Can You Bring ADHD Medication (Adderall, Ritalin) to Bali?

You cannot bring Adderall, dexamfetamine tablets or Dexedrine into Bali, even with a doctor's prescription: amphetamine and dexamfetamine are listed as Category I narcotics in the annex of Health Ministry Regulation (Permenkes) No. 15 of 2025. Ritalin and Concerta (methylphenidate) are different. They sit in Category II psychotropics under Permenkes No. 14 of 2025, so foreign nationals may still carry them for personal use with a prescription and in limited quantities. We read both annexes directly on the Health Ministry's legal database, checked 27 October 2026.

This article covers ADHD medication only. The general prescription rules (30 units, 90 days, how to declare) are in our guide to bringing prescription medicine to Bali.

Which category is my ADHD medication?

• Mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall, Mydayis): "Amfetamina", item 53 on the Category I narcotics list in Permenkes 15/2025. Prohibited.
• Dexamfetamine (Dexedrine, Zenzedi, Australian dexamfetamine tablets): "Deksamfetamina", item 54 on the same list. Prohibited.
• Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse, Elvanse): not named in either the narcotics or psychotropics annex we checked. The body converts it into dexamfetamine, and Smartraveller (Australian government) warns that some ADHD medicines are illegal in Indonesia. Treat it as prohibited unless the Indonesian embassy or BPOM tells you otherwise in writing.
• Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Medikinet, Penid): item 2 on the Category II psychotropics list in Permenkes 14/2025. Allowed with conditions.
• Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin): not named in either annex. Its status is unclear, so ask before you pack it.
• Atomoxetine (Strattera) and guanfacine (Intuniv): on neither list, so normal prescription-medicine rules apply.

Why is a prescription drug at home a narcotic in Indonesia?

Law No. 5 of 1997 on Psychotropics originally placed amphetamine in psychotropic Category II. Law No. 35 of 2009 on Narcotics then moved psychotropic Categories I and II into narcotic Category I, and Permenkes 15/2025 (signed 21 November 2025, promulgated 28 November 2025) still lists it there. Category I narcotics may only be used for science, never for therapy, so there is no "personal prescription" route. The 2023 Health Law (Law No. 17 of 2023) did not change this.

I take Ritalin or Concerta. What do I need?

• It must be for a foreign national's own use and carried in your own luggage. Psychotropics may not be sent by post or courier.
• A prescription or doctor's letter showing your name as in your passport, the substance (methylphenidate, not just the brand), daily dose, diagnosis and treatment length. An English version makes inspection easier.
• Quantity: BPOM's FAQ says up to 60 days' supply, while media summaries of BPOM Regulation No. 28 of 2023 say 90 days. Stay at 60 days to be safe.
• Original pharmacy-labelled packaging, not an unlabelled weekly pill box.
• Answer "yes" to restricted goods on the All Indonesia arrival card (the customs e-CD is now part of it) and show your prescription if Customs asks. The arrival steps are in our Ngurah Rai airport guide.

My stay is longer than 60 days. What now?

There are two legal routes. First, talk to your doctor well before departure about whether methylphenidate or atomoxetine could replace an amphetamine-based stimulant; do not switch medication a few days before flying. Second, for long stays, see a psychiatrist in Bali. Indonesian pharmacies dispense psychotropics only on prescription, and generally that prescription must come from a doctor practising in Indonesia. Pharmacy locations are in our 24-hour pharmacies in Bali article.

What happens if I bring Adderall anyway?

The most recent documented case involves US citizen William Wallace Molyneaux V. According to an AP report carried by Malay Mail on 5 August 2025, he was arrested on 23 May 2025 after collecting a parcel of 99 Adderall pills at a post office near Kuta; he said he had bought them on the dark web. Prosecutors charged him with importing narcotics, which carries up to 15 years in prison. On 9 July 2025 he was moved to a rehabilitation centre after his US doctor sent a letter confirming his ADHD diagnosis. We could not find the final verdict in verifiable sources as of 27 October 2026.

A genuine ADHD diagnosis does not keep you out of the legal process; at most it can lead to rehabilitation instead of prison. The penalties are outlined in our article on drug penalties for tourists in Bali.

Who can give me a written answer?

• The Indonesian embassy or consulate in your country: email the substance, dose, quantity and length of stay. Keep the reply and carry a printout.
• BPOM, Indonesia's food and drug agency, which supervises medicines brought in by passengers.
• Smartraveller (Australia), travel.state.gov (US), or the Korean and Japanese foreign ministry travel pages for current warnings.

Other Indonesian rules that catch visitors out are collected on our Bali rules page.

FAQ

Can ADHD medication be posted to my hotel in Bali? No. Psychotropics may only enter as their owner's luggage, and Category I narcotics may not enter at all. The Molyneaux case began with a parcel at a post office.

Is Strattera safe to bring? Atomoxetine is on neither the narcotics nor the psychotropics list, so ordinary limits apply: 30 units without a prescription, or up to 90 days' supply with one.

Is a Bali transit without leaving the airport still risky? Yes, if your luggage is inspected in Indonesia. Where possible, choose a routing where bags are not collected and re-screened in Denpasar, and still carry your prescription.