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What visa options are available for long-term treatment in Thailand if the condition is not medically recognized?

Visa TypesTreatment in ThailandNON-O VisaDTV VisaMedical TreatmentSoft Power ActivitiesThai ClinicsExpat Visa Requirements
Aug 7, 2025
23 days ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello, I’m looking into soft power dtv because I am planning on seeking medical treatment from a “clinic”in Thailand, the treatment ideally needs to last 9 months, so ideally I would need a longer stay visa. However the thing is the treatment I am seeking is technically not medical treatment as the condition is not medically recognised yet so the clinic has been skirting around the corner with aesthetic treatments and hence idk if it can be considered as a Thai soft power activity.

I am unemployed because of the condition and in no place to apply as freelancer. And I am so unwell I don’t think I can do Muay Thai.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user is seeking advice on obtaining a long-term visa (potentially a DTV or NON-O visa) for a 9-month stay in Thailand for treatment that is not officially recognized as medical. They are exploring options related to aesthetic treatments that some clinics offer. The discussion includes alternatives for obtaining a visa, such as securing documentation from clinics, utilizing soft power activities, and seeking advice on attendance requirements for courses that could support their visa application. Community responses suggest contacting clinics for necessary documentation, exploring Thai cooking or language courses, and noting that attendance checks for some leisure courses may not be stringent.
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Anonymous ******************
dont overthink it. use a $300 medical checkup package at bnh to start. baan thai legal was a great help for $400. dtv med done inside two weeks. once you in thailand you can do any other health stuff or any lawful activity. nobody will ask you to justify anything medical.
22 days ago
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John **********
It sounds like soft power based on medical treatment is the best option for you. You would need a treatment plan for over 6 months signed off by a recognised doctor at a recognised hospital on their official letterhead. If you can't get that there is also a 90 day Non-O visa based on medical treatment which can be extended inside Thailand with support from your medical centre
23 days ago
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Amanda ************
If the clinic is able to sign off on the paperwork, you writing a thorough cover letter detailing your condition and the hopes of this treatment could be enough. Share the truth of what you’re going through and the hopes of this treatment.

Are there also tests like blood work included in the treatment? Evaluations by a Dr, etc. these things could have weight to it as well.
23 days ago
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Ross **********
I had looked into mental health in the form of counselling as a medical treatment.

Couldn’t find anyone who had been granted a DTV via this means.

Ended up using a different soft power
23 days ago
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James ********
@Ross *********
 wise decision to use a soft power activity 👍
23 days ago
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James ********
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Arnold *****
Might be easiest to go to a hospital and get a written treatment / diagnosis. They ask for quite a lot. I did it all in Thailand at Chiang Mai Ram but Samitivej in BKK was helpful too

you'll need to ask for

•hospital patient confirmation

•treatment plan (6 months)

•diagnosis from doctor
23 days ago
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Biff *******
The clinic would be who you need to speak to. Ask them if their treatment has already been used to apply for a DTV. What documents they’re able to supply to support your application.

If they haven’t supported a DTV application yet, ask them to research it and get back to you
23 days ago
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Christopher ***********
Most interested myself. As you say, Muay Thai boxing isn’t an option and Workation cannot apply for the long retired. Degenerative changes restrict movement especially flexibility. Unfortunately, treatment plans don’t exist. Are you able to share the nature of your condition? Maybe someone can think of a workaround?
23 days ago
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Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Christopher **********
 I’m going through topical steroid withdrawal, some days I can’t move my arms because skin tearing. I’ve seen People say there’s cooking courses with span of six months but only 8 classes, so that sounds doable for me.
23 days ago
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Anonymous *************
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Anonymous ******************
How about the online seminar. If you search this group there are a few people who got it
23 days ago
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Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
匿名互动者 133 Thank you so much I’ll look into it.
23 days ago
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Anonymous *************
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DTV_Be*******
Thai cooking?
23 days ago
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Andi ***********
Cooking course?
23 days ago
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Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andi **********
 Thank you so much for the info that sounds really promising. Thank you so so much.
23 days ago
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Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andi **********
 Do I have to attend regularly like do they check it? I’m just not very sure about that as I’ve seen people saying it’s getting stricter and stricter.
23 days ago
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Andi ***********
Anonymous participant There are currently no attendance checks but there are courses which only require a few hrs a session. Language learning is not covered by the DTV.
23 days ago
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A. ************
Anonymous participant Cooking classes are usually taking 8 classes (6 regular classes and 2 that involve a trip to a market, then cooking a dish) over a 6-month period. The classes aren't full days, so you just need to be able function for a few hours. Good luck with finding something that works for you.
23 days ago
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DTV_Be*******
Anonymous participant - Maybe this visa isn’t for you if all the options available you don’t want to follow. Just saying.
23 days ago
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Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
DTV_BegPecker It’s not that I don’t want to follow those courses it’s just the medical issue I’m dealing with is very debilitating, if I could cook I’d love to cook or if I could go to language school I love to learn another language, but the fact is I can barely function properly in normal day to day life.
23 days ago
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Chris *******
Anonymous participant purchasing a course does not mean you have to attend as it is a leisure activities.Like a gym membership you never use.There is no attendance or accountability to it. Other visas like an education ED, REQUIRE attendance and even then are only loosely monitored.
23 days ago
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Chris *******
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