Courier medicines to USA from India — rules, documents and charges
Rules & rates last verified: 13 July 2026 · by Mrs. Madhu Satija, Managing Director, CargoCharges
Yes — you can courier prescription medicines from India to the USA for personal use, up to a 90-day supply per shipment, with a valid prescription. We ship medicines to the USA on DHL, UPS or our Self network (FedEx does not accept medicine parcels on this lane), with a medicine handling premium of ₹2,000 over standard rates.
The rules that apply
US FDA personal-importation policy: up to a 90-day supply for personal use, not for resale — our booking limit mirrors this.
Carrier restriction: medicines move only via DHL, UPS or Self network on this route — FedEx and Aramex decline the commodity.
A medicine handling premium of ₹2,000 applies over the standard parcel rate (covers pharma-grade documentation handling and carrier surcharge).
Controlled substances, narcotics and injectables of any schedule are NOT accepted at all — no exceptions.
Charges: standard rate + ₹2,000 medicines premium
Your parcel is charged at the normal USA rate for its weight — from the carriers that accept medicines on this lane (DHL, UPS, Self) — plus a one-time ₹2,000 handling premium. Worked example: 2 kg ≈ ₹4,092 (Self) + ₹2,000 premium = ₹6,092, excl. 18% GST. Express option: 2 kg ≈ ₹4,697 (DHL, 2-3 Working Days) + ₹2,000 premium = ₹6,697, excl. 18% GST. Economy transit: 4-5 Working Days from Delhi dispatch, with free pickup across Delhi NCR.
Documents you need
Doctor's prescription in the patient's name (dated within 6 months)
Doctor's letter stating condition and dosage (recommended, speeds FDA clearance)
Purchase invoice / pharmacy bill for the medicines
Receiver's ID copy and full US address with phone number
Our customs declaration (we prepare it with you at pickup)
Limits & what is not accepted
Maximum 90-day supply per shipment (FDA personal-use rule)
Personal use only — commercial pharma requires FDA registration and is a separate service
No controlled substances, narcotics, psychotropics or injectables
Refrigerated (cold-chain) medicines cannot be shipped via standard express
📞 Unsure about your specific items? Send us the list on WhatsApp +91 97186 61166 — we confirm shippability before you pack, free.
Medicines to USA — FAQs
How much does it cost to courier medicines to the USA?
Standard parcel rate for your weight plus a ₹2,000 medicine handling premium. For example: 2 kg ≈ ₹4,092 (Self) + ₹2,000 premium = ₹6,092, excl. 18% GST. GST of 18% applies on the total bill. Message us with the exact weight for a live quote.
Can I send more than 90 days of medicine supply to the USA?
No — the US FDA personal-importation limit is a 90-day supply, and shipments above it risk seizure. For ongoing needs, send a fresh shipment each quarter; repeat customers get pending-coupon discounts.
Do you ship Ayurvedic medicines to the USA?
Yes, commercially packaged Ayurvedic and herbal products can be shipped with ingredient labels visible. Loose or unlabelled preparations are declined, since FDA rejects unidentifiable substances.
Does FDA inspection delay medicine parcels to the USA?
Usually not — documented personal shipments clear without inspection. Transit is 4-5 Working Days from Delhi dispatch on the carriers that accept medicines; on the rare FDA document check, allow 1-2 extra days.
Mrs. Madhu Satija — Managing Director, CargoCharges. 25+ years in international logistics; these rules reflect what our carriers and customs partners enforce on real shipments, updated as carrier policy changes.