ISO 9001:2026: questions to ask your certification body

ISO 9001:2026 was published on 16 September 2026 and replaces ISO 9001:2015. If you are already certified, or about to start, the useful move is to ask your certification body how the new edition affects your audits and your certificate. We do not set transition dates or rules. This article gives you questions to ask, not answers of our own. You can confirm publication details on the ISO website.

Why the certification body is the right source

The edition of a standard is published by ISO. The rules for when audits move to a new edition are agreed between accreditation bodies and certification bodies, and each body then applies them to its clients. Because arrangements can differ between bodies and over time, ask yours in writing and keep the answer.

We do not state transition deadlines on this site, since they may change. Check with the certification body, and with the accreditation body that oversees it if you need more detail. For background, read accreditation explained.

If you are already certified to ISO 9001:2015

Ask:

1. By when must my certificate be updated to the 2026 edition, and what happens if that date is missed?
2. Will my next surveillance audit or recertification audit be done against the 2015 edition or the 2026 edition?
3. Is a separate transition audit needed, or is it combined with a scheduled audit?
4. How much extra audit time, if any, should I expect, and how will it be quoted?
5. Will the certificate show the new edition, and what will it say during the changeover?
6. Can I choose to move earlier, and is there any benefit to doing so?

Surveillance and renewal basics are in surveillance and recertification.

If you are starting your first certification

Ask:

1. Will my initial audit be against ISO 9001:2026? Is the 2015 edition still available for new clients, and until when?
2. If I certify to one edition now, what will I need to do to move to the other later?
3. Does my certification body's accreditation already cover the 2026 edition, or is that still in progress?
4. How will you tell me if arrangements change during my certification cycle?

The last two are about accreditation. If your certificate needs to be backed by a recognized accreditation body, the body's accreditation scope has to cover what it audits. Steps for checking this are in accreditation check.

If you use a consultant

Ask your consultant which edition their material is based on, and whether their plan matches the audit arrangements of your certification body. Any plan should be built around the body's answers, not around a general deadline you read online.

Questions about your own system

• Which parts of our system are most likely to be affected by the new edition, and how will you tell me?
• What documented information should we have ready for the next audit?
• Do the changes affect how we describe our scope?
• Can you share any guidance or webinars for clients?

Do not expect the body to design your system. Auditors can explain what the requirements are and report findings, but they cannot consult on how you fix them, as this would compromise their independence.

Questions if you hold more than one standard

Many organizations combine ISO 9001 with ISO 14001 or ISO 45001. Ask whether audits will still be combined while editions change, and whether dates for one standard affect the others. See ISO 9001 vs ISO 14001 vs ISO 45001 and integrated management systems.

Questions if a tender or customer asks for ISO 9001

Ask the buyer which edition they expect and whether a certificate to the 2015 edition is still acceptable, and for how long. A certification body cannot answer this for you. See certification for tenders.

Questions about cost and planning

Ask for any change in audit time and fees in writing before you agree. General cost factors are in certification cost. We do not give prices.

Keep a record

Write down the date, the person and the answer. If the body's rules change, you will want to know what you were told and when.

Where to read more

For the standard itself, see the ISO 9001 page and the ISO website. If you need help finding a body, request a quote, or read how to choose a certification body.