How to Use International Mail-Order for Medications Safely and Legally in 2025

Buying medications from overseas used to be simple. You found a pharmacy abroad, paid a fraction of what you’d pay at home, and waited a couple of weeks for your pills to arrive. But as of August 29, 2025, that’s no longer true - not in the U.S., and not for most countries following similar changes. The old $800 duty-free threshold is gone. If you’re trying to order prescription drugs, supplements, or over-the-counter meds from Canada, India, Mexico, or anywhere else by mail, you’re now dealing with a completely new system. And if you don’t understand it, your package could be seized, you could owe hundreds in unexpected fees, or worse - you could break the law.

What Changed in 2025: The End of the $800 Rule

Before August 2025, if you ordered a $150 bottle of insulin from Canada, it slipped through U.S. Customs duty-free. Same with $200 of blood pressure meds from India or $75 of antidepressants from the UK. That was thanks to the $800 de minimis threshold, a rule that let small packages enter without taxes or duties. It was designed for gifts and small online purchases - not prescription drugs.

Now, that rule is dead. Executive Order 14324, signed in July 2025, eliminated the $800 exemption for all international mail, including medications. The only thing still allowed duty-free is a personal gift under $100 - and even then, it can’t be medicine. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) made this clear in their September 2025 guidance: medications are never exempt, no matter the value.

This isn’t just a tax change. It’s a policy shift. The government now treats every package with medicine as a commercial import, even if you’re just one person buying for yourself. That means you’re subject to the same rules as a pharmacy importing bulk shipments.

Why Medications Are Treated Differently

The FDA and CBP don’t treat medications like other goods. Even if a drug is legal in the country you’re buying from, it might not be approved in the U.S. That’s not just red tape - it’s a safety rule. Unregulated meds can be fake, expired, contaminated, or contain the wrong dosage. The FDA estimates that 50% of online pharmacies selling prescription drugs are illegal. Many sell counterfeit versions of popular drugs like Viagra, metformin, or lisinopril - some with toxic fillers or no active ingredient at all.

In 2024, CBP intercepted over 1.2 million packages containing unapproved medications. Most were from India, China, and Bangladesh. Some contained fentanyl, arsenic, or industrial dyes. That’s why the rules tightened. The government isn’t trying to stop you from saving money - it’s trying to stop you from getting poisoned.

How to Legally Import Medications Now

There’s only one legal path left: personal importation under FDA’s limited discretion policy. This isn’t a right - it’s a loophole that’s rarely granted. To qualify, you must meet all these conditions:

• The medication is for a serious condition with no FDA-approved treatment available in the U.S.
• The drug is not for resale.
• You have a letter from your U.S. doctor stating you’re under their care and the drug is necessary.
• You’re importing no more than a three-month supply.
• The medication is not a controlled substance (like opioids or stimulants).
• The package is clearly labeled with your name, address, and the drug’s generic name.

Even then, CBP can still stop your package. There’s no guarantee. In 2024, about 60% of personal importation requests for medications were allowed through - but only after weeks of delays and paperwork.

The New Duty and Tax Rules (2025-2026 Transition)

Since August 29, 2025, every international shipment with medication must pay duties. There are two methods - and timing matters.

Until February 28, 2026, carriers can choose between:

• Method 1 (Ad Valorem): Pay a percentage of the declared value. Rates vary by country. For example, meds from India might be taxed at 5%, while those from Germany could be 12%.
• Method 2 (Flat Rate): Pay a fixed fee based on the country’s tariff level: $80 for low-tariff countries, $160 for medium, $200 for high. This is often worse for small orders. A $50 insulin order from Canada could face a $80 duty - more than the drug itself.

After February 28, 2026, only Method 1 will be allowed. That means you’ll need to know the exact Harmonized System (HS) code for your medication. For example, insulin is HS code 3001.10. Most people don’t know these codes - and getting them wrong can trigger a 300% higher duty rate, according to the Postal Regulatory Commission.

Documents You Must Get Right

No matter which method you use, you need paperwork. The CBP now requires:

• Commercial invoice: Not a receipt. Must list each drug’s generic name, strength, quantity, manufacturer, and value. Saying “vitamins” or “meds” is not enough. You need: “Metformin Hydrochloride 500mg, 60 tablets, manufactured by Sun Pharma, India, value $45.”
• Proof of prescription: A copy of your doctor’s prescription or a signed letter from your U.S. physician.
• HS code: Six-digit code required for all commercial shipments since September 1, 2025. Use the USITC online tariff database to look it up.
• Proof of personal use: A signed statement saying you’re importing for your own use, not resale.

If you’re shipping from a country with a trade agreement (like Canada or Mexico), you may also need a Certificate of Origin. Missing one document = your package gets held or destroyed.

Who Pays the Duty? (And Who Gets Blamed)

This is the biggest confusion. If your package is stopped, who pays? The carrier? The sender? You?

The answer: you do. CBP holds the recipient responsible. If the duty isn’t paid within 30 days, your package is auctioned off or destroyed. And if the carrier didn’t collect the duty at the border, you’ll get a bill from CBP - sometimes months later. People have received $300 bills for a $40 order of blood pressure pills.

That’s why many international pharmacies now refuse to ship to the U.S. Deutsche Post, Canada Post, and others stopped accepting business parcels to the U.S. after August 22, 2025. If you’re still getting deliveries, they’re likely coming through DHL, FedEx, or UPS - and those carriers charge $25-$50 extra just for customs clearance.

What You Should Do Instead

If you’re trying to save money on meds, here’s what actually works in 2025:

• Use U.S. pharmacy discount programs: GoodRx, SingleCare, and Blink Health offer discounts up to 80% on brand-name drugs. A $400 insulin pen can drop to $45.
• Ask your doctor about generic alternatives: Most brand-name drugs have FDA-approved generics that cost 90% less.
• Check patient assistance programs: Pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer, Merck, and Novo Nordisk offer free or low-cost meds to low-income patients.
• Use mail-order pharmacies: Many U.S. insurers let you order 90-day supplies by mail for lower copays.

If you absolutely need a drug not available in the U.S., work with your doctor to file a formal FDA request. It takes time - but it’s the only safe, legal way.

The Real Risk: Fakes, Delays, and Legal Trouble

Buying meds overseas isn’t just risky - it’s often pointless. A 2025 study by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy found that 94% of websites selling prescription drugs without a license are illegal. Many sell fake insulin that contains no glucose-lowering agents. Others sell expired antibiotics or pills with dangerous additives.

And even if your package arrives, you’re not safe. CBP can still seize it later. You could be fined up to $100,000 for importing unapproved drugs, even if you didn’t know it was illegal. In 2024, over 1,200 Americans were investigated for importing unapproved medications - some faced criminal charges.

Bottom Line: It’s Not Worth It

The dream of cheap overseas meds is over. The rules are too complex, the penalties too high, and the risks too dangerous. What looked like a way to save money is now a legal minefield.

The real savings aren’t overseas - they’re right here. Use GoodRx. Talk to your doctor. Ask about generics. Apply for patient aid. These options are faster, safer, and 100% legal.

You don’t need to risk your health - or your freedom - to save a few dollars.