Sick Notes in Vancouver: The Rules Changed
British Columbia now restricts when an employer can require a doctor's note for a short illness. Before you spend two hours in a waiting room for a piece of paper, check whether your employer is allowed to ask for it.
Last reviewed September 7, 2026 · Vancouver Walk-In Clinics
The key change: as of 12 November 2025, BC's Employment Standards Regulation bars an employer from requiring a sick note for an employee's first two health-related absences of five consecutive days or fewer in a calendar year. The province made the change on the advice of health professionals, on the basis that most minor illnesses resolve within five days and that clinic visits for paperwork consume appointments sick people need.
General information about BC employment standards, not legal advice. For your own situation, contact the BC Employment Standards Branch or an employment lawyer.
What the rules actually say
British Columbia employees are entitled to five paid and three unpaid sick days per calendar year after 90 days of employment. Layered on top of that, the November 2025 regulation limits the evidence an employer may demand.
| Situation | Can your employer require a doctor's note? |
|---|---|
| First short absence of the year (5 consecutive days or fewer) | No |
| Second short absence of the year (5 days or fewer) | No |
| Third and later short absences in the same calendar year | Yes |
| Any absence longer than 5 consecutive days | Yes |
For the protected absences, an employer may still ask for reasonably sufficient proof of your need for leave — a written attestation from you, or a pharmacy receipt, for example. What they cannot do is send you to a physician for it.
When you still need a note
- Your third or subsequent short absence in the same calendar year
- Any absence running longer than five consecutive days
- Short-term or long-term disability claims, which have their own medical requirements
- WorkSafeBC claims for a workplace injury or illness
- Academic accommodation, exam deferrals and tuition refunds — universities and colleges set their own policies
- Insurance forms, travel cancellation claims and court or jury excusal
Where to get a sick note in Vancouver, and what it costs
Any walk-in clinic can issue one, as can a virtual clinic. Two things to know before you go:
Sick notes are not covered by MSP. Writing a note for an employer is an uninsured service, so you pay even with full coverage — typically somewhere in the range of $20 to $75 depending on the clinic and the complexity of the form. Ask the price when you register.
The doctor must actually assess you. A physician cannot write that you were ill on a day they did not see you. If you are back at work by the time you attend, a note may say only that you attended and reported an illness — which is sometimes not what an employer wanted.
Virtual clinics are often the practical option here: a note does not usually require a physical examination, and you avoid infecting a waiting room. See the virtual care guide.
If your employer insists anyway
Employers are not always current on the rules. A calm reference to the regulation usually settles it: BC's Employment Standards Regulation limits sick-note requirements for the first two short health-related absences in a calendar year.
If the demand continues, the BC Employment Standards Branch handles complaints and offers information for both employees and employers. Unionised workers should go through their steward first — a collective agreement may have its own, sometimes better, terms.
Note that these rules come from the Employment Standards Act, which does not cover every worker in BC. Federally regulated workplaces — banks, airlines, telecoms, interprovincial transport — follow the Canada Labour Code instead.
Frequently asked questions
Does MSP cover a sick note in BC?
No. A note written for an employer, school or insurer is an uninsured service. You pay the clinic directly even if you have full MSP coverage.
How much is a sick note at a Vancouver walk-in clinic?
Commonly $20 to $75, set by each clinic. More detailed forms — disability paperwork, insurance forms — cost more because they take the physician longer.
Can I get a sick note online in BC?
Yes. Virtual clinics licensed to practise in BC can assess you by video and issue a note. Bear in mind the physician can only attest to what they actually assessed.
Can an employer ask for a note for one sick day?
Not for your first two health-related absences of five days or fewer in a calendar year, under the rules in force since 12 November 2025. They may still ask for other reasonably sufficient proof.
This is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your individual situation. For advice about your own health, speak with a physician, nurse practitioner or pharmacist, or call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1. In an emergency, call 9-1-1.
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