Can a Pharmacy in Scotland Accept a Prescription from Abroad?

It depends on the country. A pharmacy in Scotland can dispense a valid prescription from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. It cannot dispense one from anywhere else, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India or the Gulf states. That is UK law, and every pharmacy has to follow it.

This page explains the details, including what the prescription must show and what to do if yours cannot be used. For help with every other medication problem on your trip, see our guide to medication help for tourists in Edinburgh.

Prescriptions we may be able to dispense

The UK recognises prescriptions from these 31 countries:

• EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
• Other countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The person who wrote it must be a recognised professional who is allowed to prescribe that medicine in their own country, such as a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist. It does not matter what nationality you are. What counts is where the prescription was written.

What the prescription must show

Check your prescription for the following. If something is missing, your doctor may be able to send a corrected copy.

• the prescriber's full name and professional qualifications
• their work address, and their email and phone number with the international dialling code
• the name of the country where it was written
• your name, the name and strength of the medicine, and how to take it
• the date, and the prescriber's signature

The pharmacist may contact the authorities in that country to check the prescriber, which can take time. [ATHER TO CONFIRM: whether we accept printed or scanned prescriptions, and electronic ones shown on a phone]

What cannot be dispensed, even from an approved country

• Controlled drugs in Schedules 1, 2 and 3 of UK law. This includes strong opioid painkillers, ADHD stimulants and a number of others.
• "Specials". These are unlicensed medicines made for one person's needs.

If you need one of these, you will need a prescription from a UK prescriber. We can advise you on how to get one, or on another treatment if that is suitable.

If your prescription is from another country

We cannot dispense it, but please show it to us anyway. It tells a UK prescriber what you take, the dose and who looks after you, which makes the next step quicker. A prescriber here cannot simply copy your prescription. They must be satisfied that the treatment is right for you now, so the medicine, the dose or the amount may be different. You then have a very helpful option:

1. A private prescription issued by us. An independent prescribing pharmacist assesses you and writes a private prescription if that is appropriate.

Emergency supply is a separate route

If your doctor is in the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you do not always need a prescription with you. A pharmacist can consider an emergency supply if a recognised prescriber has prescribed the medicine for you before, and you need it right away. Most medicines are limited to 30 days, and some are limited to five days or cannot be supplied at all.

Your doctor can also ask us directly for an emergency supply, and must then send a prescription within 72 hours. This route is not open to patients of doctors outside these countries, so a community pharmacy cannot make an emergency supply for them.

Why a pharmacist may still say no

A prescription from an approved country does not have to be dispensed. The pharmacist may decline if they cannot be sure it is genuine, if the medicine is not normally used in the UK, or if it does not seem clinically right for you. In that case, we will explain why and tell you what to do next. Our job is to make sure the medicine is right for you, and a clear conversation usually saves you time.

Come in and see us

It is quicker to show us than to explain over the phone, so come in with your prescription or a photo of it. You do not need an appointment. If you only want to know whether we stock a medicine, phone us with its active ingredient and strength.

• Address: 45 Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QP
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm (closed Sunday)
• Phone: 0131 225 7770

When the medicine has a different name here

Brand names change from country to country, and the same name can even mean a different medicine. Look for the active ingredient on your box or prescription. If the medicine is not available in the UK, or the strength is different, the pharmacist will tell you and may suggest contacting a prescriber about an alternative. Bring the leaflet if you have it, as it usually lists all the ingredients, and tell us about any allergies, because the inactive ingredients can differ between brands.

What it costs

A prescription from abroad is dispensed as a private prescription, so you pay for the medicine and our service. We tell you the price first and give you a receipt and invoice, which you may be able to claim through travel insurance.

What to ask your doctor at home to send

Whichever country you are from, a clear note from your doctor makes things quicker. If you can reach them, ask for an email or letter in English that gives:

• your full name and date of birth
• the active ingredient, strength and dose of each medicine
• what it is for, and how long you have been taking it
• their name, qualifications, work address and phone number with the international code

Before you travel, if you can

If you are reading this before your trip, take enough medicine for your whole stay plus a few days extra, and ask your doctor for a letter in English that gives the active ingredient, strength and reason for treatment. Doing this is much easier than finding a prescriber on holiday, and it is the best protection if your plans change.

Frequently asked questions about prescriptions from abroad

Can you accept a prescription from the United States or Canada?

No. UK pharmacies cannot dispense them. You need a new prescription from a UK prescriber, and one of our Independent Prescribing (IP) Pharmacists can help.

Does my nationality matter?

No. A US citizen with a prescription from a doctor in Germany is treated the same as a German citizen. What matters is the country where it was written.

Is a prescription from Ireland different?

The Republic of Ireland is on the approved list, so the same rules apply. A prescription from Northern Ireland is a UK prescription.

How much can I get on an EU prescription?

The amount written on the prescription, as long as the pharmacist is happy to dispense it. The 30-day limit applies to an emergency supply, which is a different route.

Related reading

For everything else that can go wrong on a trip, see our full guide to medication help for tourists in Edinburgh.

• Lost luggage in Edinburgh? How to replace your medication
• Fallen ill on holiday in Edinburgh? A guide for overseas visitors
• Private prescription service at Forrest Pharmacy

Reviewed by Ather Diab, Superintendent Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber (GPhC 2233707). Forrest Pharmacy, 45 Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QP. Last reviewed: 7th November 2026.

This page gives general information and is not a substitute for an individual assessment. A pharmacist only supplies a prescription-only medicine after checking this is legal and suitable for you, so we cannot guarantee a supply. In an emergency, call 999.

Sources: GOV.UK, Prescriptions issued in the EEA and Switzerland, guidance for pharmacists; Human Medicines Regulations 2012, regulations 224 and 225; NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Community Pharmacy Services, version 2.0, June 2026; all checked 2 November 2026.