Walk-In Clinics in Vancouver, BC

No. A walk-in clinic sees patients without a booked appointment — you arrive, register at the front desk and wait for the next available doctor or nurse practitioner. Some Vancouver clinics also let you hold a spot online or by phone the same morning, which usually cuts your wait considerably. A handful of clinics on this site are in-person registration only, meaning you have to attend in person to join the queue; those are labelled on each listing.

The five Urgent and Primary Care Centres in Vancouver are open seven days a week, typically 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, including statutory holidays. Most private walk-in clinics open between 8 and 10 a.m. on weekdays and close between 4 and 8 p.m. Our open now page shows current status in Vancouver time.

If you have valid BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage, a medically necessary walk-in visit is covered — you pay nothing at the desk. Without MSP, expect roughly $80 to $150 for a basic visit, more if tests, injections or procedures are involved. Some services are never covered by MSP, including sick notes for employers, driver medicals, travel vaccines and most cosmetic work. See our guide on visiting a clinic without MSP.

A walk-in clinic is a private family-practice office that accepts unbooked patients during its posted hours. An Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) is run by Vancouver Coastal Health for problems that need attention within 12 to 24 hours but are not emergencies — sprains, infections, cuts needing stitches, worsening chronic conditions. UPCCs have longer hours, a team that includes nurses and pharmacists, and they can attach patients to ongoing primary care.

Go straight to an emergency department or call 9-1-1 for chest pain, difficulty breathing, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding, head injury with confusion or loss of consciousness, severe allergic reactions, suspected overdose, a serious burn, or thoughts of harming yourself. Walk-in clinics are designed for problems that are uncomfortable but not dangerous. See our comparison guide.

Yes, in most cases. A walk-in physician can renew ongoing medication after reviewing your history, and BC pharmacists can also renew many prescriptions directly without a doctor visit. Controlled substances such as opioids, stimulants and benzodiazepines are handled much more cautiously and usually require your regular prescriber. Read the prescription refill guide.

Yes. Walk-in clinics and UPCCs are open to everyone, whether or not you are attached to a family physician. If you want a regular doctor, register with the provincial Health Connect Registry — our guide on finding a family doctor in Vancouver explains the process.

Some are. All five Vancouver UPCCs open every day of the year, including statutory holidays. Among private clinics, weekend coverage is thinner and Sunday hours are shorter, so phone before travelling. Our weekend page lists the reliable options.