Bill 96 Quebec: the 2026 compliance checklist for businesses
10/11/2026 • Francisation
Bill 96 significantly strengthened Quebec's Charter of the French Language. Since June 1, 2025, the obligation to register with the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) also covers companies with 25 to 49 employees. If you run a business in Quebec, here is the concrete checklist.
1. Count your Quebec headcount
A company that employs 25 or more people in Quebec for six months must register with the OQLF within the following six months. Keep a clear record if your headcount changes with the seasons.
2. Register and prepare the language analysis
Once you receive the registration certificate, you have three months to submit an analysis of the use of French in your company. For the detailed steps, read our guide to the francization certificate.
3. Review your job postings
You can only require a language other than French for a position if you have taken all reasonable means to avoid it. The requirement must match a real need of the job.
4. Put your workplace documents in French
Employment contracts, working conditions, instructions, forms and everyday software must be available in French.
5. Serve your customers in French
Websites, invoices, catalogues and standard contracts intended for the public must exist in French, on terms at least as favourable as in any other language.
6. From 100 employees: set up your committee
A francization committee is mandatory from 100 employees, with at least six members, half of them representing workers.
7. Build your teams' spoken French
This is the point most plans overlook. Translating documents is not enough if employees are not comfortable serving a customer or joining a meeting in French. Regular speaking practice makes the difference.
What you risk by waiting
The Charter provides for fines of up to $30,000 per offence for a company, doubled and then tripled for repeat offences. The real cost is elsewhere: teams that hesitate to speak French, and a process that stalls.
Take action
LinguoSphère lets every employee practise spoken French in realistic simulations of their own job, at their own pace, with progress indicators for the organization. Read our full guide to Bill 96 for businesses or explore our offer for organizations.
This article summarizes public sources (OQLF, Charter of the French Language) and is not legal advice.