Is Clonazepam legal in France?
- Legal status
- Clonazepam (Rivotril) is a Liste I prescription medicine and is markedly stricter than other Liste I benzodiazepines: a secure prescription valid 28 days maximum, with the initial prescription reserved to hospital neurologists and paediatricians.
- Consequences if caught
- Illicit use or possession up to 1 year plus a fine; trafficking or supply up to 10 years.
- If prescribed or medical
- Prescribed as Rivotril under a secure 28-day prescription; the initial prescription is restricted to hospital neurologists/paediatricians.
- Documentation
- Carry the Schengen Article 75 certificate; a prescription is valid for 3 months.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with France’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →