ontario vaccine app

Ontario vaccine passport app launches early and people are finding it super confusing

The Ontario vaccine passport app has arrived without any formal announcement and people seem confused about how to use it.

Ontarians have been using vaccine receipts since Sept. 22 to enter restaurants and gyms and the province promised an app, called Verify Ontario would be in use on Oct. 22.

The app became available for download on Thursday afternoon in the Apple and Google app stores, seemingly ahead of schedule.

ontario vaccine app

The Verify Ontario app is in the Google app store.

But that doesn't mean people can use it yet.

A Ford government spokesperson told Global News the app was made available for download to ensure it was available for businesses and organizations on Friday.

"To ensure the app was available to businesses and organizations in real time tomorrow, the verification app was added to app stores today," Premier Doug Ford's press secretary Ivana Yelich told CBC.

Still, anyone can download the app now and that is creating some confusion.

According to the description, the app "scans the QR code on an Ontario government-issued vaccine certificate," and then after scanning a QR code, the business or organization will see: "a green checkmark indicating that it meets vaccine requirements, a red X for an invalid certificate, or a yellow warning indicating that the QR code cannot be read."

But the first step is confusing to some who don't know where to find a QR code on their vaccine receipt.

"Where is this QR code on the actual receipt we're supposed to scan for the proof of vaccine app to work? Unless I'm blind, I'm not seeing it," one person wrote.

People will have to wait a bit longer to get the app working and if that fails, Ontarians still have the option of using paper vaccine receipts to prove their vaccination status.

Lead photo by

Province of Ontario


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Tech

TTC is about to axe free Wi-Fi service in Toronto subway stations

Canadians could cash in on proposed multimillion-dollar electronics settlements

New tax changes will affect Canadians who earn money using online apps

Bell Canada is hiking prices for TV along with internet and phone plans

12 Days of Giveaways Day 4: Upgrade your home with the vacuum of the future

Here's how Canadians can claim share of Yahoo and Rogers class-action money

CRA warns people about $250 Working Canadians Rebate scam

Here are top Black Friday deals in Canada from Best Buy to Walmart