Doctor’s Notes and More
Need to talk to your doctor about your upcoming trip but unsure where to start? We’ve got you covered. Learn how to get the exact documentation you need to make your upcoming trip a success!
What Do I Need from my Doctor?
If you are planning to travel to Japan in the coming months, it is a good idea to check in with your doctor and obtain the documentation you need to travel with your medications. It’s important to first figure out whether or not the medication you currently take is legal in Japan. Reference our ADHD Meds in Japan article to learn more about the legality of different types of ADHD medications and how to import them.
Getting the Proper Documentation
The next step to coordinating with your doctor for your Japan trip is to obtain the proper documentation for the import process. There are two main documents that you will need from your doctor. Regardless of whether or not your medication requires for you to submit an application for an import certificate, travelers are encouraged to have these documents:
Doctor’s Note: Ask your doctor for a detailed doctor’s note outlining the specific medications you take and their usages for your treatment. We have included a sample doctor’s note below
List of Prescriptions: To travel to Japan with medication, you will need a list of prescriptions with the prescription medication name, exact dosage, quantity, form (capsule, tablet, etc.), and prescription date. The prescription should also include your full name, date of birth, and the prescriber’s name.
Note: If your healthcare provider uses MyChart, a list of prescriptions can be found in the medications section of the MyChart app, where you can select the option to print the list of prescriptions as a PDF file.
Additional Documentation
When filling out the Yunyu Kakunin-sho (Japanese medication import certificate), you will have the option to upload additional documents. This includes any medical brochures detailing your medication and its treatment purposes, and any additional doctor’s notes or medical documents. These documents are completely optional, but can still be useful to upload to give the Japanese government additional information about your medication if it is not common or well-known in Japan.
Documentation that is not optional for the Yunyu Kakunin-sho process is a copy of your flight itinerary, which should include your arrival and departure dates and times, which airline you are flying, your departure and arrival airports, and flight numbers. When you fill out the Japanese import certificate application to bring ADHD medication to Japan, you will be asked to provide this flight itinerary. For more details about the Japanese import certificate process, go to Import Certificate Tips.