Passengers with medical needs are allowed to bring prescription and essential non-prescription medications with them through the security checkpoint as well as any medically required items and mobility aids.
Prescription and essential non-prescription medications
You may bring prescription and essential non-prescription liquid, gel and aerosol medication in quantities more than 100 ml in your carry-on bag. Medications do not have to be placed in your 1 L plastic bag. See How to Pack your Medications for more detail.
Solid tablet non-prescription medication (i.e. acetaminophen, ibuprophen, vitamins) is not subject to volume restrictions. Certain powders and granular materials (e.g. mineral-based supplements that are primarily calcium, magnesium or iron) in your carry-on are limited to a total quantity of 350 ml or less.
Examples of essential non-prescription liquid, aerosol or gel medications:
- Contact lens solution
- Cough syrup
- Eye drops
- Decongestant spray
- Puffers
Bringing a day-by-day pill separator is not an issue for security; however, there may be other considerations about travelling with medication, especially when travelling outside of Canada. We recommend finding out more at travel.gc.ca.
Recreational cannabis: Passengers are responsible for knowing the laws and regulations in effect at their destination within Canada. For more information, visit canada.ca website. Liquid and topical forms are subject to liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) restrictions in carry-on baggage, and must be placed with other LAGs in a 1-litre clear closed and re-sealable plastic bag.
Cannabis for medical purposes: The amount of cannabis you carry must be in accordance with the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations. For more information, see Health Canada’s Guide to Understanding the Regulations. Cannabis oil is permitted in carry-on in a quantity of more than 100 ml when used for medicinal purposes, and you will need to remove it from your carry-on and present it to the screening officer at the entry to pre-board screening. However, if the amount of oil is 100 ml or less, it is to be placed in a 1-litre clear bag with other liquids, aerosols and gels.
Please Note: Flying outside of Canada with cannabis is illegal. For more information, visit travel.gc.ca.
How to Pack your Medication
- We recommend that you pack all medication in your carry-on baggage and place it in an easy-to-access area.
- We recommend that you carry liquid, gel or aerosol prescription medication in original containers with a pharmacy label identifying the medication.
- Prescription and essential non-prescription medications are exempt from liquid, aerosol and gel restrictions, but you should be ready to present them to the screening officer.
Medical Implants, Mobility Aids and Assistive Devices
Some examples of medical items and mobility aids are listed in the table below. Note that certain medical devices and passengers with implanted medical devices must be swabbed for explosive trace detection (ETD) testing. See the Special Needs page for tips by health condition, disability or medical need.
Medical items and assistive devices
- Computer or electrical assistive devices
- Apnea monitors
- Orthopedic shoes
- External medical devices
- Assistive/adaptive equipment
- Augmentation devices
- Ostomy supplies
- Enteral-feeding pumps
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines and respirators (the distilled water used by this device is exempted from the liquid restrictions)
- Bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP) devices
- Personal oxygen concentrators (POCs)
- Hearing aids
- Cochlear implants
- Visual aids
- Personal supplemental oxygen*
- CO2 personal oxygen concentrators*
- Teething rings
- Medications
- All diabetes related medication, equipment & supplies
- Braille note takers
- Communications and cognitive aids/devices (e.g. slate and stylus, automatic page turners, book holders, and adapted pencil grips)
- Any other disability related equipment and associated supplies
- Syringes, hypodermic needles and biojectors (needle guard must be in place and you must have the medication with you)
- Medical defibrillators*
- One small mercury thermometer (must be in protective case)
Mobility aids
- Wheelchairs (and tools for wheelchair disassembly/reassembly)
- Scooters
- Crutches
- Canes or walking sticks
- Orthotic devices
- Walkers
- Prosthetic devices (and tools for prosthetic devices)
- Artificial and prostheses
- Sports devices (that enable persons with disabilities to play sports and be physically active)
- Gas cylinders for operating mechanical limbs
- Casts
- Support braces
- Support appliances
- Service animals
* with airline’s approval
Documentation to support your medical needs or condition is not required; however, if you feel that it would help ease your screening, it should be presented to the screening officer along with your medically necessary items.