Everything businesses need to know about QR codes, Service Victoria before cut-off to avoid fines

These venues have until the end of the day to register for a government-issued QR code. See if your business is on the list.

Certain Victorian businesses run the risk of being fined if they aren’t signed up to the Victorian government’s free compulsory QR check-in system by today’s deadline.

Find out if your business needs to be on board with either the state government’s free Victorian Government QR code Service or Victorian Government Application Programming Interface to avoid copping a fine.

When does my business need to start using the free government QR code system?

Workplaces and venues required to record visitors through the free QR code system must have their records linked to the record keeping system by Friday April 30 2021.

The original grace period given to businesses was due to expire on April 23, but workplaces have been given an extra week to sign up for the system.

How much will I be fined if I don’t sign up for a Victorian government QR code?

Those who don’t comply and register for a QR code for each business they run risk a fine of $9913.

How do I register for a QR code?

Business operators can apply for their own QR code through the state government’s online registration page.

If you own or operate more than one of these businesses, each venue needs to have their own QR code.

You will receive an email with your printable QR code poster to display at your venue.

What are the QR code services used for?

Businesses need to use the government-run check-in system so the Department of Health can access a venue’s check-in entries for contact tracing purposes.

Should a person who tests positive for coronavirus visit a venue where they checked in, health authorities can trace the data linked to the digital record keeping system.

Businesses must register for their free QR code by the end of the week.

Does my hospitality business need to use the QR code?

Restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars, clubs and hotels all need to be using the Service Victoria check-in system. Any location that serves food and drinks must also make the QR code system available for patrons.

Does my hair and beauty business need to use the QR code?

Hair salons, barber shops, beauty salons and personal care services must record visitors on the government QR code service.

Do wedding, funeral and ceremony venues need to use the QR code?

Places of worship such as churches, synagogues, chapels or mosques need to have the QR code operating.

Wedding and funeral guests must comply with the venue’s record keeping requirements if the occasion is at a reception venue or not at a place of worship.

Do indoor and outdoor fitness and recreation businesses need to use the QR code?

Indoor community sports and fitness facilities need to register for the QR code system. These include staffed and unstaffed gyms, play centres, indoor skateparks and indoor trampolining centres.

Both indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, steam rooms and springs are required to use the system.

Adventure sports businesses offering ballooning, abseiling, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, scuba diving, fishing or surfing must also record visitors on the government service.

Do libraries and community spaces need to use the QR code?

Libraries and toy libraries must have visitors sign in with the state government’s QR code system.

Visitors at outdoor communal areas such as playgrounds and skate parks will not be required to sign in with a QR code.

Venues not listed for compulsory registration are still being urged to use the services.

Where else will visitors need to use the government QR code system?

• Creative arts facilities
• Real estate inspections and auctions
• Indoor and outdoor seated entertainment venues such as stadiums and arenas
• Indoor non-seated venues such as galleries and museums
• Outdoor non-seated entertainment venues such as such as zoos and live museums
• Guided tours of museums, galleries, historic locations
• Arcades, escape rooms, bingo centres
• Drive in cinemas
• Amusement parks
• Gaming (casinos, gaming machine areas, retail betting venues)
• Adult entertainment (brothels, sex on premises venues, sexually explicit entertainment)
• Nightclubs
• Karaoke venues
• Visitors in shared and communal spaces at accommodation properties

I own or operate one of these businesses. Can I use my own electronic QR code check-in system?

All types of businesses on the list must use either the free Victorian Government QR Service or Victorian Government Application Programming Interface.

Venues should only use one type of check-in platform.

The Department of Health is urging businesses who are not required to use the government QR code services to use the system to aid contract tracing efforts.

Businesses must ensure customers can scan a government QR code or manually provide contact details.

How do visitors scan the government issued QR code?

Visitors will only be able to scan a Victorian Government QR code via the Service Victoria app.

The QR code will not open in a general web browser, so ensure patrons have either downloaded the app or have recorded their details manually if they cannot access the app.

Users can download the Service Victoria app onto their iPhone or Android phones.

What if a customer can’t scan the QR code?

Visitors who will be at your venue for longer than 15 minutes must still record their name and phone number for contact tracing purposes.

Businesses can have patrons record their contact details by hand or onto another device such as an online form that does not require the use of a phone camera to scan a QR code.

Which phones can scan QR codes?

iPhone and Android phones with a camera can scan QR codes.

Apple phones with iOS 11 and above are fitted with an in-built QR code scanner that will scan the government QR code. Older models such as an iPhone 6 can also typically scan a QR code.

Samsung and Google devices will also be able to scan the government QR codes.

Service Victoria phone scams

The Department of Health is warning users to look out for possible scammers fronting as a Service Victoria QR code check-in page.

The Victorian Government QR code Service or Victorian Government Application Programming Interface will only open a QR code through the Service Victoria app, so people should download the app onto their phones when possible.

Originally published as Everything businesses need to know about QR codes, Service Victoria before cut-off to avoid fines