How to Send Medicines by Speed Post — Domestic and International Rules
Sending tablets to your parents in another city, or a few months of medicines to family abroad? Here's what India Post accepts, what it refuses, how to pack it, what it costs, and which countries make it hard.
Already posted the medicines?
Enter the 13-character number from your receipt to see where the parcel is right now — free, no login.
Within India, yes — you can send medicines by Speed Post. Ordinary tablets, capsules, syrups and creams for a family member go through the post every day. Pack them in their original strips, declare the parcel as merchandise, and keep a copy of the prescription inside. The one hard line is narcotic and psychotropic substances: India Post's own prohibited list bans them, and that catches some common prescription drugs too.
Sending medicines abroad is possible, but the destination country decides. You book it as International Speed Post (EMS) or another international service, fill a CN22 or CN23 customs form with an exact description, and enclose an English prescription. Most countries only accept a personal supply, usually up to about three months. Controlled medicines generally shouldn't go by post at all.
Below you'll find a quick yes/no table, packing steps, 2026 charges, the customs form explained line by line, and country rules for the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the UAE.
Can I Post This Medicine? Quick Answer Table
| Type of medicine | Within India | Abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday tablets (BP, diabetes, thyroid, vitamins) | Yes | Usually, with prescription and within the country's quantity limit |
| Antibiotics and other prescription (Schedule H) drugs | Yes, keep a prescription copy inside | Check the country first; prescription essential |
| Syrups, drops, liquid tonics | Yes, in leak-proof packing | Often accepted; pack as liquids |
| Creams and ointments | Yes | Usually |
| Ayurvedic, homeopathic, herbal | Yes | Often checked closely; confirm first |
| Insulin, vaccines, anything kept in the fridge | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| Sleeping pills, anxiety pills, strong painkillers (alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem, tramadol, codeine) | No — psychotropic / narcotic | No |
"Abroad" always means: the destination country's rules apply on top of India Post's. Our Speed Post prohibited items list covers everything else India Post refuses.
Sending Medicines Within India — Step by Step
Say you're in Pune and your mother in Lucknow has run out of her BP and thyroid tablets. Here's exactly what to do.
Buy and keep the medicines in their original strips
Don't pop tablets out into a dabba or a zip bag. The strip shows the drug name, strength, batch and expiry — that's what tells the counter clerk (and your mother) what's inside. Loose, unlabelled pills are exactly the kind of thing that gets a parcel questioned.
Put a prescription copy and the pharmacy bill inside
India Post doesn't publish a rule demanding a prescription for domestic parcels. Still, a photocopy of the prescription and the chemist's bill costs you nothing and answers any question at once. For antibiotics and other prescription-only drugs, it's the proof that you bought them properly.
Pack it in a small box, not an envelope
Strips crack and syrup bottles break in envelopes. Use a small cardboard box with bubble wrap or newspaper around the contents (details in the packing section below). Leave the box open until the counter — some clerks like to see what's inside first.
Write a clear address with a phone number
Elderly parents are often out at the temple or the doctor's when the postman comes. Put a mobile number that will actually be answered, and the correct PIN code. If you're unsure of the format, see how to write an address on Speed Post.
Book it as Speed Post Parcel and declare "merchandise"
Under India Post's rules, a Speed Post item that isn't a document has to be declared as merchandise. A box of medicines is booked as a Speed Post Parcel. When the clerk asks what's inside, just say "medicines for my mother" — that's the honest answer and it's allowed.
The clerk weighs it, enters the destination PIN code and gives you a receipt with a 13-character tracking number like EK123456789IN. Photograph that receipt and send the number to the person receiving the parcel.
Track it and tell the receiver to expect it
India Post's own delivery norms for Speed Post Parcel are 1–2 days locally and up to 4–5 days to the rest of the country, plus one extra day if the delivery office is a rural branch office. So don't post on the day the last strip runs out — post with at least a week of buffer. Track it on SpeedIndiaPost.com.
Honest tip: if the medicine is urgent and the person is in a big city, an online pharmacy delivering locally will often be faster than any parcel. Speed Post is best for regular monthly refills, specific brands that are hard to find in their town, or when they live in a smaller place.
How to Pack Medicines So They Arrive Intact
India Post's packing guidance says a parcel must protect its contents from pressure and repeated handling, and from changes in climate and temperature. In practice, for medicines, that means:
Tablets and capsules
Keep them in their original strips or bottles. Wrap the bundle in bubble wrap and fill the gaps in the box so nothing rattles.
Syrups and drops
India Post's rule for liquids: a leak-proof container inside a strong box with enough cotton, sawdust or similar material to soak up the liquid if it breaks. Tape the cap and put the bottle in a sealed plastic bag first.
Creams and ointments
For fatty substances like ointments, the rule is a first wrapping (a plastic bag or box) placed inside a box strong enough to stop leaks. Tubes can burst under pressure, so don't skip the inner bag.
Paperwork on top
Put the prescription copy, bill and a small note ("Medicines for Mrs. Sharma, 3 months' supply") in a plastic sleeve on top, so anyone opening the box sees it first.
Address inside too
India Post recommends putting both addresses inside the parcel as well. If the outer label tears off, it can still be delivered or returned.
Temperature-sensitive medicines
Speed Post is not a cold-chain service — parcels travel in normal mail bags, vans and aircraft holds. Insulin, some eye drops and vaccines that say "store at 2–8°C" shouldn't be posted. Buy them near the patient instead.
What It Costs — Domestic and International Charges
Medicines don't carry any special fee. You pay the normal rate by weight and destination. These are India Post's own published retail rates.
Speed Post Parcel within India (retail, from 1 August 2026)
| Weight | Local | Within State | Zone / Metro | Other States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 500 g | ₹28 | ₹76 | ₹82 | ₹90 |
| 501 g – 1 kg | ₹48 | ₹101 | ₹137 | ₹143 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 g | ₹60 | ₹130 | ₹182 | ₹228 |
| 1,501 – 2,000 g | ₹87 | ₹178 | ₹254 | ₹319 |
GST is added on top. Proof of delivery costs ₹10 extra if you want it. A typical three-month supply of tablets in a small box weighs well under 500 g, so Pune to Lucknow ("Other States") costs ₹90 plus GST.
International Speed Post (EMS) — merchandise rates
| Destination | First 250 g | Each extra 250 g | 1 kg parcel |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | ₹1,820 | ₹150 | ₹2,270 |
| United Kingdom | ₹1,965 | ₹90 | ₹2,235 |
| Canada | ₹1,180 | ₹180 | ₹1,720 |
| Australia | ₹1,125 | ₹230 | ₹1,815 |
| United Arab Emirates | ₹1,400 | ₹40 | ₹1,520 |
| Saudi Arabia | ₹1,535 | ₹60 | ₹1,715 |
| Singapore | ₹1,175 | ₹65 | ₹1,370 |
Taxes are extra, and for the US, customs duty is also collected at the counter (see below). Rates come from India Post's EMS tariff page; confirm the final figure at the counter, because the clerk's system has the latest numbers. Cheaper options exist — International Air Parcel (up to 20 kg) and International Tracked Packet (up to 5 kg) — but EMS is the fastest and best tracked.
Sending Medicines Abroad — Documents and Customs Forms
Abroad is where most parcels of medicines go wrong — usually not at the Indian end, but at customs in the other country. The CN23 form itself warns that goods may face "pharmaceutical restrictions" and that finding out the destination's rules is the sender's job. So get the papers right before you go to the counter.
Document checklist
- Prescription in English from a registered doctor, with the patient's name, the drug, dose and duration. Add the doctor's name, address and phone number — the US FDA specifically asks for these.
- A short doctor's letter stating the condition and that the medicines are for the patient's personal use.
- Pharmacy bill showing what was bought and the value — you'll need the value for the customs form anyway.
- Copy of the receiver's passport/visa if they're visiting (parents on a visitor visa, students). Several countries treat visitors more leniently than residents.
- Your own ID for booking, and the receiver's full address, phone number and email.
CN22 or CN23 — which form?
India Post uses CN22 for articles valued below 300 SDR and CN23 for 300 SDR or above. At India Post's 2026 conversion of ₹115.206 per SDR, that cut-off is about ₹34,500. Most family medicine parcels are well below it, so you'll usually fill a CN22, but the counter may hand you a CN23 for an EMS parcel anyway — both ask for the same basics.
| Field on the form | What to write for medicines |
|---|---|
| Category of item | Tick Gift, or tick Other and write "Personal medicines — not for sale". Never tick "Sale of goods". |
| Detailed description | One line per medicine: "Metformin 500 mg tablets, 6 strips × 10". The form says vague descriptions aren't accepted — "medicines" alone isn't enough. |
| Quantity, net weight, value | Per item, from your pharmacy bill, with the currency (INR). |
| HS tariff number | Packaged medicines in doses fall under HS heading 3004. Ask the clerk for the full code — it's mandatory for the US. |
| Country of origin | India (for medicines made here). |
| Comments (CN23) | "Prescription medicines for personal use of [name]. Prescription enclosed." |
Don't hide it. Writing "chocolates" or "documents" on a box of tablets is a false declaration. The CN23 form warns that this can lead to a fine or seizure, and customs X-rays parcels routinely. An honest, detailed form is your best protection.
No export paperwork for personal gifts. India Post says individuals sending personal shipments as gifts don't need to file a Postal Bill of Export — that's only for businesses. Selling or regularly shipping medicines abroad is a different matter and needs proper licences.
Countries With Special Rules on Imported Medicines
Here's what the health and customs authorities of the most common destinations say. Rules change, so ask the person receiving the parcel to double-check on their country's official health website before you post.
United States — strictest of the lot
The FDA says that in most cases it's illegal for individuals to import drugs. Its personal-importation policy lets foreign visitors have up to a 90-day supply mailed to them, with a copy of their passport/visa, a doctor's letter and an English prescription in the parcel. For US citizens and residents it's much tighter: generally a serious condition, a US doctor's details, and not more than three months' supply.
On the India Post side, since 23 July 2026 every parcel of goods to the US — gifts and personal items included — needs full customs details and a 10-digit US tariff code at booking, and duty is collected at the counter under India Post's Delivery Duty Paid system. Expect the booking to take longer.
United Kingdom — no controlled drugs by post
The UK government states plainly that medicines containing controlled drugs cannot be posted to you from overseas. Its 3-month personal allowance for controlled medicines applies only when the patient carries them in person with a doctor's letter. Ordinary medicines can still be held and checked by Border Force, so send the paperwork.
Canada — visitors only, 90 days
Health Canada's guidance lets visitors receive up to a 90-day supply of prescription medicine by mail or courier, in original pharmacy or retail packaging, with the package marked "Urgent Medications for Visitor". Controlled drugs aren't allowed by mail. Canadian residents generally can't import prescription drugs by courier for personal use.
Australia — 3 months, Australian prescription
Under the TGA's Personal Importation Scheme, a parcel can hold up to 3 months' supply at the prescribed dose, and no more than 15 months' supply in a year. Prescription-only medicines need a valid Australian prescription, and a copy should go inside the package.
UAE — permit for controlled medicines
Ordinary personal medicines are allowed in quantities for personal use, up to six months. Narcotic, psychotropic and controlled medicines are capped at three months and need approval from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), which residents apply for online with the prescription and a medical report before the parcel is sent.
Gulf countries, Singapore and others are strict about psychotropic medicines and some painkillers that are routine in India. Singapore, for example, requires prior approval for medicines containing controlled substances. If the medicine isn't a plain everyday drug, check before you post — a seized parcel can mean trouble for the receiver, not just a lost box.
What You Must Never Post — Even With a Prescription
India Post's prohibited list for domestic mail bans "narcotics and psychotropic substances, as defined by the International Narcotics Control Board", along with drugs prohibited under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. A prescription makes these legal to buy — it doesn't make them legal to post.
Psychotropic and opioid medicines
This includes common prescription drugs: sleeping pills and anti-anxiety tablets like alprazolam, diazepam and zolpidem, and painkillers like tramadol, codeine and buprenorphine. In India these sit in Schedule H1, which means the chemist must record every sale in a separate register. If the strip carries a red "Rx" and the boxed "Schedule H1 Drug — Warning", check whether the salt is a psychotropic or narcotic before you think of posting it.
Schedule H1 drugs without a prescription
Schedule H1 also covers newer antibiotics and anti-TB drugs. Those aren't psychotropic, but they can only be sold against a registered doctor's prescription — so if you're sending them, the prescription copy must go in the parcel.
Exporting narcotics or psychotropics
Exporting any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance from India needs an export authorisation from the Narcotics Commissioner for each consignment. That isn't something an individual gets for a family parcel. If the patient abroad needs such a medicine, they should get it prescribed there.
Unlabelled or loose medicines
Loose tablets, powders in plain packets and home-made remedies with no label are the fastest way to get a parcel held — anywhere.
Tracking Your Medicine Parcel
Domestic and international Speed Post both give you a 13-character number ending in "IN". Enter it on SpeedIndiaPost.com to see every scan — booking, bagging, dispatch, arrival at the delivery office and delivery. India Post also sends an SMS to the receiver's registered mobile when a Speed Post Parcel reaches the delivery post office.
For an international parcel, the Indian scans end when it's handed to the airline. After that, the destination country's post adds its own scans, including customs. The same number usually works on their postal website too. If it sits in customs for more than a few days, ask the receiver to contact their local post or customs office with the documents you enclosed. Not sure what a status means? See Speed Post tracking status meanings, or what to do when tracking isn't updating.
Track Your Medicine ParcelFrequently Asked Questions
What to Do Now
- Check the salt names on every strip. If any is a sleeping pill, anxiety medicine or opioid painkiller, take it out.
- Within India: original strips + prescription copy + bill, in a small padded box. Book as Speed Post Parcel, declare it as merchandise.
- Abroad: ask the receiver to confirm their country's limit first, stay within about three months' supply, and get an English prescription plus a doctor's letter.
- Fill the CN22/CN23 line by line — exact names, strengths, quantities, values. Go to a head post office if your local branch rarely books international mail.
- For valuable or hard-to-replace medicines, ask about insurance — Speed Post Parcel can be insured up to ₹5 lakh, while default compensation for loss is only double the postage or ₹1,000, whichever is less. More in our insurance and compensation guide.
- Share the tracking number with the receiver the same day, and track it daily. If it stalls, see how Speed Post booking works or raise a Speed Post complaint.
Track Your Medicine Parcel Now
Free real-time Speed Post tracking with the full scan history — no login needed.
Start Tracking →