A common question in Guatemalan families: can a relative buy a medicine in Guatemala and mail it, or send it with someone flying, to a family member in the United States? The answer is set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and it depends on who receives the medicine: a US citizen, or a visitor from abroad. This page reports what the FDA and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) publish. It does not cover the rules of each courier or airline, or Guatemala’s own export rules.
In short: For US citizens, the FDA says that in most circumstances it is illegal to import drugs for personal use, including by mail or courier, because foreign drugs often are not FDA-approved. The FDA says its staff may allow it in limited cases, including for a serious condition when several conditions are met, one of them generally no more than a three-month supply. Visitors from abroad (not US citizens or permanent residents) may bring or ship a 90-day supply, with documents. Controlled substances are decided by the DEA. The FDA’s advice: get medicines from legal sources in the US. Questions go to the FDA’s Division of Import Operations: Imports@fda.hhs.gov, (301) 796-0356.
Who is receiving it decides the rule
| Recipient in the US | What the FDA says |
|---|---|
| US citizen (the FDA’s “U.S. Citizens” section) | Illegal in most circumstances to import drugs or devices for personal use; limited cases where FDA staff may make a more permissive decision (below) |
| Foreign national visiting (for vacation, university, work, etc.) | The FDA will allow a 90-day supply to be brought or shipped; someone staying longer than 90 days may have additional medication sent |
The FDA’s page addresses US citizens and foreign nationals travelling to the US; it does not separately address permanent residents or non-citizens who live in the US. If that is your situation, ask the FDA’s Division of Import Operations (contact below).
For US citizens: the rule and the exceptions
The FDA’s words: «In most circumstances, it is illegal for individuals to import drugs or devices into the U.S. for personal use because these products purchased from other countries often have not been approved by the FDA for use and sale in the U.S.» It adds that if a drug is approved in another country but is an unapproved new drug in the US, it is illegal to import, and it recommends getting medicines only from legal sources in the US.
The FDA then lists situations in which its staff may consider a more permissive decision:
- The product is not for treating a serious condition and there is no known significant health risk; or
- The product is for a serious condition (prescription drugs), and all of these hold:
- effective treatment may not be available in the US, commercially or through clinical means;
- the product is not known to be commercialized or promoted to people living in the US;
- it does not represent an unreasonable risk;
- you affirm in writing that it is for personal use;
- the quantity is, per the FDA, generally not more than a three-month supply; and
- you give the name and address of the US-licensed doctor responsible for your treatment with it, or evidence that it continues a treatment begun in a foreign country.
“May consider” is the FDA’s wording: these are situations in which staff can decide more permissively, not a right to import.
CBP’s page on prohibited and restricted items says the same for US citizens: travel only with your own medication, prescribed by a licensed physician and/or legally obtained in the United States; in most cases it is illegal for a US citizen to obtain drugs outside the US and import them for personal use. It points to the FDA’s Regulatory Procedures Manual, chapter 9-2, Coverage of Personal Importations, for the limited circumstances.
For visitors from Guatemala staying in the US
The FDA defines a foreign national as any person who is not a US citizen or permanent resident, and says it will allow foreign nationals travelling to the US (for vacation, university, work and so on) to bring or ship a 90-day supply. Those staying longer than 90 days may have additional medication sent to them. For mail or courier shipments it suggests including documents showing the medication is for your own use while visiting:
- a copy of the visa or passport;
- a letter from the doctor;
- a copy of the prescription in English.
CBP says non-US citizens visiting should have a valid prescription or doctor’s note written in English; keep the medication in its original container with the doctor’s instructions printed on the bottle, or, without the original container, bring a copy of the prescription or a letter from the doctor explaining the condition; and bring no more than you need for your stay, with no more than a 90-day supply as a rule of thumb.
Controlled substances, fraud and refusals
- Controlled substances: the DEA generally decides whether they may be imported for personal use; for products under both agencies, the FDA and DEA coordinate (FDA).
- Fraudulent or counterfeit drugs: CBP says the FDA prohibits importing them by mail or in person, including unorthodox “cures” for conditions such as cancer, AIDS, arthritis or multiple sclerosis.
- When the FDA refuses a personal importation: the product is on an FDA import alert for previous violations; the shipment appears intended for commercial distribution; the product appears to present a serious risk to health; the article appears to represent health fraud; or food arrives with inadequate prior notice.
- Pet medicines: the FDA applies the same criteria, with a letter from the treating veterinarian instead of a physician.
Questions
CBP directs medication-import questions to the FDA’s Division of Import Operations: Imports@fda.hhs.gov or (301) 796-0356.
Related
- Bringing prescription medication to Guatemala: the opposite direction, and CBP’s rules when you fly back
- Sending a package home to Guatemala
- Sending groceries and essentials to family
Sources: FDA, Personal Importation (content current as of 08/18/2025), and CBP, Prohibited and Restricted Items, section Medication; both read 25 September 2026. General information, not medical or legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my family in Guatemala mail me medicine in the US?
The FDA’s personal-importation page says: «In most circumstances, it is illegal for individuals to import drugs or devices into the U.S. for personal use because these products purchased from other countries often have not been approved by the FDA for use and sale in the U.S.» It lists limited situations in which FDA staff may make a more permissive decision. The same page covers products sent by mail or courier from abroad.
When might the FDA allow it?
The FDA says staff may consider a more permissive decision when the product is not for treating a serious condition and there is no known significant health risk; or, for a serious condition, when effective treatment may not be available in the US, the product is not commercialized or promoted to US residents, it does not represent an unreasonable risk, you affirm in writing that it is for personal use, the quantity is generally not more than a three-month supply, and you give the name and address of the US-licensed doctor responsible for your treatment or evidence that it continues a treatment begun abroad.
I am visiting the US from Guatemala. Can I have my medication sent?
The FDA says it allows foreign nationals (anyone who is not a US citizen or permanent resident) to bring or ship a 90-day supply, and that those staying longer than 90 days may have additional medication sent. For mail or courier shipments it suggests including documents showing the medication is for your own use while visiting: a copy of your visa or passport, a letter from your doctor and a copy of the prescription in English.
What about controlled substances?
The FDA says the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) generally decides whether controlled substances may be imported for personal use, and that for products under both agencies they coordinate.
When does the FDA refuse a personal importation?
The FDA lists: the product is on an FDA import alert for previous violations; the shipment appears intended for commercial distribution; the product appears to present a serious risk to health; the article appears to represent health fraud; or food imported with inadequate prior notice.
