Kratom in the world
Find out how countries around the globe treat kratom and other substances under their regulations and don’t miss any update regarding kratom’s legal status.
Legality in Europe
Since the creation of the European Union, free trade and mobility of people and goods was established among the member states.
The European Union can issue general rulings and laws that the States have to abide by, leaving little room for unilateral rulings. When it comes to legalizing or banning a new substance, states have some freedom. There is, however, a mutual recognition principle. That means that if the use of a specific substance is approved in one member state, it should not be banned in the rest.
Check here the largest database on the internet regarding the legal status of kratom as of 2021 in each of the European countries and stay updated on any new regulations and developments.
Click on the country to learn more:
Legality worldwide
Outside the EU, countries are able to rule based on their own judgement. Most countries look up to the United States or the UN when facing a new situation that has no precedent in their law system.
Unfortunately, kratom has been banned in some countries. While there has been great strides towards accepting this plant, there is still work to be done. Read our list below for countries you should not travel to or be very careful with kratom.
North America
Kratom In Canada 🇨🇦
In Canada, the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) and Health Canada are the two institutions that are in charge of scheduling substances and drugs. According to them, Kratom and its components are not safe for human consumption and selling the herbal supplement may lead to penalties or criminal prosecution.
However, it is not considered an illegal substance under the official lists and it can be obtained as “not safe for human consumption” product as it happens in some states in the US.
Kratom In Mexico 🇲🇽
Questions about kratom and Mexico have been increasing over the last few years. Fortunately, Mexico has not added Kratom or any of its active elements, Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, to a list of controlled substances. It is also not a regulated substance and its completely legal for you to carry and use in Mexico.
Due to the somewhat slow increase in kratom popularity in Mexico, you can still legally purchase kratom in a few places in Mexico although it may be difficult to find. For those looking for an optimistic outlook about the future of kratom in Mexico, you can now even find bars that sell kratom cocktails!
One of the drawbacks to the recent rise of kratom popularity in Mexico is that sellers of kratom do not have any regulations regarding the products they can sell and how it is labeled. This is something you should be careful of when ordering or purchasing any kratom. We recommend that you find a trusted vendor who is able to ship to Mexico instead while this industry grows in the country. Find your trusted vendor for kratom below:
Kratom In The United States 🇺🇸
The legal status of Kratom in the United States varies from state to state. While there is no clear regulation that affects the whole country, it falls to each state’s legislators to decide on Kratom legality. Learn about trusted vendors and where to buy kratom in the US below:
South America
Argentina is the only Latin American country that clearly mentions mitragynine as an illegal substance at the present time, according to the Decree 69/2017.
Kratom is not mentioned in the list of controlled substances.
In Brazil, kratom is not included among the prohibited substances in the Ordinance SVS/MS 344/1998.
Tha plant is legal in the country, even though it is listed as a plant-based NPS (New Psychotropic Substance), following the definition from the UNODC, in order to be notified to Anvisa if in circulation within the country.
In Chile, Kratom is sold online and not mentioned among psychotropic substances or drugs.
There are online stores selling kratom in Colombia and it is not mentioned in the list of controlled substances.
Kratom is not mentioned in the list of controlled substances.
Kratom is not mentioned in the list of controlled substances.
Kratom is not mentioned in lists of controlled substances.
Kratom is alegal in Suriname, as there is no further specific information.
Uruguay follows international lists regarding controlled substances and drugs, so kratom is legal.
Kratom is alegal in Venezuela, as there is no further specific information.
Central America and the Caribbean
Kratom is not mentioned in any list of controlled substances.
Kratom is alegal in Belize, as there is no further specific information.
There are online stores selling kratom and it is not mentioned in the list of controlled substances.
Kratom is alegal (unregulated), as there is no further specific information.
Cuba has harsh laws on drugs and controlled substances, so we advise caution even though kratom is not illegal there.
Kratom is not mentioned in the list of controlled substances.
Kratom is not mentioned among the controlled substances.
Kratom is alegal (unregulated), as there is no further specific information.
Kratom is not mentioned in the list of controlled substances.
Kratom is alegal, as there is no further specific information.
Kratom is not listed among the controlled substances.
Kratom and its components are not mentioned in any list of controlled substances.
Kratom is not mentioned in the list of controlled substances.
