Hello All,
My Mother is visiting me from India and wish to bring her prescribed medicines. She is going to stay here for around 6 months. Can you guys help us with laws and restrictions around that?
Canada website says:
- Does it mean, she can carry only three month of supply and we have to get more by courier only?
- Where should she put medicines along with prescription? in checkin bag or in cabin bag
- Any other thing that we should consider doing for smooth travel of my mother as she doesn't speak English well.
My experience with my parents visits since past many years. Normal diabetes/BP medications involved to set the context of my reply.
The website states 3 months but the reality is that people travel with more medications and it's well known to the border agents as well. If the volume of medicines carried is less covering over 6 months you may not face any issue. Example 180 tablets@1 per day for 6 months vs. 900 tablets@10 per day for 3 months makes a difference if you are asked to open the luggage.
Looking at the elderly parents if travelling by themselves, the border agents do let them carry the medications on compassionate grounds provided the bills and prescriptions are in place with a warning stating the website clause as you mentioned above. Again this entirely depends on the border agent's mood and the traveler's luck on that particular moment.
If you hand carry the medications then there are more chances of getting questioned than leaving them in the check in luggage. Just probability and luck comes to play here. I prefer to put the medication in luggage and haven't faced any issue ever. Hope this wont jinx it!
I know it can be a bit anxiety inducing for both you and your mother but don't worry, the border agents are usually helpful and not as mean as they are made out to be. Just check that the medication involved doesn't have any banned/controlled substance like cannabis and all medicines are retained in their original packaging to avoid any unexpected situation.
All the best!
