Is MS Contin Legal in Japan?
NCD permit required
MS Contin contains Morphine and requires a Narcotics Control Department (NCD) import permit before travel to Japan. The permit application must be submitted at least 14 days before arrival, supported by a doctor's letter listing your diagnosis, dosage, and trip length. MS Contin cannot be brought into Japan with just a foreign prescription.
Japan status
Permit Required
Quantity threshold
Not applicable
Substance class
Narcotic
Why is MS Contin controlled in Japan?
Morphine is a Schedule I narcotic under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law. Personal use is allowed with advance NCD permission.
How to apply for the NCD import permit
- 1Apply for the NCD import permit at least 14 days before your arrival date.
- 2Doctor's letter (dated within 3 months) must list: your full name, diagnosis, medical necessity, drug name, strength, daily dose, and the prescribing doctor's signature.
- 3Attach photos of original packaging showing drug name and strength.
- 4You must carry the import certificate with you and present it at customs — not in checked baggage.
Application form: Submit through the Japan Narcotics Control Department (NCD).
NCD import permit applicationFrequently asked questions
Can I bring morphine to Japan for cancer pain?▼
Yes, with advance NCD permission. Apply at least 14 days before arrival. Bring your prescription bottles in original pharmacy packaging and present the import certificate at customs.
Is liquid morphine (Roxanol) allowed?▼
Liquid formulations are allowed with the same NCD permit. Note the import certificate covers the total quantity, not the formulation.
Related medications
Morphine is a Schedule I narcotic under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law. Personal use is allowed with advance NCD permission.
Oxycodone is a Schedule I narcotic under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law. Personal use is allowed with advance NCD permission.
Fentanyl is a Schedule I narcotic under Japan's Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Law. Personal use is allowed with advance NCD permission.
Codeine is a Schedule I narcotic. Japan's law explicitly excludes products containing ≤1% codeine — but this threshold is concentration-based, not dose-based, so check the product carefully.
Check your full travel kit
MS Contin is just one medication — most travelers carry several. Our free checker reviews your entire prescription list against Japan’s import rules.
Check all my medicationsSource: MHLW Narcotics Control Department — Controlled Substances List (12 Dec 2024). Page last reviewed 2026-05-31 by Dr. Lo and Dr. Lee (PharmD). Regulations change — verify with the MHLW Narcotics Control Department before travel. This page is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for advice from your prescribing physician or from a Japanese customs authority.