Asia
Although there seems to be no clear regulation around Kratom or any of its active components in the country, it is safe to say that bringing Kratom into China is probably not the wisest option.
Kratom was outlawed in Hong Kong in August 2021. The country served as a connection point for many exports from Southeast Asia, but under the new law, any shipment of kratom passing through the country will be confiscated by its authorities and destroyed.
Kratom and its main active components are not listed under any of the official banned substances or narcotics by the Narcotics Control Bureau of the Government of India.
While it is safe to say that Kratom is not illegal in the country, we advise caution when entering the country with big amounts of kratom. Possession and commercialization should not pose any real threat.
While Indonesia is the main exporter of Kratom in the world, the use and sale of the plant are banned in the whole country.
Growing Kratom for exports is currently legal but not its local use or distribution.
In 2016, Kratom exports from the region of West Kalimantan reached $130 million in annual profits, most of these exports were to the USA.
In early 2019, some rumors were talking about a potential full ban on Kratom (including exports), making it a Schedule I drug and later on the same year regulation was passed regarding Kratom’s legality.
According to the American Kratom Association (AKA) “The Minister of Health in Indonesia has issued a regulation that bans kratom in Indonesia, including growing of kratom plants and exporting kratom raw material from Indonesia. The regulation provides a 5-year transition period for kratom growers to shift to another crop. The Ministry of Agriculture has sent a document in the past week to various Ministry’s in the Indonesian government recommending the ban on kratom be formalized at all levels of government”.
This would have a great impact on Kratom imports worldwide since 95% of the world’s Kratom supply comes from Indonesia.
The two main alkaloids present in Kratom, Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine, were added to the list of controlled drugs of Japan.
Bringing Kratom to the country is therefore illegal and could be considered as drug smuggling or trafficking. Penalties for drug use, possession and trafficking are usually severe and can include long jail sentences and fines.
Kratom is considered illegal in Malaysia under Section 30 (3) Poisons Act 1952. However, it is reported that possession in Malaysia isn’t a major issue.
Bringing kratom into Malaysia is could have you regarded as a drug smuggler. Quantities above a certain level are harshly punished.
Kratom is now illegal in Myanmar. It cannot be grown or purchased.
Kratom is strictly illegal in Singapore. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, two of the main active elements in the Southeast Asian plant, are currently considered Class A controlled drugs and are listed under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA).
Under Singapore’s MDA, there are 3 kinds of drug offenses:
1. Possession: The penalty for possessing drugs is a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment or a fine of $20,000 or both.
2. Consumption: The penalty for drug consumption is a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment or a fine of $20,000 or both. The authorities have the right, under MDA, to request hair or urine samples to anyone who is suspected of drug consumption.
Possessing tools to consume drugs can be also punishable with 3 years in jail or a fine of $10,000 or both, regardless of the tests’ results.
3. Trafficking: The penalties for drug trafficking range from imprisonment and strokes of cane to the death penalty. The penalty will depend on the class and the quantity of the drugs.
South Korea has made Kratom an illegal substance. It is heavily regulated with harsh penalties imposed against people who attempt importation and possession.
According to the Taiwan Controlled Drugs Act of 2017, Kratom and one of his active elements, mitragyna, were included in the list of controlled substances under the Schedule 3.
Bringing Kratom to Taiwan is therefore considered ilegal and could be punished with economic fines and even imprisonment in some cases.
Medical use of Kratom and marijuana are legal in Thailand. On Christmas day 2019, new legislation was passed to make both substances legal for medical use. Recreational use of both is still illegal and punishable by death. Kratom has been illegal since 1943. In 1979, Kratom was reclassified as a Type 5 narcotic (the least restrictive and punitive level). It was included in the Thai Narcotics Act along with cannabis and mushrooms, reducing sentences and punishments from those guilty under the act.
Although there isn’t clear legislation concerning the legality of Kratom in Vietnam, drug policies in South East Asia tend to be quite strict in general. With Kratom being in a gray area in many countries, it is not worth the risk of bringing Kratom into Vietnam.
Middle East
The Middle East is an area of the world known by its harsh punishments for those who break the law. It is also an area with some of the most strict ani-drug policies in the world. Therefore, bringing Kratom into any country of the area should be avoided as much as possible.
