Richmond's healthcare access is strained by a growing population and proximity to YVR airport. Walk-in clinics along No. 3 Road have 2-3 hour waits. MedLetter delivers a CPSBC physician-reviewed sick note to your email same day.
If you live or work in Richmond and need a sick note for your employer, you have several options — but not all of them are practical when you are actually unwell. Walk-in clinics across Richmond routinely have wait times of 2-3 hrs, and many close by 5pm or are not open on weekends. For shift workers, gig workers, and anyone without a family doctor, getting a simple piece of documentation can mean losing an entire day of wages on top of already feeling sick.
MedLetter is an online medical documentation service that connects Richmond residents with CPSBC-registered physicians who can review your situation and issue official sick notes, return-to-work letters, stress leave documentation, and workplace accommodation letters — all delivered by email, typically same day of submission. There is no clinic visit, no waiting room, and no need to have a family doctor. The entire process is completed from your phone or computer.
Every document issued through MedLetter is reviewed and signed by a physician registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC). This means your employer, HR department, insurance provider, or academic institution must accept it — there is no legal distinction between a note issued after a virtual consultation and one issued after an in-person visit, provided the physician determines it is clinically appropriate.
The process takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. You do not need to schedule an appointment, create an account, or provide your health card number.
Fill out a secure online form describing your symptoms, the dates you were or will be absent from work, and your employer's name. You will also provide your full name, date of birth, and email address where the note should be delivered. The form takes most people under 5 minutes.
A CPSBC-registered physician reviews your submission to determine whether medical documentation is clinically appropriate for your situation. This is not an automated process — a real physician reads your information and makes a clinical judgment. If additional information is needed, the physician may reach out by phone or email.
Once approved, your signed sick note is delivered as a PDF to the email address you provided. Most notes are delivered within 2 to 4 hours for submissions received before 2pm. You can forward it directly to your employer, HR department, or upload it to your company's absence management system.
Richmond's walk-in clinics are concentrated along No. 3 Road and Westminster Highway — leaving Steveston, East Richmond, and the airport area with limited access. Many Richmond workers start shifts at 4-5am for airport or warehouse work. MedLetter delivers same-day for all submissions before 2pm PST.
This matters because most employers expect documentation on the day you call in sick, or at the very latest, on your first day back. If you call in sick on Monday morning and cannot get a clinic appointment until Wednesday, you may face disciplinary action or have your absence recorded as unexcused. MedLetter eliminates this gap by delivering documentation the same day you submit your request, so you can forward it to your manager or HR before your next scheduled shift.
Delivery timeline: Before 2pm PST: same day (typically 2-4 hours). After 2pm: by 9am next business day.
BC's Employment Standards Act provides 5 paid and 3 unpaid sick days per year. Richmond's economy revolves around YVR airport operations, logistics, fishing/agriculture, tourism, and a massive retail sector. Airport workers (Air Canada, WestJet, YVR Authority) are often federally regulated under the Canada Labour Code. Warehouse workers along the River Road corridor face strict attendance policies.
It is important to understand that the law and your employer's policy are two different things. Even if the British Columbia Employment Standards Act does not require a sick note for your specific situation, your employer may still have an internal policy that does. Refusing to provide documentation when your employer's policy requires it — even if the law does not mandate it — can result in the absence being recorded as unauthorized. MedLetter helps you avoid this conflict by providing documentation quickly and affordably, regardless of whether it is legally required or simply expected.
Reference: BC Employment Standards Act, Section 49.1
MedLetter serves workers across every industry in Richmond. The common thread is that these are people who cannot afford to spend half a day in a walk-in clinic waiting room when they are already dealing with illness, injury, or a medical situation that requires time away from work.
A baggage handler at YVR airport who wakes up sick before a 4am shift. As a federally regulated worker under the CLC, their employer requires documentation. No clinics open at 3am.
A forklift operator at a River Road distribution centre who needs documentation for their strict attendance policy. Their shift starts at 5:30am.
A front desk agent at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotel who calls in sick on a Saturday during peak season. The hotel requires documentation for any weekend absence.
A fish processing worker at a Steveston cannery who develops symptoms. Food safety regulations require documentation before returning to food handling.
A sales associate at Aberdeen Centre whose employer requires a note for any absence during Chinese New Year or holiday season.
A care aide at Richmond Hospital who develops respiratory symptoms. VCH infection control requires documentation before returning to patient care.
