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BC Proof of Vaccination Information for Businesses

Last updated: January 25, 2022

Some events, services and businesses are required to check a person’s proof of vaccination for access to their venue or space. The requirements are made by the Provincial Health Officer (PHO).

Scroll down for information on the following:

Visit the BC Government website for more information.

Visit our BC Proof of Vaccination Requirements page for individual-specific details.

PHO Order on Proof of Vaccination

By order of the PHO, some events, services and businesses are required to check a person’s proof of vaccination for service and access to their venue or space. This applies to all people born in 2010 or earlier (12+). 

You must verify that people are fully vaccinated. Failure to follow the PHO order may result in a fine. The requirement is in place until June 30, 2022 and could be extended.

Places Proof of Vaccination is Required for Entry

You must verify every customer’s proof of vaccination, every time they enter your business or event:

  • Indoor organized events
    • For example, weddings, funeral receptions (outside of a funeral home), organized parties, conferences, trade fairs and workshops
  • Indoor concerts, theatre, dance and symphony events
  • Licensed restaurants and cafes and restaurants and cafes that offer table service (indoor and patio dining)
    • Includes liquor tasting rooms in wineries, breweries or distilleries
    • Table service means providing any service to a customer at their seat, or from anywhere but behind a counter
  • Pubs, bars and lounges (indoor and patio dining)
  • Nightclubs, casinos and movie theatres
  • Post-secondary student housing
  • Indoor organized group recreational classes and activities
    • For example, pottery studios, art classes or choir rehearsals
  • Swimming pools and activities at pools. Pools at hotels and apartments are exempt
  • Indoor ticketed sporting events
  • Indoor adult group and team sports for people 22 years old or older
  • Spectators at indoor youth sporting events
  • Non-employee supervisors, coaches and assistants of indoor sports and group activities for people 21 years or younger
  • Indoor skating rinks
  • Businesses offering indoor exercise/fitness
  • Gyms, exercise and dance facilities or studios
    • Includes these activities happening in recreation facilities

Examples of Places Proof That Don’t Require Proof of Vaccination

You don’t have to check proof of vaccination at places like:

  • Grocery stores, liquor stores and pharmacies
  • Unlicensed restaurants that don’t offer table service
    • For example, fast food, coffee shops, food courts, food trucks and takeout
    • Table service means providing any service to a customer at their seat, or from anywhere but behind a counter
  • Tasting rooms without seating attached to wineries, breweries or distilleries
  • Local public transportation (BC Transit, TransLink, BC Ferries)
  • Salons, hairdressers and barbers
  • Hotels, resorts, cabins and campsites
    • Does not include settings or events covered by the PHO order, for example, a licensed hotel restaurant, wedding reception or conference
    • Does not include exercise/fitness facilities for guests
  • Banks and credit unions
  • Retail and clothing stores
  • Public libraries, museums and art galleries
    • Does not include events hosted in these venues
  • Food banks and shelters
  • Escape rooms, laser tag, indoor paint ball and arcades
    • Only if they are unlicensed or don’t offer food-related table service
  • Post-secondary on-campus cafeterias
  • Airport food courts and restaurants
  • Health care services, rehabilitation or exercise therapy programs, and drug and alcohol support group meetings
  • Social services provided to people in need
  • Events like:
    • Indoor youth recreational sport for people 21 years old or younger
    • Before and after school programs for K to 12 students
    • Student events and activities in K to 12 public and independent schools
    • Parenting and breastfeeding programs

What the BC Vaccine Card Looks Like

People can save the digital version to their phone or tablet or print a paper copy to carry in their wallet. Businesses must accept both options.

Digital Card

Paper Card

Verifying BC Proof of Vaccination

From December 20, 2021, you are no longer allowed to visually verify BC Vaccine Cards. You must scan the QR code to verify a person’s proof of vaccination.

Step 1: Scan Proof of Vaccination

You must use the BC Vaccine Card Verifier app to scan a customer’s QR code to verify their proof of vaccination. The QR code will be on their phone or a piece of paper. You can scan:

  • BC Vaccine Cards
  • Federal proofs of vaccination
  • QR codes from other provinces and territories

Note: There are no cards or documents that allow people to be exempt from showing proof of vaccination. Everyone must show proof of vaccination to access events, businesses and services that require it.

Step 2: Review ID

After verifying proof of vaccination, you must also review ID. By reviewing ID, you match the name listed on the BC Vaccine Card or other form of proof of vaccination with the person you’re verifying. You don’t need to check ID for youth aged 12 to 18. 

Accepted forms of valid government photo ID, for example:

  • BC driver’s licence or BC Services Card
    • ​​Customers can use their interim driver’s licence, usually printed on yellow paper
  • Passport

When Names Don’t Match

There are many reasons why someone’s ID may not correctly reflect their name, gender or appearance. This is particularly true for Two-Spirit, transgender and non-binary people. Businesses have a responsibility to protect patrons’ safety and privacy.

If you are unsure whether you can verify a person’s identity, you can:

  • Request an additional piece of ID
  • Discreetly and respectfully ask for more information

Take steps to ensure that conversations about a person’s identity happen in a safe and confidential way:

  • Move the discussion away from other customers
  • Use a quieter voice
  • Avoid reading the person’s name aloud

Some people may have a ‘carry letter’ from their primary care provider to help explain why the name, photo or gender marker on their ID is different from their physical appearance. This may be useful in verifying their identity but is not required as proof.

Gender identity and expression are protected under the BC Human Rights Code.

Verifying Out-Of-Province Proof of Vaccination

You may have people who aren’t from BC accessing your events, services and businesses. They must follow the same requirements and provide proof of vaccination and ID.

People from Other Provinces or Territories

People from other Canadian provinces or territories must show:

Download examples of Canadian immunization records.

International Visitors

International visitors must show:

  • Proof of vaccination they used to enter Canada
  • Valid government-issued photo ID (like a driver’s licence or passport)

Use the BC Vaccine Card Verifier App

Download the BC Vaccine Card Verifier app from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The app is free to download and works on smartphones and tablets:

How to Use the App

With an internet connection, download the app to your device. You can download the app on multiple devices. You must allow the app to access your device camera.

After you’ve finished downloading, you can continue to use the app offline. No internet connection is required to scan QR codes.

A QR code is the square shaped image and is a type of bar code that can be read by a digital device. BC is using the SMART Health Card QR code format, a requirement of the federal government. This means the QR code only stores the absolute minimum level of information and is not connected to other health records.

How to Scan a Vaccine Card

Allow access to camera

Scan a digital card

Scan a printed copy

What You’ll See After Scanning

Partially Vaccinated

Fully Vaccinated

Invalid QR Code

Privacy

The QR code is a personal document. You can’t take a photo of a customer’s vaccine card, even if they consent. If a customer is concerned about privacy, you can tell them:

  • The BC Vaccine Card Verifier app does not store any data
  • The QR code contains the minimum information required to verify a vaccination record
  • The vaccine card system is not connected to any other health records

Recording Customer Proof of Vaccination

To make return visits easier, you can record a customer has provided proof of vaccination. For example, a gym may wish to record a member has already shown their vaccine card for quicker access.

If you wish to record a customer’s proof of vaccination status, you must:

  • Get the customer’s written consent
  • Allow the customer to withdraw their consent later
  • Delete all records once the proof of vaccination requirement is lifted, or when the customer withdraws consent

Employee Privacy

Businesses should not ask to see an employee’s BC Vaccine Card, unless the employee is accessing the location or event as a customer.

Organizations can enforce their own vaccination policies, but they must do their own due diligence.

 

Get Support

The Government of British Columbia has put together various resources regarding the BC Vaccine Card for businesses.

Print-Ready Posters

Guidance Documents

Need More Help?

If you need more information or have questions about the BC Vaccine Card, talk to a phone agent. Call 1-833-838-2323, select option 1, and then option 3.

Outside Canada and the USA: 604-681-4261

Translators are available | Seven days a week, 7 am to 7 pm (PDT)

Enforcement

Businesses and organizations that do not comply with the PHO order may be issued a violation ticket.

Depending on the violation, individuals could be subject to a $230 or $575 violation ticket. Owners, operators and event organizers could be subject to a $2,300 violation ticket.

Employees will not be fined for failing to check someone’s vaccine card. Owners, operators and event organizers are responsible for ensuring compliance with the PHO order.

Enforcement of the COVID-19 Related Measures Act is at the discretion of enforcement officers, including police, liquor and cannabis inspectors, gambling investigators and conservation officers. Environmental Health Officers from local Health Authorities may issue violation tickets under the Public Health Act.

Customers Who Refuse to Show Proof of Vaccination

You must not permit any customer who has not shown proof of vaccination to remain on the premises. You have the right to refuse service to anyone who is not abiding by the PHO orders.

If any employee feels threatened, they should avoid confrontation and call 911.

Legal Liability

Businesses that are included in the BC Vaccine Card PHO order are protected for actions they take under the order.

Businesses not covered by the PHO order are not protected, and must do their own due diligence.

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