Ontario Proof Of Vaccination Program Information

How the proof of vaccination program works

Effective 12:01 a.m. on September 22, 2021, Ontario will require patrons who wish to access certain businesses and settings to show proof of identification AND proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Proof of identification

Identification must be issued by an institution or public body that includes your name and date of birth and may include:

Birth certificate
Citizenship card
Driver’s licence
Government (Ontario or other) issued identification card, including health card
Indian Status Card /Indigenous Membership Card
Passport
Permanent Resident card

Proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19

You can show a paper or digital copy (ie. the PDF on your phone) of your vaccination receipt that demonstrates you are fully vaccinated. It must include your name, date of vaccination and product name (brand of vaccine) at the time of vaccination.
IMPORTANT: Altering the appearance of your proof of vaccination receipt in any way is not permitted and could render the receipt invalid (i.e. shrinking, cutting, laminating, blacking out information, etc.).
An individual is considered fully vaccinated if they have received:

The full series of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized by Health Canada, or any combination of such vaccines
One or two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine not authorized by Health Canada, followed by one dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine authorized by Health Canada
Three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine not authorized by Health Canada
They received their final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before providing the proof of being fully vaccinated.

How to get your vaccination receipt

Your vaccination receipt (also referred to as vaccination record, vaccination certificate or vaccination passport) can be obtained in a few different ways.

ONLINE

Download your vaccination receipt from Ontario’s provincial booking portal. Save the PDF to your phone/computer and/or print a copy.
The system only accepts information from green photo health (OHIP) cards and you will need numbers on both sides of the card. Expired cards will are accepted.
If you do not have a photo health card, call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 (available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week).
If you receive an error message when trying to download your vaccination receipt, call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 (available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week).

PHONE

If you do not have a photo health card or need assistance obtaining your receipt, call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 (available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week).

LIBRARY

Those who need support obtaining a copy of their vaccination receipt (e.g., no access to a computer or printer) can also visit their local library or ask a trusted friend or organization to help print a copy.

Settings where proof of vaccination is required

Indoor areas of restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments without dance facilities
Indoor and outdoor areas of food or drink establishments with dance facilities, including nightclubs and restaurants, clubs and other similar establishments
Indoor areas of meeting and event spaces
Indoor areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities, including waterparks, and personal physical fitness training with limited exemptions
Includes gyms, fitness/sporting/recreational facilities, pools, leagues, sporting events, waterparks, and indoor areas of facilities where spectators watch events
Indoor areas of casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming establishments
Indoor areas of concert venues, theatres, and cinemas
Indoor areas of bathhouses, sex clubs and strip clubs
Indoor areas of horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues
Indoor areas where commercial film and TV productions take place with studio audiences.

How your vaccination status will be verified

Upon arrival at a setting where proof of vaccination is required, the process will be as follows (or similar).

Staff will request to view your ID and proof of vaccination document (digital or print).
Staff will ensure the name and birth date on your ID matches the information on the vaccination receipt.
Staff will verify that the receipt is an acceptable Ontario receipt, a receipt signed by an Indigenous Health Provider, or a receipt from outside of Ontario that shows that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Staff will verify that it has been at least 14 days since you became fully vaccinated.

QR code vaccine certificate

A QR code version of your vaccine certificate is in development that will allow users to securely and safely verify their vaccination status when scanned at required settings. The enhanced QR code vaccine certificate will be available by October 22, 2021. Paper vaccination receipts will remain valid after October 22. More info will be provided as it becomes available.

Exemptions

Exemptions include but are not limited to children under age 12, youth under age 18 participating in indoor organized sport, including training, practices, games and competitions, and patrons with a medical exemption will be permitted entry without proof of vaccination.

In addition, between September 22 and October 13, 2021, patrons may provide proof of a negative antigen test to attend an indoor social gathering associated with a wedding service, rite or ceremony or a social gathering associated with a funeral service, rite or ceremony in certain meeting or event spaces.

Other limited exemptions apply in meeting and event spaces (e.g., day camp, child care, social services, court services, government services).

A list of exemptions can be found in Proof of Vaccination Guidance for Businesses and Organizations