INSTRUCTIONSFOR PATIENTS CARRYING PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONSTHAT NEED A CLEARANCE TO ENTER THE KINGDOMOF SAUDI ARABIA

Imported pharmaceutical preparations that need a clearance when carried by patients entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
are divided into two categories: the Prescribed Drugs, and the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances that are subject to supervision.
l) The Prescribed Drugs:
Patients entering the Kingdom are allowed to carry with them prescribed drugs of a 90-day supply maximum, or a supply
equivalent to the duration of their stay, if the stay is shorter that 90-days. To obtain the clearance the patient should do the following:a) Fill the specific application form which the patient can find on the site of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). The
application should include the commitment of the patient that the drugs are for his personal use and under his own responsibility. The
patient can also find the application form at the Office of the Drug Sector at the port of entry.
b) Attach a copy of a recent medical report mentioning the health condition, the prescribed drugs for the therapy, the durationof the therapy and the given dosage, or a copy of the prescription mentioning the name of the preparation to be cleared.
c) Attach a copy of the purchase receiptd) Attach a clear copy of his "Passport or Residence permit"2) Narcotic Drugs under supervision:
An adequate quantity of these drugs is allowed for a maximum of 3 months (90 days) use, or equivalent to the duration of
their stay, if the stay is shorter that 90-days, and is subject to the following conditions:a) The patient must submit a detailed recent medical report certified by the health center treating him. Medical reports older
than six months will not be accepted. The report should include the following:-The personal information of the patient
The medical diagnosis
The plan and duration of the treatment
The medical advice
The scientific name of the drug, its pharmaceutical form and the prescribed dosageb)
Or submit medical prescription with the name of the patient certified by the health center treating him. Prescriptions
older than six months will not be accepted. The prescription should include the following: diagnosis of the illness, the scientific name ofthe drug, its pharmaceutical form and the prescribed dosage the way of use and the duration of the therapy the stamp of the therapeutic
institution.
c)

The commitment that the drug will be used only by the patient and on his own responsibility.

Furthermore, if the drugs are not carried by the patient himself but are carried by one of his relatives (parents, children,brothers, spouse), a photocopy of his/her identity card must be submitted. In case the drugs are carried by a person not related to thepatient but on his behalf, he must have a signed approval document from the patient that should be submitted along with the copy of theidentity card of this person.
All the aforementioned should be submitted to the Office of Drug Sector at the entry port for inspection, in order to allow theclearance of the drugs. In case there is no Office of Drug Sector at the entry port a clearance application should be submitted throughe-mail at the following e-mail address: clearance.drug@sfda.gov.sa.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) also emphasizes that it will not allow the clearance of drugs from uncertified
origins, or that contain scientifically uncertified substances; otherwise a document proving the necessity of their use should beprovided.