Is Codeine legal in Greece?
- Legal status
- Codeine is prescription-only and a controlled substance in Greece (narcotics Law 4139/2013 / Law 3459/2006); even foreign over-the-counter codeine can trigger customs problems without a Greek-recognised prescription.
- Consequences if caught
- Possession without a valid prescription can lead to detention or prosecution under Greece's strict narcotics law; supply/trafficking is a felony.
- If prescribed or medical
- Prescribed and dispensed as a controlled medicine under EOF control.
- Documentation
- TRAVELLER TRAP (classic case): foreign OTC codeine risks arrest or seizure at Greek customs - carry a prescription, and advance EOF authorisation is advised for narcotics. Within Schengen the Article 75 certificate applies.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Greece’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 →