Canadian Medical Travel Coordination
Quick Facts
Last updated: June 2026
Visa for Canadians
No visa required for tourism stays of up to 60 days. Canadians receive a 60-day visa exemption on arrival, extendable once at a Thai immigration office for up to 30 more days. For longer or repeat treatment, the 5-year Destination Thailand Visa lists medical treatment as an eligible purpose. Source: Government of Canada travel advice for Thailand
Official language and hospital languages
Thai is the official language. In Bangkok's leading private and international hospitals, English-speaking doctors, nurses, and dedicated international patient teams are standard, with interpreters available for other major languages.
Currency
Thai baht (THB). Cards are widely accepted in hospitals, hotels, and major retailers; carry some cash for smaller vendors and transport.
Digital Arrival Card
All travellers must complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before arrival, within 72 hours of travel. Source: Thailand Digital Arrival Card
Flights from Canada to Thailand
Thailand's main hospital city is Bangkok, served by Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). Vancouver is currently the only Canadian city with a nonstop service to Bangkok.
from Toronto (YYZ)
to Bangkok (BKK)
Direct: No
Flight time: 18 to 22 hours
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 1,100 to 1,730 / peak CAD 2,000 to 2,800
from Vancouver (YVR)
to Bangkok (BKK)
Direct: Yes, nonstop
Flight time: about 16.5 hours
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD from 1,170 / peak CAD 1,800 to 2,500
from Calgary (YYC)
to Bangkok (BKK)
Direct: No
Flight time: 19 to 21 hours
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD from 1,308 / peak CAD 1,900 to 2,600
from Montreal (YUL)
to Bangkok (BKK)
Direct: No
Flight time: 20 to 22 hours
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 1,400 to 1,730 / peak CAD 2,000 to 2,800
Fares are indicative and shift with season and booking lead time. The lowest fares are typically found around September.
Where to Stay
International patients commonly choose central districts close to the major hospitals. Sukhumvit and Asok put you within easy reach of hospitals such as Bumrungrad and Samitivej, while Silom and Sathorn and the riverside are well connected by the BTS and MRT transit lines and are established business and hotel zones.
The most comfortable window for recovery is roughly November to February, when the weather is cooler and drier. The rainy season runs from June to November and can bring flooding, and the northern dry-season months of February to April can bring seasonal smog, worth noting for anyone recovering from a chest or respiratory procedure.
3-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD 48 to 83
​
Per week, 7 nights
CAD 336 to 581
4-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD 83 to 152
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Per week, 7 nights
CAD 581 to 1,064
5-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD 220 to 345
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Per week, 7 nights
CAD 1,540 to 2,415
Safety and Travel
The Government of Canada advises Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution in Thailand, the same general level applied to many mainstream travel destinations. The two areas under an avoid-all-travel notice, the strip within 50 kilometres of the Cambodia border and four provinces in the far south, are geographically distant from Bangkok and are not relevant to a hospital stay in the capital. In Bangkok itself, occasional demonstrations can disrupt traffic and transit, so choosing a hotel and hospital in the Sukhumvit, Silom, or riverside clusters keeps you away from common protest sites.
As in any large city, take standard precautions with valuables in crowded areas. For full, current detail, see the official Government of Canada travel advice and advisories for Thailand
Featured Treatments in Thailand
Thailand is the most established medical-tourism destination in Southeast Asia. Its largest private hospital operator reported an 11 percent rise in international-patient revenue in 2024, a sign of steady and continuing demand from patients abroad.
Gender-Affirming Surgery
Thailand is widely regarded as a world leader in gender-affirming surgery, with roughly 50 years of surgical experience in these procedures. Individual Bangkok surgeons have each performed thousands of cases, a depth of volume that is difficult to find anywhere else. In Canada this surgery is publicly funded but offered through a small number of centres, and patients often wait well over a year.
​Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery​
Bangkok has a deep, high-volume plastic and cosmetic surgery sector, including rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, liposuction, and facelift, performed by internationally trained surgeons at dedicated facilities. These procedures are not publicly funded in Canada, so the meaningful comparison is with Canadian private-clinic pricing.
​Learn more about plastic surgery with Maple Med Global
​
​Dental Care
Thailand is a mature dental-care destination. Many Thai dentists train in North America, the United Kingdom, or Australia, and clinics use the same major implant systems found in Canadian practices, such as Straumann and Nobel Biocare.
​Learn more about dental care with Maple Med Global
​
​Orthopedic Surgery​
​Joint replacement is performed in high volume at Thailand's JCI-accredited hospitals, with robotic-assisted options available. Orthopedic surgery currently carries the longest public wait of any specialty in Canada, at 48.6 weeks in 2025.
Learn more about orthopedic care with Maple Med Global​​​
​Cardiac Care
Thailand's international hospitals provide a full range of cardiac care, including bypass surgery, valve procedures, and angioplasty. Urgent cardiac care in Canada is treated quickly, so this option is most relevant for elective procedures or for patients who prefer to avoid any queue.
Learn more about cardiology services with Maple Med Global
​
​Fertility and IVF
Bangkok has advanced fertility clinics offering IVF and ICSI with strong reported success rates. Thai law permits standard fertility treatment but prohibits commercial surrogacy, so any plan in Thailand covers IVF only.
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​Executive Health Screening
​Several Bangkok hospitals, Bumrungrad among them, are known for comprehensive executive health screenings completed in a single visit, useful for patients who want a thorough diagnostic work-up quickly.
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Costs and Canadian Wait Times
Canada's public system delivers strong urgent and cancer care, but elective waits remain long. The Fraser Institute reported a national median wait of 28.6 weeks from referral to treatment in 2025, rising to 48.6 weeks for orthopedic surgery. The ranges below are indicative and vary by hospital and case complexity.
Rhinoplasty
Thailand: CAD 2,800 to 5,500
Canada, private: CAD 8,000 to 18,000
Liposuction
Thailand: CAD 3,500 to 6,900
Canada, private: CAD 8,000 to 18,000
Breast augmentation
Thailand: CAD 4,800 to 8,300
Canada, private: CAD 8,000 to 15,000
Single dental implant
Thailand: CAD 1,000 to 2,800
Canada, private: CAD 3,000 to 6,000
Knee replacement
Thailand: CAD 13,800 to 20,700
Canada, public wait: Orthopedic surgery, 48.6 weeks (Fraser Institute 2025)
Hip replacement
Thailand: CAD 16,600 to 24,800
Canada, public wait: Orthopedic surgery, 48.6 weeks (Fraser Institute 2025)
Cardiac bypass
Thailand: CAD 20,700 to 34,500
Canada, public wait: Cardiovascular surgery, urgent cases 1.9 weeks (Fraser Institute 2025)
Final quotes are confirmed per case.
Leading Internationally Accredited Hospitals in Thailand
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Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok, JCI accredited
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Bangkok Hospital, Bangkok, JCI accredited
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Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, Bangkok, JCI accredited
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MedPark Hospital, Bangkok, JCI accredited
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Praram 9 Hospital, Bangkok, JCI accredited
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Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital, Bangkok, JCI accredited
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This list is informational. Hospital selection for each patient depends on diagnosis, complexity, and treatment plan.
Frequently asked questions
For general questions about Canadian health insurance coverage abroad, complication insurance, follow-up care after returning to Canada, and trip planning, see our General FAQ
Plan Your Treatment in Thailand with Maple Med Global
Maple Med Global is a Toronto-based team that coordinates your care from Canada. We help you compare options, understand your costs, and connect with accredited hospitals and registered specialists, with no obligation. When you are ready, we are here to answer your questions.
Or call/text us at +1 (647) 492-2777
Explore Other Destinations
Comparing your options? Explore more of our medical travel destinations to find the right fit for your treatment.