Carrying Medicines Abroad from India: Rules for Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan

By the Dook International travel team  |  Updated 13 October 2026  |  8 min read

The short answer
Yes, you can usually carry personal medicines. Keep them in original packaging, carry a doctor's prescription, and pack only what the trip needs.
Controlled medicines need more. Strong painkillers such as tramadol or codeine, some sleep and anxiety tablets, and some cold medicines can need a permit or approved documents in these countries.
Check before you fly. Rules change, so confirm with the country's customs authority or embassy before travel.

A lot of travellers pack medicines without a second thought, then discover at the customs counter that a common Indian prescription is treated as a controlled drug abroad. That is rare, but the cost is high: confiscation, delays, or worse in some countries. This guide covers what to carry, what paperwork to bring and where the three countries differ.

We send Indian travellers to Almaty, Baku and Tbilisi every season, so these questions come up often, especially from families travelling with parents who take daily tablets. If you are still planning, see our Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia tour packages.

Not medical or legal advice

This article is general information. Talk to your doctor about what you need for the trip, and confirm entry rules with the official sources linked below.

Medicine rules at a glance: Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan points are from a secondary summary that cites each country's customs authority. Georgia's points come from Georgian government sources. Treat all three as a starting point and confirm officially.

What India's side says

India's Department of Revenue says narcotic and psychotropic substances listed in Schedule I of the NDPS Rules, 1985 are prohibited, and that travellers who need such drugs for medical use may seek permission from the Narcotics Commissioner well before departure, with the prescription and other papers (DoR NDPS medical-use page). The page does not set quantity limits, so ask your doctor and the Narcotics Commissioner's office if your medicine falls under NDPS rules.

Which common medicines cause problems?

These are the types most likely to be flagged. Not every brand is affected, so check the active ingredient on the label, not just the brand name.

•       Strong painkillers: tramadol, codeine-containing tablets or cough syrups, morphine, fentanyl.

•       Anxiety and sleep medicines: alprazolam is on Georgia's list, and similar tablets are often controlled.

•       Nerve pain and seizure medicines: pregabalin is on Georgia's list.

•       ADHD medicines: methylphenidate is on Georgia's list.

•       Cold and allergy tablets with pseudoephedrine or ephedrine: restricted in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, and ephedrine-based products appear on Georgia's list.

If you take any of these, ask your doctor whether a non-controlled alternative works for the trip. If not, plan the permit and paperwork well ahead.

How to prepare: a 7-step checklist

1.     Make a list of every medicine you take, with the generic (active ingredient) name, dose and how long the trip is.

2.     Ask your doctor for a printed prescription and a short letter that states your condition, the medicines, and the daily dose. Add your name and passport number.

3.     Check each medicine against the country rules above. Flag anything that is controlled.

4.     Carry medicines in original packaging, not loose strips or unlabelled boxes.

5.     For Kazakhstan, get the prescription translated into Russian or Kazakh. For Georgia, controlled medicines need translated and approved documents.

6.     Pack medicines in your hand luggage, with a few days' extra supply in case of delay. Keep the prescription copy with them.

7.     Declare any controlled or doubtful medicine at customs. Use the red channel if you are unsure.

Practical tips for families, seniors and long trips

•       Carry only what you need for the trip, plus a small buffer. Large stocks look like commercial quantity.

•       Never carry medicines for another person, and never pass your medicine to someone else. Georgia treats transfers of controlled drugs as a serious offence.

•       Insulin, injectables and syringes: carry a doctor's letter and keep them in hand luggage. Ask your airline about cooling and security rules.

•       Ask your hotel or tour manager where the nearest pharmacy is. If you run out of a controlled medicine, Georgia lets foreigners see a local medical institution with a customs-certified document.

•       Buy travel insurance before you fly. Our travel insurance guide for international trips explains what a policy should cover, including medical care abroad.

•       Special diets and medical needs also affect meals. See our guide to food restrictions abroad.

Country notes for planning your trip

Kazakhstan

Trips to Almaty often involve mountain day trips, altitude and long drives, so keep your daily medicines and motion-sickness or stomach remedies in your day bag. Our guides to Kolsai Lake, winter in Kazakhstan and things to do in Almaty show where long days on the road happen. Confirm entry rules on our Kazakhstan visa page and plan your trip with our Almaty tours. Customs information is published by the State Revenue Committee.

Georgia

Georgia has the clearest published rules of the three, including a list of controlled medicines. If you plan to hike, read our hiking in Georgia guide and carry basic first-aid items. Georgia's own page on bringing medications is on the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs site. For planning, see our Tbilisi tours.

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan requires original packaging and a prescription, and a Ministry of Health permit for controlled medicines. Declare anything that could be controlled. Official customs information is published by the State Customs Committee. Planning day trips? Read our 5 sights in Baku and Sheki guide, and browse our Baku tours.

Visiting more than one country? Our Georgia vs Azerbaijan comparison helps you choose, and the rules above apply to each border crossing or flight into a new country.

Planning a trip with special medical needs?

Tell us about dietary or medical needs when you enquire, and our team will plan around them, from meal choices to pharmacy locations. Start with our Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan or Georgia packages.