Can I send medicine to France?
Yes, with conditions.
Up to the prescribed course or 3 months of treatment. From outside the EEA, the medicine must be authorized in the sending country, with a copy of a prescription from a doctor there. No narcotic or psychotropic medicines.
For every Onvoyo box: Onvoyo can't carry prescription drugs. Over-the-counter medicine and vitamins follow the destination's own rules.
More rules for France
Not allowed
- Narcotic and psychotropic medicines (travelers may bring them only in person)
- Medicines in more than a personal supply (the prescribed course, or 3 months of treatment without a prescription)
Allowed with conditions
- Medicines
- Up to the prescribed course, or 3 months of treatment. Sent from an EEA country (the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), the medicine must be authorized in that country. Sent from anywhere else, it must be authorized in the sending country and come with a copy of a prescription from a doctor there. Otherwise, an ANSM import authorization is required.
Quantity limits
- Medicines
- No more than the prescribed course, or 3 months of treatment without a prescription.
Before you ship to France
- Tax-free limit
- If you're sending from inside the EU, there is no customs clearance and nothing to pay. From outside the EU (including the UK), VAT is due from the first euro, and the €150 customs duty relief ended on July 1, 2026, so duty can now apply at any value. An occasional gift from one private person to another worth up to €45 (about $53), not counting shipping, is still free of duty and VAT. Online purchases up to €150 from sellers registered for the EU's IOSS scheme, or sent by post, pay a flat €3 duty for each type of item until July 1, 2028.
- Receiver ID
- Private receivers don't need a tax or customs number. Give the courier the receiver's full name, phone number, and email so it can arrange payment of any VAT or duty.
- Transit
- 1-3 business days within the EU; 2-5 from the UK or North America; 3-7 from Asia
Questions
Can I send medicine to France?
Yes, with conditions. Up to the prescribed course or 3 months of treatment. From outside the EEA, the medicine must be authorized in the sending country, with a copy of a prescription from a doctor there. No narcotic or psychotropic medicines.
Ask about a specific item
Official sources
- 1.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Recevoir un colis envoyé par un particulier (opens in a new tab) - 2.
Entreprendre.Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative)
Taux de TVA dans les secteurs des arts et de la presse (opens in a new tab) - 3.
Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé (ANSM)
Demander une autorisation pour une importation de médicaments (opens in a new tab) - 4.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Envoi de produits alimentaires et de végétaux (opens in a new tab) - 5.
Official Journal of the European Union (EUR-Lex)
Council Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 of 16 November 2009 setting up a Community system of reliefs from customs duty (codified version) (opens in a new tab) - 6.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
You want to know the applicable deductibles when transferring your main residence in France (opens in a new tab) - 7.
Ministère de la Culture
Comment soumettre une demande d'autorisation d'exportation ? (opens in a new tab) - 8.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Calculation of duties and taxes on purchases abroad (opens in a new tab) - 9.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Vous souhaitez connaître les franchises applicables lors de votre installation dans un DOM (opens in a new tab)
General guidance, not legal advice. Customs in France makes the final decision on every box.