Can my friend change his visa from a medical extension to a retirement or DTV visa while being hospitalized in Thailand?

Unfortunately, no because your friend is paralyzed in Hospital and so presumably cannot travel to go outside of Thailand to be able to apply for a visa.

The retirement visa would fit your friend’s profile, but in this case, I suggest using an agent to negotiate with Immigration, as a special case, to change visa type without leaving Thailand

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Wow, so sorry to hear that! Cheers to you for being a great friend and trying to take something off his plate 🙏🏾

If he has the savings /remote income, then DTV under medical soft power “should” be possible. But they may require him to leave Thailand to process it via a nearby country’s embassy. I’ve heard mention of “workarounds” but talk to some professionals. You can get free advice from lots of reputable agents, I used Issa Compass for my medical DTV and we processed it in Indonesia last year.

Am I reading this correctly? Your friend was previously hospitalised and thus they overstayed their visa by 89 days thus avoiding a ban by 1 day. They have returned to Thailand and they're now paralysed so getting extensions based on a doctor's note saying they can't travel. Is your friend actually in a hospital? Hospitals tend to have staff who can help with visa situations.

He can't apply for a DTV unless he has a quick recovery as it must be applied for outside of Thailand.

If he's over 50 and has a Thai bank with over 800k baht in it he can apply for a 90 day Non-O visa inside Thailand but he would need to attend his immigration office

I would reach out to Siam Legal in Bangkok & pose some specific detailed questions. If you’re friend can travel to Laos, Vietnam, etc he might be able to get a medical DTV but that requires a long term medical plan in writing from the hospital Doctor detailing the ongoing treatments. The overstay might be a factor but with ample proof that shouldn’t be much of an issue in my opinion.

Can't apply for a DTV in Thailand, but Non-Imm O for retirement is possible.

If he has the cash and is 50+ then a good agent can secure a retirement visa for sure.

To go from that status to DTV sounds not only impossible but also waaaay out on all risk curves…

Would you mind to tell us more background of your friend who suffers and paralyzed due to accident travelling in Thailand or pre-existing injured before coming to Thailand? Because answer and outcome could be much different.

Don’t think Thailand is a place for someone paralyzed he needs to go home

Sorry to hear about your friend 😔

The DTV visa cannot be applied for inside Thailand.

If your friend is age 50+ , suggest you contact a reputable Thai Visa Agent and seek a Non O Visa for retirement AND the one year extension of stay as Retired.

That can be done and is possible.

Where is your friend now?

In the hospital? Where is it located?

What is your friends passport nation?