How to link your vaccine certificate to the Service Victoria app on your phone

Are you struggling to upload your Covid vaccination certificate to your phone, so you can check in to places? Here’s a step-by-step guide, as well as all your questions answered.

More than 180,000 Victorians linked their digital vaccination certificates to the Service Victoria app in the past 24 hours, as the state officially opens for business.

As of Friday morning more than two million people had added their ticket to freedom on their smartphone, with the digital certificate a requisite to participate in the vaccinated economy.

People will be required to show proof of vaccination status in order to enter businesses and venues as part of the vaccinated economy.

Here’s how.

HOW TO LINK YOUR COVID-19 DIGITAL CERTIFICATE TO THE SERVICE VIC APP

1. Make sure you’ve updated to the latest version of the Service Victoria app. You can find the app through the App Store or Google Play

2. Open up the Service Victoria app and tap on the option to “Add certificate via myGov”

This step will take you to the login of your myGov account. Have your log-in details handy

3. Scroll to “proof of Covid-19 vaccination” and tap the prompt “Go to Medicare”.

4. Once in myGov tap “view history” and then “share with check in app”.

5. By this stage you should see the Service Victoria app with a button that says “Share” next to it. Tap on that

6. Read the conditions, then hit “Accept and share”.

7. Once you’re back in the Service Victoria app, tap “Add certificate”. Done – you’re good to go.

DO I NEED A SERVICE VICTORIA ACCOUNT?

No. You don’t need a Service Victoria account to add your COVID-19 digital certificate to the app.

You will, however, need to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and have the latest version of the Service Victoria app installed on your phone.

You’ll also need either a myGov account linked to your Medicare online account or Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI); or the latest version of the Express Plus Medicare app installed.

WHERE CAN I FIND MY COVID-19 DIGITAL CERTIFICATE IN THE SERVICE VICTORIA APP?

1. Open your Service Victoria app

2. Press the “Certificates” button next to the check-in button. It looks like a list with a tick

3. Your COVID-19 vaccination status will show each time you check in to a venue using the Service Victoria app. You’ll see a white tick in a green circle to show that you’ve checked in, plus your name and the word “valid certificate”

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE A SMARTPHONE?

You can call the Services Australia hotline on 1800 653 809 and ask them to send your Immunisation History Statement to you.

This could take up to 14 days to arrive in the post. Alternatively, you can also print your COVID-19 digital certificate available on MyGov at home.

CAN I REMOVE MY COVID-19 DIGITAL CERTIFICATE AT ANYTIME?

Yes. To remove your certificate from the Service Victoria app, go to “View certificate” and tap “Remove”.

DO I NEED TO SHOW PROOF OF MY VACCINE STATUS AT BUSINESSES AND VENUES?

Venues may ask to see proof that you’ve checked in and proof of vaccination.

When you show them your check-in confirmation screen, they’ll see your vaccination status if you’ve linked your COVID-19 digital certificate to the Service Victoria app.

The confirmation screen shows a green tick to show that you’ve checked in, your name and the words “valid certificate”.

Businesses can’t keep or store this information.

I DON’T WANT TO SHOW MY DIGITAL CERTIFICATE. HOW ELSE CAN I PROVE THAT I’M VACCINATED?

You can use a paper copy of your Immunisation History Statement, or an eligible proof of exemption.

I HAVE A LEGITIMATE EXEMPTION AGAINST VACCINATION. CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THE VACCINATED ECONOMY? HOW?

If you have a medical exemption from the Covid-19 vaccination, you may enter premises open only for fully vaccinated people.

You may be exempt if you are unable to be vaccinated because you have a medical contraindication as determined by ATAGI clinical guidance.

You must show evidence of this medical exemption to the venue, such as a medical certificate or a letter from a CHO-approved medical practitioner.

The document must be dated and is valid for the period the medical practitioner specifies (up to six months), or for six months from the date of issue.

DO MY CHILDREN NEED TO BE FULLY VACCINATED TO GO TO A RESTAURANT?

Children over 16 years old must be fully vaccinated to enter venues, except those with medical exemptions.

Children under 16 years old do not need to be vaccinated but must be accompanied by fully vaccinated adults.