If you live in Canada, there is a clear lawful way to get your medication: through a Canadian prescriber and pharmacy, with provincial drug coverage, and — for a medicine not available in Canada — through Health Canada’s Special Access Program. One important point up front: the 90-day mail-import allowance you may have read about is for visitors, not residents. SunnyPharma explains the routes that actually apply to residents and hands off to careaccessproject.org for the next step. We do not sell, ship, or supply medication.
- The resident route is a Canadian prescriber and pharmacy, with provincial drug coverage.
- For a medicine not sold in Canada, Health Canada’s Special Access Program is the lawful route.
- The 90-day mail-import allowance is for visitors and travellers — not residents.
- Residents cannot mail-import ongoing medication; controlled drugs cannot be mailed at all.
- CATIE and the Canadian AIDS Society can help you understand options and find local support.
The resident route: in-country access
For people who live in Canada, the lawful and reliable path is a Canadian prescriber and a Canadian pharmacy, with cost help from provincial and territorial drug programs. Each province runs its own coverage, and many have programs for residents with limited income or high medication costs. This is the standard route, and it is where to start.
If your medication is not available in Canada
When a medicine is not marketed in Canada, Health Canada’s Special Access Program (SAP) is the lawful route. A prescriber requests the medicine on your behalf for a serious or life-threatening condition when other options are unavailable or unsuitable. It is prescriber-initiated and decided case by case.
Why residents can’t simply mail-import
It is worth being clear, because the rule is easy to misread. The personal-import allowance that permits a 90-day supply by mail or courier is intended for visitors and travellers — people temporarily in Canada with their own medication. It is not a route for residents to import ongoing medication by mail. For residents, the lawful routes are the in-country and Special Access Program pathways above. Controlled drugs cannot be mailed in any case.
Organizations that can help
CATIE
CATIE is Canada’s source for HIV and hepatitis C information, available in English and French. It provides clear, reliable information on treatment, care and support, and can help you understand your options and connect with services. CATIE is an information and navigation source rather than a clinic. Official site: catie.ca.
Canadian AIDS Society
The Canadian AIDS Society is a national coalition of community-based organizations across Canada. It can help connect people affected by HIV to local frontline agencies and support in their province or territory. Official site: cdnaids.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
For people who live in Canada, the lawful and reliable path is a Canadian prescriber and a Canadian pharmacy, with cost help from provincial and territorial drug programs. Each province runs its own coverage, and many have programs for residents with limited income or high medication costs. This is the standard route and where to start.
No. The personal-import allowance that permits a 90-day supply by mail or courier is intended for visitors and travellers temporarily in Canada with their own medication. It is not a route for residents to import ongoing medication by mail. For residents, the lawful routes are the in-country prescriber and pharmacy pathway and the Special Access Program. Controlled drugs cannot be mailed in any case.
When a medicine is not marketed in Canada, Health Canada’s Special Access Program (SAP) is the lawful route. A prescriber requests the medicine on your behalf for a serious or life-threatening condition when other options are unavailable or unsuitable. It is prescriber-initiated and decided case by case.
Provincial and territorial drug programs are the main source of cost help. Each province runs its own coverage, and many have programs for residents with limited income or high medication costs. Start with your province’s drug program, and ask your pharmacist which plan applies to you.
CATIE is Canada’s source for HIV and hepatitis C information, available in English and French. It provides clear information on treatment, care, and support, and can help you understand your options and connect with services. CATIE is an information and navigation source rather than a clinic. The Canadian AIDS Society, a national coalition of community-based organizations, can connect people affected by HIV to local frontline agencies.
How we reviewed this page:
SunnyPharma follows strict sourcing guidelines and relies on primary regulatory sources, including Health Canada and provincial drug-program guidance, with non-profit information from CATIE and the Canadian AIDS Society. This page was written in English and reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team. We use only credible, verifiable sources.
Read our editorial policy →This page is for general information and does not replace medical or legal advice.