Israel moved to make both Mitragynine and Hydroxymitragynine illegal and, therefore, Kratom is considered a dangerous drug and included in the “Dangerous Drugs” list by the Department of Health.
There is no specific information about Kratom and its active components in Syrian law. The low popularity of the plant in this and other neighboring countries, makes it hard to find Kratom included in any official substance list.
However, we strongly recommend not trying to bring Kratom into Syria. Drug regulations, as well as penalites for law infringement, are very strict in this and other Muslim countries.
Turkey is known for harsh laws regarding psychoactive substances and included kratom and its main components in the list of controlled substances in 2014.
Under Turkish legislation (Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department), Kratom’s main alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, are included in the illegal substances list and its manufacturing, sale, or possession are punished by law with imprisonment and fines.
In 2015, the Health Ministry of the UAE added Kratom to their list of banned substances alongside other plant substances such as kava and salvia divinorum
The three plants were added to the Schedule IV substances and their active elements were added to the Schedule V list.
Oceania
In 2005, the Australian Drug and Poisons Schedule Committee recommended that Kratom & Mitragynine be grouped along with other schedule 9 substances. This imposed a complete ban on the use of Kratom. This law implied that the legal status of Kratom in Australia is that of a narcotic drug, the use of which is illegal.
Through this legislation, Australia has expressly prohibited the purchase, sale and even possession of Kratom products and Mitragynine. However this law doesn’t prohibit Kratom for research purposes. With the passing of this law, Australia has raised increased pressure on New Zealand to adopt a similar stance on kratom.
Kratom was included in the list of controlled substances in New Zealand as a Schedule 1 drug. However, it can be obtained under a doctor’s prescription.
Africa
Egypt 🇪🇬
Although Kratom and its main active elements are not specifically included to any prohibited or controlled substances list in Egypt, it is highly recommended to not bring Kratom with you when traveling to Egypt.
Egypt has harsh regulations on psychotropic substances and narcotics. Since Kratom is considered an illicit drug in some place, especially in the middle east area, it is very probable that, if confiscated, it is considered an ilegal substance.
South Africa 🇿🇦
The situation of Kratom in South Africa is quite similar to the US a few years ago. Kratom has not raised much attention among the health authorities and there has not been any actions in favor or against its legalization and regulation for human consumption. The Drug and Drug Trafficking Act of 1992 does not include Kratom’s main alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hidroxymitragynine, to the list of controlled susbtances.
In a similar way, the equivalent of the Food and Drugs Administration South Africa, the SAHPRA (South African Health Products Regulatory Authority) has not issued any kind of communicate regarding Kratom.
Therefore, Kratom is not illegal in South Africa and it is not regulated either.
As it happens in many other countries, Kratom cannot be sold as a supplement for human consumption or as a substance with medical benefits.
I got deported from Singapore because i didn’t know that country it was illegal, please update your list!
Hello Alexandros,
Unfortunately, laws and regulations change quickly around the globe and we decided to focus or European regulations first. We are now adding other countries outside of Europe to the list and hopefully soon all countries will be present on this page.
Hello, is it legal to ship kratom from the US to the Czech Republic?
Hello Voshtesch! As you will see in our Czech Republic page Kratom is not illegal in the country and shipping Kratom from the USA to the Czech Republic should pose no problem at all.
What? Im from Czech republic and kratom is here LEGAL ! ! !
Exactly. That’s the information we have in the page: kratom is legal in Czech Republic.
Is it common usage as a pain released or relaxing off some serious diseases..? Would you please advise.. thanks
Kratom is used for pain in general. As far as scientific researches show so far, it doesn’t cure the diseases themselves, but it is used for the strong analgesic and relaxing effects that diseases and traumas cause.
Hello, I will be visiting to Kathmandu, Nepal through Qatar Airways. I will have a transit at Doha, Qatar. Would I be able to carry 20g in flight and a 250g in the luggage?
We’re you successful taking Kratom with you througH Qatar or???
It seems there is no specific legislation regarding kratom in Qatar currently.
This article is misleading. Its author labels a nation “liberal,” “forward-thinking,” and “tolerant” where kratom is legal and, in the case of France and others. “conservative” if illegal.
