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What type of visa do I need for medical treatment in Thailand for 36 days in August 2023?

Thai Visa Tourist Visa Medical Visa Visa Exemption Visa Extension Visa Requirements for Expats

Nov 18, 2022

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

My wife and I are going to Thailand in August next year. She is having surgery there. We will be there for 36 days. Delta tells me we need a visa. The hospital told us she does. But I keep seeing there’s a 45 day visa exemption. They also told her it’s easier to get a tourist visa as opposed to the medical visa. I’m super confused on what we actually need if anything. Help please.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The situation regarding visa requirements for a stay in Thailand for medical treatment in August 2023 can be complex. As of now, travelers arriving from certain countries may enter Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days, which can be extended for another 30 days at an immigration office. There's also a possibility of a medical visa being introduced in January 2023 that may facilitate the entry for medical treatments. For longer stays, obtaining a tourist visa online prior to travel is recommended, granting an initial 60 days and allowing for a 30-day extension. It's advisable to monitor updates as the situation evolves and confirm requirements with the Thai embassy.

Natalie ***************

You will get a stamp on your visa for 45 days entering Thailand. If for any reason you need to extend that you can visit your local immigration office whilst in Thailand.

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Tod *********

@Natalie **************

that is NOT correct 🙁 the "if for any reason" part is wrong,

IF they enter on a visa exempt in August 2023 it'll be 30 days and they can get ONE 30 day extension on that at the immigration office for 1900 baht and if they needed an extension based on medical reasons they'd need documentation from the hospital/treating physician to apply for one.

Extensions based on medical reasons can be issued anywhere from 30 to 90 days at a time at the discretion of the immigration officer

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Bobby ********

@Natalie **************

They are coming in August next year. The 45 day entry stamp will finish on March 31

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Bobby ********

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Ana ************************

If your airline tell you that you need a visa better make one

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Marlo *******

To be safe I would go to the Thai embassy in your home country and if required fill out the one 60 day tourist visa. It will be stressful enough dealing with medical procedures and the piece of mind of having a full 60 days would be worth it (in my opinion). If for whatever reason you still have the option to extend by an additional 30 days (90 day stay total). I’ve done this several times and it is worth it if you plan on staying past the normal 30 day entry visa.

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Sam **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

ya I can’t do that anyway as the closest embassy near me is 3 thousand miles away.

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Sam **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Los angeles is the closest one to me.

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Brandon ************

you're actually required to use the Chicago office then. But it's still online only.

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Brandon ************

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Sam **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I was wrong. I just google mapped it. It’s 1500 miles away. I’m in South Dakota.

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Tod *********

where are you that a thai embassy is 3000 miles away?

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Tod *********

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Tod *********

if they're in the US or Europe they would use the eVisa system, there is no "go to your consulate and apply" anymore 😮 it's all online now

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Tod *********

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Christine ********

I’ve just read that Thailand are hoping to introduce a health tourist visa on 1st January next year, obviously it’s not a definite but might be worth you holding fire and see what transpires as you’re not travelling for some time.

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Tod *********

@Christine *******

they already do have visa choices based on medical reasons in the eVisa system both for treatment under 60 days (when you get a tourist visa) and treatment over 60 days (when you get a 90 day Non-O visa) 😮

I don't know if this hope to be introduced health visa is anything different or not

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Christine ********

yes, they’re touting this as a more beneficial medical visa, but who knows.

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Christine ********

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Tod *********

OR you can select Medical Treatment for more than 60 days and it will give you the Non-O visa choice on the eVisa system

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Mark *******

my knee replacement will be way longer than 6 weeks. Is this the best option?

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Tod *********

couldn't tell you,

With a 30 day extension a 60 day tourist visa gets you almost 90 days in country.

The Non-O based on medical reasons would need documentation from the hospital treating physician to get an extension past the 90 days you get on entry.

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Tod *********

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Tod *********

you can select Medical Treatment for less than 60 days as the reason for a tourist visa on the eVisa website

it defaults to a single entry tourist visa that will get you 60 days

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Tony *********

Read today a new medical visa is coming out

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Tod *********

it's not out yet, but they can certainly watch for it as they don't travel until Aug 2023 (9 months from now) 🙂

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Tony *********

- yeah maybe it will be sorted you never know. Wish they would make it a bit easier though to settle in Thailand 🙏🏼

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Tony *********

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Glyn **********

Buy a 60 day visa on line. It's a pain to fill out but doable and cheap.

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Rob ***********

If I m not mistaken, there is a new medical tourist visa.. I saw it on the Thaiger the other day.

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Todd ********

@Rob **********

I saw that too, Yet it starts January 1

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James ********

@Rob **********

not in place yet. And if she needs added time to recover beyond the 90 days a Thai tourist visa provides, the doctor can request a medical extension of stay.

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James ********

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James ********

In August 2023, if you arrive Visa Exempt, you will be stamped in for 30 days. Plus one 30 day extension of stay at Thai immigration office for 1900 Thai baht. = 60 days stay.

IF you get a Thai tourist visa you will be stamped in for 60 days Plus one 30 day extension of stay at Thai immigration office for 1900 Thai baht = 90 days stay.

Once you are in Thailand, if her doctor says more time is needed for recovery, the doctor can request a medical extension of stay. Of 30, 60 or 90 days

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Tod *********

you're a LONG way off from coming here and unfortunately the 45 day visa exempt program goes back to 30 days on April 1.

Delta is not correct, a visa isn't required to get in to thailand, BUT if you're coming here visa exempt they may require you have onward travel in the number of days you're stamping in for (which in Aug 2023 will be 30 days).

My advice is; watch the visa exempt program and see what happens at the end of march (as far as if the 45 days are continued or not) and if it's not, get a single entry tourist visas from the online eVisa portal people in the US use. That will get you stamped in for 60 days.

****************************

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Sam **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

thank you so much. I appreciate it. I don’t know how visas work so I didn’t know how early I should plan for it.

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Jean ****************

listen to

you won't regret. 🥂

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Winnie **********

@Jean ***************

Agree! Tod Daniels is very knowledgeable 👍👍

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Winnie **********

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Tod *********

a tourist visa is valid for 90 days from the date it's issued <- that means you have 3 months to ENTER thailand on it and when you do you'll get stamped in for 60 days. You said you're staying for 36 days, and your wife is having a surgery, so the last thing she's gonna wanna do is slog to the immigration office so you can extend that free 30 day stamp another 30 days for 1900baht. Just get the single entry tourist visa and you're good to go

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Sam **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

thank you!

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Sam **********

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Jason *********

As of right now still they are doing the 45 visa exemption, but not sure how long. It’s very easy to get a tourist visa(e visa)online as welI (60days) don’t know anything about medical visas

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Johnny *******

The 45 day visa exempt offer is set to end on March 31 2023.

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Johnny *******

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