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ISO 9001:2026 Transition Guide: Key Dates, Changes and How to Prepare

ISO 9001:2026
Transition guide for certified organisations

ISO 9001:2026 was published on 16 September 2026 and replaces ISO 9001:2015. Every certified organisation has three years to move to the new version, and all ISO 9001:2015 certificates end on 30 September 2029. The changes are an evolution, not a rewrite: the clause structure stays the same, and most organisations will find the update practical and achievable with reasonable effort.

Download the GCC ISO 9001:2026 Transition Guide (PDF)

Key dates

16 September 2026 ISO 9001:2026 is published
16 October 2026 JASANZ issues its ISO 9001:2026 transition policy
31 March 2028 Last date to receive a new ISO 9001:2015 certificate
From 1 October 2028 All GCC audits include the transition
30 June 2029 Last date for your transition audit
30 September 2029 All ISO 9001:2015 certificates end

The transition follows the mandatory requirements of Global ACI and the JASANZ ISO 9001:2026 Transition Policy.

What is changing in ISO 9001:2026

  • Quality culture and ethics (5.1.1, 7.3): top management promotes quality culture and ethical behaviour, and people are aware of it.
  • Risks and opportunities (6.1.3, 9.1.3): now handled in separate clauses, each with its own actions.
  • Planning of changes (6.3): changes are communicated, and their effectiveness and results are reviewed.
  • Interested parties (4.2, 9.3.2): you decide which of their requirements your QMS addresses and track changes in management review.
  • Customer communication (8.2.1, 8.2.4): customers are told about contingency actions, including disruptions.
  • Knowledge (7.1.6): organisational knowledge is retained, applied and shared to the extent necessary.
  • Internal audit (9.2.2): each internal audit has a defined objective as well as its scope and criteria.

Climate change requirements are not new; they have applied since February 2024.

What you need to do

  1. Get the new standard from Standards Australia or ISO.
  2. Find your gaps using the checklist in our transition guide.
  3. Update your system and train your people whose work is affected.
  4. Check that it works by covering the new requirements in an internal audit and a management review.
  5. Plan your transition audit with your GCC account manager.

How your transition audit works

  • It can be combined with your next surveillance or recertification audit, or done as a separate audit, and may be conducted remotely.
  • Auditors look for evidence that the changes work in practice, not just updated documents.
  • You do not need to send us a gap analysis report.
  • Extra audit time may be needed; GCC will confirm this in your quotation.
  • At a surveillance audit your certificate is reissued to ISO 9001:2026 with the same expiry date. At a recertification audit you receive a new three year certificate.

Build your team’s ISO 9001:2026 skills

Our ISO 9001:2026 quality management courses cover awareness, internal auditing and lead auditing, and our auditing units are aligned with ISO 19011:2026.

Ready for ISO 9001:2026?

Existing GCC clients: your account manager will contact you to plan your transition audit, or call 1800 444 800. Not yet certified with GCC? Request a quote for ISO 9001 certification.

Download the transition guide (PDF)

Anthony Jugo