Kratom is legal in most states in America thanks to a coalition of both liberals and conservatives in Congress. The American Kratom Association which lobbies for legality is headed by a conservative politician with tinnitus, ringing in the ears, which I have. Kratom is a great relief to me for my tinnitus, too. He works with liberal politicians and donors to send a message of unity and scientific knowledge to Washington. Sadly, politicians on both sides of the aisle who owe big pharma favors prevent kratom from acceptance, including Vermont, our most liberal state.
Many so-called “progressive” nations forbid recreational use of kratom including Sweden, Iceland, New Zealand, Japan, and Cuba.
Indonesia, the source for most kratom, has an oppressive regime that jails tourists regularly for marijuana use. But kratom is legal there. Kratom was highly illegal in Thailand, an otherwise beautiful country with an oppressive far right dictatorship. This year they made it legal.
Here in liberal Seattle, anecdotally, all of the University of Washington Medical Center’s ENT’s I’ve seen, plus my GP and neurologist, have tried to discourage me from using kratom because “it’s fatal and we don’t have enough information about it.” There is no (other) treatment for tinnitus yet, other than hearing aids for some. My doctors also discourage marijuana use, even edibles, for the same reason even though it is legal here in Washington State. They’re squares compared to many conservatives.
There are enough myths surrounding kratom as it is. Please don’t buy into the myth that conservatives are preventing “tolerant liberals” from legalizing kratom. In my experience, and with my knowledge of other nations’ drug policies, the opposite is true.
Thank you.
Steve Shay, Seattle, Wa.
The terms liberal and conservative as applied on this site are not the equivalent of the terms as they used in US political discourse.
wondering if it is ok to bring kratom with me to brazil? Its not on the controlled substance list but I definitely dont want a problem in customs. Do you have any experience with this?
I have traveled with kratom in powder form in original packaging to Sao Paulo in 2020. It was no problem. I carried onboard and checked luggage as well.
Hello,
For South America, do you know about Ecuador? is Kratom legal there? Thanks!!
No, unless you want to spend many years in a Qatar prison. If the the 250 grams falls into dealing quantities, you could even face the death penalty. Very very risky and they will search your bags when you switch aircraft’s!
List of drug substances of Qatar without kratom. https://www.iloveqatar.net/news/travel/indian-embassy-in-doha-releases-travel-advisory-on-carrying-medication-to-qatar
I brought tons of Kratom through Qatar no problem multiple times. But they seized all my alcohal lol
Im flying to Thailand in Feb. from NYC with connecting flight in Qatar. Did they ever at the very least stop to check what it was? OR you went right through? I want to bring 250-300 grams at the most. Also, then flying back through Seoul, which I am reading is also a scheduled controlled substance. I
Don’t bring any substance when travelling to Thailand, it is harsh punishment
My friendly advice
Watsun pek
What about the country of Georgia? Isn’t that a country in Europe as well? Can you please add Georgia? Thank you.
That would be interesting, yes.
As far as a friend of mine who is from Georgia told me it seems to be illegal there.
But it’s hard to find any sources… I always just get search results for the State Georgia.
Also it would be interesting if sending goods from an EU country is somehow affected by the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).
According to info a friend found, Kratom is illegal in Cyprus as of 2.4.2021. Please update it.
kratom is going to be illegal in Slovakia on 9th of december 2021. please update
I was wondering the same thing! Lol Georgia isn’t even on the list at all!?
Besteht eine Möglichkeit 150 Gramm Kratom mit nach Ägypten zu nehmen?
Es scheint dort aktuell nicht klar verboten zu sein. Als Tee getarnt, dürfe es nicht sonderlich auffallen.
Wäre das sehr riskant?
Hi! I am traveling from South Africa to Ghana and on the way back stopping over in Rwanda over 5 days, do you think I can bring my daily doses with me? Thanks.
Hi Alex, i will be travelling to South Africa. I heard it is legal over there and you can even buy it in shops?
Hello, can I take hirsuta legally to Japan. Kratom is ilegal but i dont know if hirsuta is the same.
is kratom legal in Columbia??
Hello,
in two days I will be travelling to Tunisia – there is no law banning it. Any people from Tunisia know how it goes?
Thank you.
is this accurate
Good or bad benefits of kratom,that’s depend on how do you consume it.
My idea kratom is just for remedy ,it can created some euphoria effect