Unable to import module 'lambda_function': No module named 'boto3'

TL;DR: Your Lambda deployment package does not include boto3, and the Lambda Python runtime does not ship it either. Add boto3 with a Lambda layer or vendor it into your zip, then redeploy. Locally installed boto3 never reaches Lambda.

Unable to import module 'lambda_function': No module named 'boto3'

Fix it

1. Confirm the zip you upload actually lacks boto3: unzip -l your-function.zip | grep boto3. If nothing shows, that is the bug.
2. Easiest fix: attach a Lambda layer containing boto3. In the console go to your function, Layers, Add a layer, and pick an AWS-managed or community boto3 layer matching your Python runtime. Expected: the layer ARN appears under your function.
3. Or vendor it: pip install boto3 -t ./package, zip the contents of ./package plus your handler into the deployment zip. Expected: unzip -l shows boto3/ entries.
4. Redeploy and run a test event. Expected: no import error; the function runs.

When this applies

• The error names lambda_function or your handler module and No module named 'boto3'.
• Code runs fine locally but fails in Lambda.

When it doesn't

• The error happens on your laptop: that is a local pip/venv problem, not this.
• The error names a different missing module: fix that module the same way.

Compatibility

• AWS Lambda Python 3.9 through 3.13 runtimes. boto3 any recent version.

Why it happens

Lambda runs your code in a minimal runtime. Only the standard library plus a few AWS bits are present. boto3 is deliberately not preinstalled, so anything your handler imports must come from your zip or a layer.

Edge cases

• If you need a newer boto3 than the layer provides, vendor it yourself; layers pin a version.
• Heavy zips (with numpy/pandas) can exceed the 250 MB unzipped limit; use layers to split it up.
• Same fix pattern applies to any third-party import failing in Lambda.