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What is the process to obtain a medical extension for a visa in Thailand after a serious injury?

Medical ExtensionVisa RulesThailand ImmigrationInjuryBroken LegVisa GuidanceExpat Help
Jul 21, 2023
a year ago
Shannon ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
— medical extension —

Hey everyone! Anyone got a medical extension on their visa before and know the process to get one? (Preferably in CM)

Was in a hectic bike accident and broke my leg/toe. Still can’t walk yet and unsure if I’ll be able too by the time it hits October.

Trying to figure out what my options are.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated 🙏🏻
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The process for obtaining a medical extension in Thailand can be challenging, particularly following a serious injury such as a broken leg. Generally, you must demonstrate that you physically cannot leave Thailand, which often requires being hospitalized or having a doctor's letter stating your inability to travel. Discussion highlights vary experiences, including the difficulties of getting such extensions unless confined to a hospital. Many recommend contacting your airline for assistance in travel and checking with immigration for necessary paperwork, as some have successfully obtained extensions with sufficient medical documentation and proper processes.
Adrià ********
Very difficult to justify. With a broken leg it's totally possible to flight.
a year ago
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Michael *********
For CM IO= they have their obscure med ext form at the info desk, take one, make copies. CM was meticulous that the form was filled out perfectly, my Dr was confused by the form. IO feedback was = "yes, most drs are confused by it" 🤷🏼‍♂️.

That form and of course all other medical certificates need to be stamped by the hospital. Med ext starts from the date the Dr filled out the CM IO form, NOT the date you apply.

I walked in/walked out all 3xs, this was within the last year.
a year ago
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Michael *********
Each time I applied for 90 days, each time got 90. Which is what I had heard, that they'll give whatever the Dr recommends.
a year ago
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Michael *********
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Minh *******
Good luck! I work in hospital and I know how difficult it is to get an extension due to injury/illness. Doctors will be very careful to write medical reports, certificates…. in case Immigration officers/insurance want to look deeper in the case. At Immigration officers will bring all documents to consult the doctors there before decide if you can get an extension.
a year ago
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Mitchell *******
Virtually impossible to do if you are not strapped to a bed.

I broke my leg here in Thailand in December. I did use a walker to hop on one leg to get an normal 30 day extension. The immigration officer mentioned to me that if I was still not able to walk in 30 days, and if you are in any way mobile, it is easier for you to fly out/drive out for a few days than try and get a medical extension. They interview doctors, come to appointments with you. She laid it all out.

So, after my 30 day extension, my gf took me to the airport, and I was wheeled everywhere by airline staff.
a year ago
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Mitchell *******
BTW, Wheelchair is the way to get through an airport for sure!
a year ago
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Mitchell *******
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Alistair **********
Private hospitals normally have a department that sorts this out for you. This is the easiest method, otherwise you need paperwork from a hospital stating that you aren't able to fly and to then deal with immigration yourself. Which may or may not encounter issues as some say.
a year ago
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Jay **********
Thinking your definition of can't leave Thailand and theirs may differ extensively. Good luck, your injury sounds horrible, but unless you are lying in a hospital practically in a coma they will literally wheel you to the gate from my experience.
a year ago
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Larissa ******
100% you should try and do all you can to get one. Your situation sounds like it would warrant one. My partner was on one last year in CM. His process wasn’t difficult at all. He just got a letter (the original) from his specialist/surgeon that said he needs to stay under his care and can’t fly or something (they generally know what to write). Then there’s just a form from immigration that the doctor needs to sign. He went in and applied for it in person at immigration and had no troubles. I don’t know what your options would be if you can’t physically get to immigration though.
a year ago
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Shannon ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Larissa *****
 okay great thank you for that. Any chance you remember what the forum was called from immigration? Maybe I can get someone to help me get to immigration to do the paperwork. I’m pretty sure my surgeon would write a letter for me given how severe the break and injury is. As the head of surgery he even said before I did the surgery that it was one of the most impressive and biggest breaks he’d seen. Haha
a year ago
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Ivan ************
@Shannon *****
 I got two of them before, similar situation to yours, first one I got I was still very much confined to hospital but got a second one soon after I got out of hospital. It is difficult and you need to be seriously ill/injured but I think worth investigating, it's not necessarily categorically impossible if you have a genuine issue. If you get one though it starts when you apply for it, max 90 days and it's entirely based on the condition/letter. It doesn't add on the end of your current visa. So if you are on a visa until October while it might be worth getting a plan in place now it's not something you'd probably want to actually apply for until closer to the end of your current visa (and have a plan b in case it's denied).
a year ago
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Shannon ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ivan ***********
 okay thanks for the info! Appreciate it 🙏🏻
a year ago
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Shannon ******
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Larissa ******
@Shannon *****
 I don’t know the name of it sorry. But we just picked it up from the front desk at airport immi - I wonder if you could call and ask them which one it is. Or maybe have someone you know pick one up when they’re next at the immi office. 🤞 it all works out for you
a year ago
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Shannon ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Larissa *****
 thanks so much for your help and info. Really appreciate it 🙏🏻 hopefully I can learn to walk before my visa is expired but just trying to figure out a backup in case
a year ago
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Shannon ******
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John *******
Good luck getting medical extension unless you are in hospital bed on a respiratory or ventilator it's not going to happen and so you will have attend immigration in person to apply for extensions you will be classed as fit to travel even if you believe you cant travel they won't give 5 flying ones about your condition Chokh di
a year ago
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Lynnette *******
My experience of breaking my leg 10 days before flight TO Thailand. Hospital said I could fly if I wanted to. Airline agreed if I wanted to. They said wheelchair and assistance could be provided at both ends of journey. I decided not to travel. Cast off after 6 weeks. Crutches for several weeks afterwards. But it all depends on break.
a year ago
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Shannon ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lynnette ******
 so you did get a medical extension or no?
a year ago
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Lynnette *******
@Shannon *****
 as you have 3 months to recover from a broken leg so I think it's unlikely a hospital would say you're medically unable to fly ( you don't say what the break was ). So doubt you'll get a medical extension.
a year ago
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Lynnette *******
@Shannon *****
 It was UK to Thailand. I was just sharing that travel was possible according to hospital and airline. That's who you should ask I think. A broken leg can be simple or complicated.
a year ago
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Lynnette *******
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Shannon ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
An arm I understand cause you can still walk.

