Can I bring OxyContin, Percocet (oxycodone) to Japan, South Korea or China?

Checked 14 October 2026 · Independent guide by East&Well.

Short answer

Taking other medicines too? Check them all for your trip

Country by country

Japan

Paperwork before you fly

The rule

Oxycodone is a narcotic in Japan. You need permission from Japan’s Narcotics Control Department before you travel.

What to do

Apply at least 14 days before you arrive, to the office for your arrival airport: the application form, a medical certificate from your doctor (issued within 3 months, with the specific reason) and photos of the packaging. Carry the medicine yourself and show the certificate at customs. Leaving Japan with leftovers needs an export form too.

South Korea

Paperwork before you fly

The rule

Oxycodone is a controlled medicine in Korea (a narcotic). You need a permit from Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) before you arrive.

What to do

Submit the complete application at least 10 working days before you arrive (weekends and Korean public holidays don’t count): two application forms, a full passport copy, your flight booking, a letter from your doctor and your prescription. A permit covers up to 90 days; you can ask for up to 5 extra days’ doses in case of delays. Carry it in your hand luggage. Only the person who takes the medicine can get the permit.

China

Paperwork before you fly

The rule

China lists oxycodone as a narcotic drug. You may carry up to the most a single prescription allows, with a certificate of diagnosis from a medical institution and your passport.

What to do

Get a certificate of diagnosis from your doctor before you go, and declare the medicine to customs (the red channel).

Names to show a pharmacist

The same medicine, as it’s written in each country. Not yet checked by a pharmacist.

US brand
OxyContin, Percocet
Generic
oxycodone
Japanese
オキシコドン
Korean
옥시코돈
Chinese
羟考酮

Similar medicines

Questions people ask

How much OxyContin, Percocet can I bring to Japan?

Oxycodone is a narcotic in Japan. You need permission from Japan’s Narcotics Control Department before you travel. Apply at least 14 days before you arrive, to the office for your arrival airport: the application form, a medical certificate from your doctor (issued within 3 months, with the specific reason) and photos of the packaging. Carry the medicine yourself and show the certificate at customs. Leaving Japan with leftovers needs an export form too.

Do I need a permit for OxyContin, Percocet in South Korea?

Oxycodone is a controlled medicine in Korea (a narcotic). You need a permit from Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) before you arrive. Submit the complete application at least 10 working days before you arrive (weekends and Korean public holidays don’t count): two application forms, a full passport copy, your flight booking, a letter from your doctor and your prescription. A permit covers up to 90 days; you can ask for up to 5 extra days’ doses in case of delays. Carry it in your hand luggage. Only the person who takes the medicine can get the permit.

Can I bring OxyContin, Percocet to China?

China lists oxycodone as a narcotic drug. You may carry up to the most a single prescription allows, with a certificate of diagnosis from a medical institution and your passport. Get a certificate of diagnosis from your doctor before you go, and declare the medicine to customs (the red channel).

What this page is

A plain summary of each government’s own rules, with links, checked 14 October 2026.

What it isn’t

Legal or medical advice. Rules change, and the officer at the border has the final say.