About
Hi, I'm Petr
I'm Petr Kindlmann, a software builder based in Taiwan. I'm not a lawyer, and IsItLegalHere is not a law firm. This site is a personal project I built because I kept hearing about people getting in serious trouble abroad over things they had no idea were illegal.
The premise is simple: surface the laws that travelers most often run into, in a format you can scan in 30 seconds, with sources you can verify. That's it.
Why I built this
Adderall is a controlled stimulant in Japan. Codeine is restricted in the UAE. Vape devices can mean prison time in Thailand. Chewing gum is restricted in Singapore. Cannabis is federally illegal in the US even where it's legal at state level. Most of these don't come up in standard travel guides.
I'd rather a traveler spend two minutes here and avoid a real problem than find out at the airport.
What this site is — and isn't
It is: a quick-reference of common-traveler laws across 198 countries, compiled from public government sources, embassy advisories, and legal-aid summaries.
It isn't: legal advice, an attorney-client relationship, or a substitute for consulting a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction. Laws change. Enforcement varies. I make mistakes. If you're relying on this for anything that matters, verify with the official source linked on the country page and talk to a lawyer.
Methodology
Every item is categorised using a five-tier system:
Prohibited by law. Possession or practice can result in criminal penalties including fines, imprisonment, or deportation.
Legal under specific conditions — prescription, permit, registration, or age requirement.
Jurisdiction-variable — rules differ by state, region, or country within the country (e.g. US states, German Länder).
Permitted for travelers under typical conditions. Always check quantities, declarations, and local nuance.
Entry exists in the data but the most-recent verification is missing or older than 12 months.
Country pages also list jurisdiction notes (state/provincial variation, enforcement variability) and common misconceptions where relevant. Every country page links to the official government or legal-aid sources I used.
Contact
Found an error? Have a correction or a tip? Need a takedown? Email me at hello@isitlegalhere.com or visit the contact page. I read every message.