If you rely on oxygen to keep you healthy and comfortable, you may not have traveled very much with your oxygen supply equipment, either because you haven’t wanted to travel before now, or because you didn’t always rely on medical oxygen. Whichever case suits your circumstances best, you may be wondering if you need a prescription or other medical oxygen documentation for travel abroad. In most cases, the answer is yes, so if you are ever unsure, it is best to assume that you will need a valid prescription with you at all times. But it’s not as complicated as it sounds. This short oxygen travel documentation guide will detail when and where you need a prescription and also let you know how OxygenWorldwide can make the process easier for you.

Why Might You Need a Prescription When Traveling?

Oxygen is classified as a medical therapy, and access to it is often regulated. This could mean that traveling without a prescription can make your visit to a foreign destination something of a trial as you will spend a lot of time persuading local doctors and authorities of your already proven need for your medical oxygen! You will often struggle to source oxygen directly from suppliers without a prescription – assuming you want to avoid going to a doctor – as many providers will only supply to hospitals and medical facilities or to people who have a current, valid prescription on them. This is especially the case in Europe, the USA and Canada.

Offering these suppliers or medical professionals sight of your prescription reassures them that you do really need the oxygen, how much oxygen you need and when (your flow rate and duration of each treatment) and sometimes even what type of equipment you customarily use.

When You Will Definitely Need a Prescription?

There are several occasions when you will certainly need to produce a prescription. These include:

  • When arranging oxygen in advance of your visit to the destination – this can be via a local supplier or through OxygenWorldwide, but both of these entities will need to see your valid prescription before they can set to work organising your holiday oxygen
  • If you will be renting and using a portable oxygen concentrator (POC)
  • In order to clear through airport security or to take your equipment through customs without issues
  • When submitting your paperwork to the airline or cruise operator when arranging your trip

Each of these events will proceed much more smoothly if you have an up-to-date copy of your prescription and a doctors letter for oxygen use overseas.

Which Countries Require a Prescription for Oxygen?

The question do you need a prescription for oxygen when travelling is a tricky one to answer when it comes to specifics. This is because every country in the world has their own rules, and these can change with little notice. But – and bear in mind that this is a very general list, written with broad strokes and that you should always double-check with your destination country when making your travel plans – basically it is as follows:

  • Countries in Europe will definitely require a prescription for supplied oxygen
  • The USA allows you to transport an oxygen concentrator with a valid prescription – but no cylinders are allowed on planes in US airspace.
  • Pre-approval is required in Australia, Canada and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) – and documentation is vital for this pre-approval to take place

However, there is a much easier way to cut through the medical red tape involved with organising your medical oxygen and trying to memorise the myriad rules and regulations of a plethora of other countries: simply sign up with OxygenWorldwide who not only know many of the local processes and procedures, but also have strong local links with oxygen suppliers in many destination countries.

What Type of Prescription or Documentation Might Be Needed?

Medical documentation includes, along with the previously mentioned prescription which is the main piece of paperwork, a doctor’s letter (this can be a pre-printed form that he or she fills in, or it can be a letter on the practice letterhead – the important thing is the doctor’s signature and/ or official stamp). The letter or form should contain the following information:

  • Your name and date of birth
  • Your official diagnosis or the reason you are on oxygen therapy
  • The prescribed flow rate and your usage duration.
  • The type of device you use (if relevant)

Make sure you take a printed copy of these documents, and if you can, get a translated version if you’re traveling to a non-English-speaking country.

How OxygenWorldwide Simplifies the Process

As mentioned above, OxygenWorldwide has excellent links with local suppliers in many countries who can handle the logistics of your oxygen supply, working within the rules and regulations of the country. But OxygenWorldwide can also put your mind at ease when it comes to what you will need to satisfy the needs of your destination country, and we can advise on translation services, documentation needs and how-tos, and also offer best practice tips so you can avoid delays when setting off on your holiday. We’ve been in the business of getting oxygen users all around the world and back for a long time, so we are experts in managing the paperwork for multi-country travel, cruises, and even medical returns for those who fall sick while abroad and need oxygen for the trip back home.

The short answer, as mentioned above, is that yes, you will most likely need a prescription when you travel abroad with medical oxygen. But you can take heart knowing that you are not alone in planning and executing your trip. Think of that valid prescription much as you do your passport: it’s just part of the planning process so you can enjoy your visit knowing that your supply of oxygen will be safe and reliable while you are away. OxygenWorldwide is your invisible companion on your travels, quietly removing the complexity of international oxygen supply logistics before you are even aware they exist and effortlessly ensuring you and your oxygen get to the right place at the right time.

Are you ready to travel? Get cracking on the paperwork – and we’ll take care of the rest for you! Send us your travel plans and we’ll take it from there, guiding you through the ins and outs of what is needed for your particular destination. This might be your first trip abroad with medical oxygen – but with OxygenWorldwide’s help it is unlikely to be your last!