Modafinil legal status by country

This page is a reference summary of published evidence and regulatory documents. It is not a substitute for individual medical advice, and it is not a recommendation to take or avoid any medicine.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Sofia Lindqvist, · Last reviewed 11 August 2026

Modafinil requires a prescription in most countries that permit its sale, but its controlled-substance status and import rules vary widely. The table below states the position in each listed jurisdiction as a matter of law; it is a reference summary, not guidance on how to obtain or import the drug.

Status by jurisdiction

Country	Prescription required	Controlled scheduling	Personal import	Notes
United States	Yes	Schedule IV (Controlled Substances Act)	Restricted; requires valid US prescription	Federally scheduled due to abuse-potential classification
United Kingdom	Yes	Prescription-only medicine (POM); not a controlled drug	Personal import rules apply under MHRA guidance	Not scheduled under the Misuse of Drugs Act
Canada	Yes	Schedule F (prescription drug)	Requires valid Canadian prescription	Not listed under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
Australia	Yes	Schedule 4 (prescription only)	Personal Importation Scheme conditions apply	TGA-regulated prescription medicine
Germany	Yes	Prescription-only; not narcotic-scheduled	EU intra-market rules apply	Rezeptpflichtig under German pharmaceutical law
France	Yes	Prescription-only (liste I)	EU intra-market rules apply	ANSM-regulated
Netherlands	Yes	Prescription-only	EU intra-market rules apply	College ter Beoordeling van Geneesmiddelen-regulated
Sweden	Yes	Prescription-only	EU intra-market rules apply	Läkemedelsverket-regulated
India	Yes, by law	Not a narcotic-scheduled drug	Domestic manufacture is widespread	Widely manufactured and dispensed by Indian generic makers; a prescription remains the legal requirement
Japan	Yes	Regulated as a psychotropic substance	Strict personal import controls (Yakkan Shoumei process for other regulated drugs; modafinil import is tightly restricted)	Import without authorization can be a criminal offence
Singapore	Yes	Regulated under the Poisons Act	Import restricted without authorization	HSA-regulated prescription medicine
United Arab Emirates	No lawful route	Banned/tightly controlled	Import prohibited	Treated as a controlled substance; importation risks serious legal penalty
Brazil	Yes	Controlled prescription (Lista C1)	Requires special controlled prescription form	ANVISA-regulated
Mexico	Yes	Controlled prescription medicine	Requires valid Mexican prescription	COFEPRIS-regulated

Status can change; the Regulatory tracker linked below records changelogged updates. Consult the relevant national regulator for the current, operative rule.

Frequently asked questions

Is modafinil a controlled substance?

In the US it is Schedule IV under the Controlled Substances Act; in the UK it is a prescription-only medicine that is not scheduled as a controlled drug; scheduling varies by country.

Can modafinil be imported for personal use?

Personal import rules differ by country and depend on local prescription and scheduling law; the position for any individual country is set out in the table above and by that country’s own regulator, not by this page.

Is modafinil legal everywhere?

No. It is banned or tightly controlled in some jurisdictions, including the UAE, and requires strict import controls in others, including Japan.

Does a prescription from one country work in another?

Generally no. Prescriptions are issued under national law and are not automatically recognised across borders; each jurisdiction applies its own prescription and import requirements.