Is Codeine legal in Thailand?
- Legal status
- Codeine is a Category 2 narcotic under the Narcotics Code B.E. 2564 (2021), prescription-controlled; travellers may carry up to a 90-day supply only with a Thai FDA permit (Form IC-2) obtained before arrival.
- Consequences if caught
- Category 2 narcotic offences carry heavy penalties; unauthorised possession or import is prosecutable.
- If prescribed or medical
- Prescribed and dispensed as a Category 2 narcotic medicine.
- Documentation
- TRAVELLER TRAP: bringing codeine without the Thai FDA Form IC-2 import permit is unlawful - apply ahead; maximum 90-day supply.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Thailand’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 →