ISO 9001:2026 is published: the transition dates that matter

ISO 9001:2026, the sixth edition, was published in September 2026. It cancels and replaces ISO 9001:2015 including Amendment 1:2024. The transition requirements issued by Global ACI on 4 September 2026 are mandatory for accreditation bodies and accredited certification bodies; certified organizations move to the new edition through their certification body, on the same dates.

ISO 9001:2015 certificates remain valid until 30 September 2029 at the latest. The rest of this article sets out what happens between now and then.

The dates

• September 2026: ISO 9001:2026 published.
• 30 September 2027: accreditation bodies complete their transition decisions on the certification bodies they accredit.
• 31 March 2028: new certifications are issued only to ISO 9001:2026.
• 30 September 2029: the transition ends and ISO 9001:2015 certificates are no longer valid.

What changed in the standard

The Foreword of ISO 9001:2026 lists six main changes:

• Core terms and definitions added to clause 3.
• Quality culture and ethical behaviour addressed in the requirements.
• Risks and opportunities treated separately.
• Strengthened management of change.
• Enhanced explanatory content in the informative Annex A.
• The removal of Annex B.

The published text is the only authority on the detail. What matters for a certified organization is that the transition audit covers the changed requirements, and CAS sets those out with each client when the audit is planned.

How the transition happens for a certified organization

Transition happens at an audit: a surveillance audit, a recertification audit or a special transition audit. The transition audit reviews, at a minimum, the changed requirements, changes to the organization's context, and the need for any other changes to the management system.

The certification body decides whether extra audit time is needed, considering at a minimum the degree of change to the management system and whether the transition is combined with a scheduled audit or held as a special audit.

CAS's position today

CAS will contact each certified client to plan its transition audit.

What this means for you

If you are certified to ISO 9001:2015: your certificate remains valid until 30 September 2029 at the latest. Plan the transition with your next surveillance or recertification audit wherever the schedule allows.

If you are planning first certification: certification to ISO 9001:2015 remains possible until 31 March 2028, and that certificate will still need to complete its transition before 30 September 2029, including the transition audit and the issue of the ISO 9001:2026 certificate.

If you are a buyer: a supplier's accredited ISO 9001:2015 certificate is valid until 30 September 2029 at the latest.

If you choose not to transition: your certificate expires at the end of the transition period, even if its printed expiry date is later.

This is generic information about the transition arrangements, not advice on any particular management system.

CAS — An EGAC accredited MS certification body No. 012418. Accredited scope: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 22000, ISO 50001 and ISO 22301. Certificates accredited for ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, 22000 and 50001 fall within EGAC's IAF MLA scope; ISO 22301 is accredited by EGAC and sits outside that scope.

Source: Global ACI-TECH-3-TR 2029-09-30 (M), Transition Requirements for ISO 9001:2026, issued 4 September 2026.

Verify any certificate: cas.com.eg/certsearch