About the app and when to use it
Add your COVID-19 digital certificate to the Check In Qld app
From Friday 19 November, you can add your COVID-19 digital certificate to your Check In Qld app, allowing you to check in and provide your proof of vaccination at the same time.
From 17 December, you will need to carry proof of your vaccination status with you and be prepared to display this upon request when entering businesses and locations that are restricted to fully vaccinated customers.
Don’t forget to update your version of the app to be able to add your digital certificate.
The Check In Qld app is a contactless, free, secure and convenient way for customers to sign into a Queensland business.
By using the Check In Qld app you’ll be:
- able to check in to participating businesses without having to enter your details each time
- protecting your own personal information – data is stored by the Queensland Government and only used for contact tracing if needed
- helping make contact tracing faster, more reliable and complete.
You can download and install the app (Get it on Google Play or Download on the App Store).
You will need to use it at:
- venues that attract large crowds, such as stadiums, convention centres, theme parks, concert venues and cinemas
- shopping centres and supermarkets
- beauty and personal care services, such as hairdressing, beauty therapy and nail services
- indoor events, such as cultural festival and expos
- outdoor events, such as fun runs and fetes
- leisure and recreation facilities, such as gyms, health clubs, indoor sports facilities and indoor pools
- short-term residential facilities such as hotels, boarding houses and short-term holiday rentals
- outdoor recreation, such as caravan parks, camping areas, zoos and aquariums
- public-facing government services, such as customer service counters in government buildings, galleries, museums, libraries and community centres such as recreation halls
- weddings, funerals and places of worship (only required if indoor)
- higher education institutions, such as universities, TAFEs and registered training organisations
- adult entertainment venues
- hospitals, residential aged care, disability service accommodation (applies to visitors, volunteers and contractors, not staff or patients/residents)
- taxis, limousines and rideshare vehicles.
See the complete list of the businesses, activities and undertakings where the Check in Qld app must be used.
Frequently asked questions
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What is the benefit of using the Check In Qld app? When a person is diagnosed with COVID-19, Queensland Health will conduct contact tracing. Public health officers will assess the movements of the person with COVID-19 while they were infectious and determine who in the community are considered ‘close contacts’. Information collected at the businesses about customers and staff will assist in identifying and contacting the relevant close contacts. This will assist public health officers to contain and respond to the spread of COVID-19 within the community.
Use of the app will assist in the timely delivery of contact details to Queensland Health contact tracers (if required).
Once you have created a profile in the Check In Qld app, the app will remember your details, saving you time in the future and providing easy check-in across other Check In Qld participating venues.
The Check In Qld app is free, easy to use and convenient.
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Why is providing contact information important? When a person is diagnosed with COVID-19, the local public health unit commences contact tracing. Timing is critical. Using the Check In Qld app means your information will be provided to contact tracers quickly. Public health officers will assess the movements of the person with COVID-19 while they were infectious and determine who in the community are considered ‘close contacts’.
That’s why it’s important to provide accurate and legible contact information, so we can contact you if you are affected. This will help us respond quickly and effectively to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the community, and to minimise the potential for you to spread the disease to others.
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Why was an app developed vs QR code that links to a website? QR codes that link to websites and require people to enter their details can be exploited. For example, a malicious user could print off a QR code that directs a user to enter their details on a site with a similar look and feel.
When you use an app, the QR codes are all recorded in the back-end of the system. If a user scans a QR code that isn't validated in the back-end, they will receive an error message. This will then stop the user from being directed to a website that may be suspect, to provide their contact information.
Using a website also allows phishing attacks to occur, with the potential for a malicious QR code to take the end user to a different website that may be suspect. Using the Check In Qld mobile app minimises the potential for phishing.
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What is a QR code? A QR code is like a barcode that can be read by a smartphone camera. A QR code consists of black and white squares, typically used for storing URLs or other information for reading by the camera on a smartphone.
The Check In Qld app gives you the option of allowing your smartphone’s camera to scan the QR code when checking in. Alternatively, you can choose to manually enter the six-digit number, which is located next to the QR code on the venue QR code poster.
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Do all QR codes work in the Check In Qld app? No. Only QR codes on Check In Qld posters in participating venues will work in the Check In Qld app.
If you scan a business’s QR code with your camera without the Check In Qld app downloaded, you will be directed to download the app.
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What are the cyber security aspects of the app? The back-end is hosted in Microsoft Azure and has undergone security testing before being made available to the public. The app itself is only available via trusted sources: the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
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Why isn't there a check out function with the app? Recording a check in time for customers at a venue is the most important, reliable and key information to enable contact tracers to focus their investigation.
Recording a check out time for customers is not a requirement. It’s also impractical for hospitality and entertainment businesses to ensure all guests complete a check out process upon departing a venue.
Contact tracing is more effective when based on the check in time as opposed to a check out time, which is more likely to be recorded inaccurately, or not at all, due to the difficulties involved in policing departures and ensuring customers remember to check out at the precise time of their departure.
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How are notifications on the app being used? Notifications have been enabled on the app. At this stage, you will only be notified if you have un-finalised check-ins on your device. There are no other authorised uses for notifications at this stage.
Android users are automatically opted into notifications, but Apple users will be asked to opt in to receive these notifications. You can change this at any time by going into the settings in the Check In Qld app and selecting or unselecting forgotten check in reminders.