Single crystal of TlCl was doped with NIR photoluminescent univalent bismuth cations by prolonged immersion in liquid bismuth metal. The ion exchange Tl+ + Bi-0 <-> Tl-0 + Bi+ at the crystal surface with subsequent Bi+ migration to the bulk are expected to drive the doping process. Contrary with Bi-doped TlCl crystals, grown by Bridgman method, the ion exchange does not produce the additional nonluminescent bismuth-containing centers. The investigation of photoluminescence emission and excitation spectra lead to the conclusion, that Bi+ is the main NIR emissive center in Bi-doped TlCl.