Is Kratom legal in Philippines?
- Legal status
- Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is not controlled in the Philippines — the Dangerous Drugs Board confirmed (April 2023) that Mitragyna speciosa is not among the dangerous drugs, and PDEA records make no reference to it; neither mitragynine nor 7-hydroxymitragynine is listed. It is unregulated, not banned.
- Consequences if caught
- No dangerous-drugs penalty, as kratom is not a controlled substance under RA 9165; ordinary commercial rules apply.
- If prescribed or medical
- Not a scheduled medicine — no controlled prescription requirement; it is not a dangerous drug.
- Documentation
- No kratom-specific carry restriction; a reasonable personal quantity is not a dangerous-drugs matter.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Philippines’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 →