Kratom 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Kratom prohibited; penalties for import
Can I bring Kratom into United Kingdom?
Kratom prohibited; penalties for import
Required at the destination customs authority
Full details
Kratom prohibited; penalties for import. Importing a psychoactive substance carries imprisonment of up to 7 years on conviction on indictment (Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, s.10). Because kratom is prohibited rather than restricted, there is no permit route for an ordinary traveller — attempted import is treated as smuggling regardless of intent. Arrival checks are carried out by His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC); when in doubt use the declare (red) channel — declared goods at worst attract duty or surrender, while undeclared goods attract penalties. Leaving United Kingdom with kratom is a separate question: prohibited — Kratom cannot lawfully be taken out of the United Kingdom — the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 makes exporting and supplying it an offence, though simple possession is not criminal.
PENALTIES
- Fine: no upper limit set by the statute
- Imprisonment up to 84 months
- Criminal penalty
The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 names no substances: kratom is caught only if it meets the section 2 definition of a psychoactive substance. Importing a psychoactive substance for consumption carries up to 7 years' imprisonment, a fine, or both, on conviction on indictment.
WHAT THE LAW SAYS
Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, s.2(1) — definition
“"psychoactive substance" means any substance which— (a) is capable of producing a psychoactive effect in a person who consumes it, and (b) is not an exempted substance (see section 3).”legislation.gov.uk
Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, s.8(1) — importing
“A person commits an offence if— (a) the person intentionally imports a substance, (b) the substance is a psychoactive substance,”legislation.gov.uk
Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, s.10(1)(d) — penalty
“on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years or a fine, or both.”legislation.gov.uk
Penalty sources checked 2026-09-19.
Active — Customs actively enforces this rule.
Leaving United Kingdom with kratom
The UK controls kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016: producing, supplying, importing, and EXPORTING a psychoactive substance are offences, while simple personal possession (outside custodial settings) is not. Taking kratom out of the country is therefore itself the offence — kratom found at departure screening is seized and the traveller risks prosecution for export. Most destination jurisdictions also control kratom; do not carry it across any border without verifying both sides.
Do not carry kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), powder or leaf, into United Kingdom. UK Border Force treats it as a controlled substance with no personal-use permit; seizure plus prosecution is the standard response.
This page covers destination customs rules in United Kingdom. Whether you can carry kratom through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.
Related rules
Kratom rules in other countries
Kratom
🇺🇸 United States
No specific import restrictions for personal kratom
Kratom
🇦🇺 Australia
Kratom prohibited; penalties for import
Kratom
🇯🇵 Japan
Kratom prohibited; penalties for import
Kratom
🇸🇬 Singapore
Kratom prohibited; penalties for import
Kratom
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Kratom prohibited; penalties for import
Kratom
🇩🇪 Germany
Kratom restricted; documentation or permits may apply