4 min read
Cecily Grace Morgan
Cannabis is illegal in Cyprus, but the Pharmaceutical Services states that medical cannabis patients can get a permit for taking their medication into the country. However, you should double-check with them and the High Commission before booking a trip.
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Recreational cannabis is illegal in Cyprus. According to the FCDO, “Cyprus has a strictly enforced zero-tolerance policy towards illegal drugs, including cannabis and laughing gas”. Cyprus Customs also lists cannabis-derived products, including oil, as prohibited. Medical cannabis isn’t legal, but visitors taking it into the country require a permit from Pharmaceutical Services.
Visit Cyprus, the official tourism site, says the importation, possession and use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is prohibited.
However, according to advice we received from Cyprus's Pharmaceutical Services, you may take medical cannabis into the country, as long as you obtain a permit from the Director of Pharmaceutical Services.
To obtain this, you have to contact them for an application form. You then have to email or fax them:
The completed and signed application form
A report from your doctor declaring the preparation you are taking and the medical condition for which you are taking it
A copy of your prescription
A photograph of the product you are taking clearly showing its name, composition and pack size
They state that getting the permit can take up to two weeks as it needs to be approved by the Director of Pharmaceutical Services.
They sent us this information in November 2026 but advised that the procedure may change in 2027. The same documents will be required, but they may have to be submitted through an online portal.
You can contact them via phone on +357 22 608620 or via email at phscentral@phs.moh.gov.cy.
Please contact Pharmaceutical Services to double-check the procedure before booking a trip or plane ticket to Cyprus. You may also like to contact the High Commission of Cyprus in the UK if you have any questions.
We couldn’t confirm rules for Northern Cyprus, which is not under control of the Government of Cyprus. The FCDO also gives no specific guidance on its drug rules, so we advise that you don’t risk taking your medical cannabis there.
Wherever you’re going on holiday with medical cannabis, we advise that you take a Releaf travel letter with you. To request one of these, head to the Patient Dashboard, click the Personal tab and then click Travelling Info. If you have any issues, please reach out to patient support.
Please be aware that a travel letter confirms that you’ve been legally prescribed cannabis for medical reasons in the UK, but does not grant any legal permission to travel to a foreign country with medical cannabis.
You may also be interested in cannabis regulations in other European countries, or our guide to “medical cannabis-friendly” countries.
There’s no official list of medications that can’t be taken into Cyprus. However, in its guidelines for travellers, the Ministry of Health lists certain medications that require a permit. These include strong painkillers, such as codeine, and sedatives, such as diazepam.
If you have any questions or doubts about what medications you can and can’t take to Cyprus, contact Pharmaceutical Services.
There are no clear guidelines on whether you have to declare cannabis at the airport in Cyprus. Please check with the high commission before travelling.
It is important to seek medical advice before starting any new treatments. The patient advisors at Releaf are available to provide expert advice and support. Alternatively, click here to book a consultation with one of our specialist doctors.
Cannabis is illegal in Cyprus, but the Pharmaceutical Services states that medical cannabis patients can get a permit for taking their medication into the country. However, you should double-check with them and the High Commission before booking a trip.
No, you can’t. Recreational cannabis is illegal in Thailand and those caught with it can face imprisonment and heavy fines. Since June 2025, cannabis is only legal in Thailand with a Thai prescription, so UK medical cannabis prescriptions aren’t valid. Another bill was approved by the Thai cabinet in September 2026 to further tighten cannabis laws.
Generally, yes. Recreational cannabis is illegal, with coffee shops for residents tolerated rather than licensed. However, you can usually take medical cannabis to the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, but you’ll need a travel certificate and you should contact the Dutch embassy or customs for confirmation.
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