Richmond's population has grown significantly with new immigrants and young families, but family physician capacity has not kept pace. Many newcomers from China and other countries face language barriers when seeking healthcare. MedLetter requires no family doctor, no referral, and no clinic registration. Our form is simple and our notes are delivered in English.
For people without a family doctor, getting a sick note traditionally means going to a walk-in clinic and waiting for hours alongside people with more complex medical needs. This is not only inconvenient — it is also a public health concern, as you may be exposing others to your illness or exposing yourself to theirs while immunocompromised. MedLetter provides an alternative that does not require you to have an existing relationship with a physician, a provincial health card, or a clinic registration.
Richmond's rapid population growth has outpaced primary care capacity
Richmond's walk-in clinics serve 230,000+ residents concentrated in a relatively small area. Despite this density, waits remain long due to high demand.
The table below compares your options for getting a sick note in Richmond. Walk-in clinic wait times are based on community-reported averages and may vary by time of day, day of week, and season.
| Clinic | Address | Wait Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Hospital ER | 7000 Westminster Hwy | 4-8 hours | Hospital ER. Not for sick notes. |
| No. 3 Road Medical Clinic | 8171 No. 3 Rd | 2-3 hours | Central Richmond. High volume. |
| Steveston Medical Clinic | 3631 Chatham St | 1.5-3 hours | South Richmond. Limited hours. |
| Westminster Walk-In | 6060 Westminster Hwy | 2-3 hours | Central. Closes at 6pm. |
| MedLetter (Online) | From your home | 0 min wait | CPSBC physician review. Delivered by email. $49 flat. |
The cost of a sick note in Richmond depends on where you get it. Walk-in clinics typically charge between $20 and $50 for a sick note, but this does not account for the hidden costs: 2 to 4 hours of lost wages while you wait, transportation costs to get to the clinic, and the physical toll of sitting in a waiting room while you are sick. For someone earning $25/hour, a 3-hour clinic wait represents $75 in lost wages on top of the $30 clinic fee — making the true cost over $100.
MedLetter charges a flat fee of $49 for a standard sick note with same-day delivery. There are no hidden fees, no consultation charges, and no follow-up costs. You submit your information from home, and the note arrives in your email. When you factor in the time saved and the wages you do not lose, MedLetter is often the most affordable option — especially for shift workers, hourly employees, and anyone who cannot afford to take half a day off work just to get a piece of paper.
Yes. Every sick note issued through MedLetter is signed by a physician registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC). Under British Columbia law, there is no distinction between medical documentation issued after a virtual consultation and documentation issued after an in-person visit. Your employer cannot refuse a legitimate sick note solely because it was obtained online.
MedLetter notes include the physician's name, CPSBC registration number, clinic information, the dates of your absence, and a professional attestation that you were assessed and that time away from work is medically appropriate. This is the same information that would appear on a note from any walk-in clinic or family doctor's office in Richmond.
Below are the most common questions we receive from Richmond residents about getting a sick note online.
Submit a secure intake form on MedLetter. A CPSBC-registered physician delivers your signed sick note by email same day.
Yes. MedLetter delivers same-day for all requests before 2pm PST.
Most YVR employers are federally regulated and require documentation. MedLetter delivers same day so you have documentation before your next shift.
Yes. BC employers accept documentation from any CPSBC-registered physician.
MedLetter charges $49 flat. Walk-in clinics charge $30-60 plus 2-3 hours of waiting.
Yes. MedLetter requires no family doctor or referral.
MedLetter delivers to all Richmond — Steveston, Ironwood, Broadmoor, City Centre, Brighouse. Submit online and get your signed doctor's note by email same day. No driving to a walk-in on No. 3 Road.
Victoria employers in government, tourism, healthcare, and tech all have attendance policies. Provincial government positions require documentation under collective agreements. Tourism and hospitality employers are especially strict during peak season. A $49 sick note protects your position.
MedLetter serves every neighbourhood in Richmond. Because our service is entirely online, it does not matter whether you live in a neighbourhood with good clinic access or one of the many communities where walk-in options are limited.
Many of Richmond's largest employers have specific sick note policies that require documentation after a certain number of consecutive absent days. MedLetter has issued documentation accepted by all of the following employers:
Students at Richmond post-secondary institutions often need medical documentation for deferred exams, late assignment submissions, or academic petitions. MedLetter provides same-day sick notes accepted by the following institutions: