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What is the longest tourist visa available while recovering from spinal surgery in Thailand?

Thai visa optionsDTV visaMedical visaTourist visaVisa exemptionVisa extensionSpinal surgery recoveryExpats in ThailandHealth care in Thailand
Jan 18, 2025
a month ago
Les ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
What is the longest tourist visa available while I recover from a spinal surgery?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
If you're recovering from spinal surgery and need a long-term visa in Thailand, consider the following options: 1. **Medical Visa** - This may be suitable if you're hospitalized, allowing for hospital assistance with the application. 2. **DTV Visa** - If you meet financial criteria (500,000 THB in your bank account), this multi-entry visa can grant up to 180 days per entry, extending your stay significantly. 3. **Standard Tourist Options** - Enter on a 60-day visa exemption, with potential extensions up to 90 days, or apply for a medical extension linked to your treatment. 4. **LTR Visa** - A 10-year visa option is available, ideal for long-term stays. Alternatively, check with the hospital staff for further assistance regarding visa options.
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Philip *******
60 day exemption then either extend for 30 days at immigration or a sightseeing trip to Laos or Cambodia for the day then return for another 60 day exemption then extend it
a month ago
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Cissi *********
If you would need/could consider some physiotherapy during your recovery, DTV might be an option...

If so, you could contact a hospital in the area of Thailand where you want to stay and discuss this with them. If you get a letter from your Australian surgeon explaining the type of surgery you're having, I'm sure that a Thai hospital could offer you a treatment plan with appointments for physiotherapy. That in combination with 500k thb in your bank account would make it possible to apply for DTV.

DTV is a multientry visa, valid for 5 years that gives you permit to stay for up to 180 days per entry.
a month ago
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David **********
LTR. 10 years.
a month ago
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ALi *****
your doctor will give you a form if you need more time.
a month ago
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Graham ******
You cannot get a Tourist Visa in Thailand but if you are on one you can get your hospital to apply for a Medical Extension which, if accepted, can get you up to 90 days extra per application
a month ago
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Pertti *************
Apply retirement visa. You can live rest of of your pains here🙏
a month ago
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Jay *******
You could try for the destination Thailand visa it allows you to stay 60 months as long as you meet the financial requirements
a month ago
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Harreson *********
Wishing you a speedy healthy recovery 🙏
a month ago
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Katherine ************
As someone who’s had 3 back surgeries- the flight from aus to thailand is an awful idea for your recovery. Unless maybe you fly first class with someone to help shuttle your carry on and a wheelchair in airport
a month ago
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Heath ***********
@Katherine ***********
 you can request wheelchair assistance for air travel. They will help you a lot without needing first class. Even things like going through customs and security are assisted. If you ever need it just ask when checking in. I'm speaking from personal experience, not as an expert.
a month ago
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Heath ***********
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Les ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for all the constructive feedback 👍🏻
a month ago
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Nongnuch ********
the longest tourist visa is the 5-year DTV
a month ago
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Mma *******
Come in on Visa Exemption for 60 + 30 days mate and convalece. Total 90 days.
a month ago
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Will *********
There is a medical O visa for 90 days....I don't know if you can extend that further.
a month ago
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Pertti *************
Why not speak hospital staff and they arrange all needed👌💦
a month ago
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Tom *********
What an abstract question. You’re lazy? I’m amazed people here. Like you. Can’t use search engines. Yet blindly ask that and depend on people you don’t know to give guidance. Amazing.
a month ago
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Andy **********
@Tom ********
 Another account to block. Thanks for the heads up.
a month ago
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David ***********
@Tom ********
 I hope you are as uselessly helpful to yourself as to others. Did nobody teach you to scroll instead of being a d....head
a month ago
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Bill *******
It’s funny because you even look alike
a month ago
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Jason ******
@Tom ********
 because it's a visa advice group maybe 😂 but there's always the angry expats with their Thai wife's profile pictures 😂 that get annoyed 😜🍻
a month ago
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Brian ********
@Tom ********
 what an abstract answer. You're grumpy? I'm amazed people here. Like you. Can't use scrolling thumb. You blindly troll that and don't know how to give guidance. Amazing.
a month ago
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Walter *************
@Brian *******
 to many mental health farangs in Thailand
a month ago
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Walter *************
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Les ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tom ********
 if you don’t have anything nice to say mind your own business please 😀
a month ago
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Tom *********
@Les *******
 Get over yourself. Let’s all get along? Let’s not correct or offend, guiding people to be more proactive. We are a society of dependency. I’ll offend anyone to point out they can do better. Let this person rely on bad information and he’s in a deeper hole than where he started.
a month ago
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Tom *********
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James *******
@Tom ********
a month ago
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James *******
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Alison *****************
I would not think its a recommendation to fly after back surgery and its a long flight
a month ago
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Philip *******
@Alison ****************
 as long as surgeon says it's OK. However most would advise wait 8 to 12 weeks. Also heightened dvt risk post surgery.
a month ago
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Philip *******
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Dennis *********
What surgery you have? I had spine surgery in September and in 2023
a month ago
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Bob **********
You can come exempt stamp 60 days and extend for 30 more
a month ago
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Bob **********
Not if your not sponsored by a Dr here
a month ago
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Todd *********
@Bob *********
 can now get 90 day medical exemption
a month ago
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Todd *********
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Uday ********
Haha so chicken conceived at home but want to lay eggs at neighbour house 😂😂
a month ago
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Andy **********
@Uday *******
 Another account to block. Thanks for the heads up.
a month ago
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Andy **********
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Carlos *********
A medical visa, if you are in a hospital and unable to leave from surgery. The hospital should be able to assist with that.
a month ago
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Aake **********
@Carlos ********
 in Thailand
a month ago
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Aake **********
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Michael **********
if u have 500k in bank you could ask for a dtv visa that goes up 180days/year + another 180days extension
a month ago
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Elías ********
@Michael *********
 also, it can be asked from within Thailand, so if the OP did the surgery already, it's not an option to get a DTV. If it's still before the surgery, then, yes.
a month ago
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Garry ******
@Michael *********
 Looks like he only wants to recover in thailand and not doing any procedure there. So prolly he wont get it.
a month ago
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Tony ********
@Garry *****
 100% he will NOT get it.
a month ago
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Tony ********
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Roberto *********
Medical extension. Your doctor/hospital can advise
a month ago
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Phil ******
@Roberto ********
 most hospitals will advise but mine didn't know

King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital : โรงพยาบาลจุฬาลงกรณ์
a month ago
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Les ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Roberto ********
 I having the surgery in Australia but I want to recover in Thailand
a month ago
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Chang ******
@Les *******
 only 90 days u can stay

Or talk to agents
a month ago
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SJ *******
@Les *******
 get it done in Thailand better doctors facilities and care oh and cheaper.
a month ago
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Misha ***********
@SJ ******
It’s true ! I had to have my c-
***
and
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disks removed from my neck . Dr.Decha at Bangkok hospital pattaya . He and his staff were amazing . Zero complications .

Also needed a leg repair . 9screws and plate to bolt cleanly severed tibia back together . Again zero complications Dr Namon and his staff also amazing .

As were the physio team there .

If you need medical care , this is your hospital.

Surgeon friends were very complimentary of their work .
a month ago
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Alexandre ********
Cheaper then free?
a month ago
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SJ *******
@Alexandre *******
 thats if he has waited on the long list to have registrar do it.
a month ago
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Alexandre ********
@SJ ******
 better doctors then Australia ya right 😂😂😂
a month ago
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David **********
@Alexandre *******
 if they have better doctors than América I would think they’re better than Australians doctors as well.
a month ago
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Alexandre ********
@David *********
 Thai has better doctors then America 😂😂😂😂😂 yeah right I’m done with this thread
a month ago
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David **********
@Alexandre *******
 bro the Drs in America don’t know anything but to prescribe you chemicals. Not to get better, but to feel better and mess up the brain.
a month ago
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Alexandre ********
@David *********
 you are severely uneducated to how hard it is to become a doctor in America… 99% of doctors in Thailand couldn’t pass the exams to even get licences to be a resident in america let alone a attending. Thai doctors are basically as educated as American nurses lol
a month ago
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Bonnie *********
@Alexandre *******
 *than; you're a medical doctor?
a month ago
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Bonnie *********
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Roberto *********
@Les *******
 All you can do is a standard tourist entry. 60 days you don't require a visa.
a month ago
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Judy *******
@Les *******
 If you are 'fit to fly' you probably can't get a visa on medical grounds
a month ago
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Tony ********
@Judy ******
 100% correct. No need to look at any other answers. You are 100% correct.
a month ago
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Tony ********
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John **********
Did you have the surgery in Thailand? If so what visa are you currently on?
a month ago
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John **********
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