I had a 360 tibial plateau fracture, torn miniscus and acl along with some other things and a broken toe. One of the absolute worst breaks you can get on your leg and it’s already been going on since May. Really hoping I’ll be able to learn to walk in aug or sept. But the surgeon doesn’t know yet since I have penia-osteoporosis so my bone takes much longer to heal then normal people - hence my inability to walk. 😅

Sounds pretty hectic that they expect someone to leave alongside their bags etc if they don’t have support to be able to do it alone. 😵‍💫 I’ve been 99.9% Bed ridden since it happened unless someone helped me get to the hospital for checkups and physio.
a year ago
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Bob **********
@Shannon *****
 if your not fit to fly the Dr will decide and the hospital should help you with an extension if needed good luck you have a lot of time left I’ve had to use the wheelchair option on two flights back to the states pretty easy and it’s the best way to go in the airport and immigration
a year ago
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Lynnette *******
@Shannon *****
 you get full assistance. Wheelchair to plane, assistance to seat, they carry your bags, you don't need to walk. And if there's any costs no doubt your travel insurance will cover it.
a year ago
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Lynnette *******
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Preeda ****************
Anecdotal experience: My daughter broke her arm, was in a cast, and was given an immediate Fit to Fly determination. We are on long-term Visas, I simply asked the question if it was the wisest choice to fly within a few days due to upcoming travel back home.

I asked if I should delay my flight (my initial preference) thoughts of swelling at altitude in a cast, a child...

I was cleared to fly and then provided the certificate.
a year ago
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Lynnette *******
Do you not have crutches? Or are you still in hospital or in traction? Is the leg immobilised? 3 months is a long time to recover from a broken leg.
a year ago
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Stuart *********
As
@Bra****
 mentioned a medical extension is not easy to obtain. Physically not being able to fly is quite different to “it’s difficult for me to fly”. With a broken leg, or a broken arm for example they’re not gonna let that one pass. Being in a hospital on a ventilator or such then that could well be a reason to issue one.

The pure fact that it’s difficult for you to travel has no bearing on the fact the you “can’t” travel.
a year ago
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Lynnette *******
Discuss with airline on facilitating your travel. Wheelchair and assistance at airport, appropriate seating if leg still in a cast and you should be fine to travel.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
Medical extensions are very difficult, almost impossible to get.

You basically need to be admitted to a hospital and the doctor has to write a letter stating why you physically cannot leave Thailand. It cannot by why you don't want to leave Thailand or shouldn't leave Thailand or why it's difficult for you to leave Thailand. It has to be why you CANNOT leave Thailand. If you can go to the immigration office to apply for this extension yourself, you are healthy enough to leave Thailand and will be denied the extension.
a year ago
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Shannon ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 I can’t walk anyways right now haha so I’m pretty much not able to leave Thailand haha
a year ago
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Alistair ********
@Shannon *****
 and when they wheel you out there will be no more ha ha's
a year ago
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Shannon ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alistair *******
 oh I’ll haha all my way out if I have too
a year ago
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Shannon ******
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Frank **********
@Shannon *****
 they will wheel you out hahaha
a year ago
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Jan **********
@Shannon *****
 in a weelchair you could. haha.
a year ago
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Jan **********
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Shannon ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 can I not get my doctor/surgeon to write a letter for me and get someone to go into immigration for me?
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Shannon *****
 unless your doctor is willing to lie, inability to walk is not justification for not leaving Thailand. You can use a wheelchair.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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