare the excess yourself: a flat-rate charge is applied to the excess. If the goods are found without being declared, the normal duty becomes payable on the excess; an administrative fine is imposed. Under 《中华人民共和国海关行政处罚实施条例》第十九条第二项、第四项（国务院令第420号）: an administrative fine is imposed.
- Can I post or ship external-use medicine (personal use) to China instead of carrying it?
- Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.
- Can I take external-use medicine (personal use) out of China?
- China publishes no separate rule for taking external-use medicine (personal use) out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the China limit for external-use medicine (personal use) apply per person or per family?
- Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
- Where does this rule come from?
- General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) states it in 药品进口管理办法. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “进出境人员随身携带的个人自用的少量药品，应当以自用、合理数量为限，并接受海关监管。”
- How does China compare with other countries on external-use medicine (personal use)?
- Of the 20 countries covered here, 0 prohibit external-use medicine (personal use), 6 limit it and 14 let it through. China is among the more permissive.
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — 药品进口管理办法 · verified 2026-09-19
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — ข้อควรทราบสำหรับการนำของติดตัวเข้าทางอากาศยานสำหรับผู้โดยสาร · verified 2026-09-20
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — ข้อควรทราบสำหรับการนำของติดตัวเข้าทางอากาศยานสำหรับผู้โดยสาร · verified 2026-09-20
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — 药品进口管理办法 · verified 2026-09-19
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — 药品进口管理办法 · verified 2026-09-19