Francization in Quebec (Bill 14): Get Certified with End-to-End Support

Doing business in Quebec or have employees there? Bill 14, which amends the Charter of the French Language (formerly Bill 96), strengthens francization requirements for businesses. With the latest provisions taking effect on June 1, 2025, compliance has shifted from optional to essential for any business that wants to operate confidently in the Quebec market.

At ITC Global, we take the stress out of OQLF compliance, protect you from penalties, and help you secure your francization certificate quickly so your business can thrive with confidence.

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Bill 14 and the OQLF: What This Means for Businesses

Bill 14 requires business not only to use French, but to ensure it is thedominant language in all commercial and internal communications, including contracts, invoicing, packaging, signage, websites, software, HR materials, training, and more. French content must appear more prominently than any other language.

This applies to:

Businesses established in Quebec;
Any business that sells to, communicates with, or provides services in Quebec—even without a local entity (e-commerce, SaaS, digital platforms, etc.).

Key OQLF requirement: As soon as you have 25 or more employees in Quebec, you must register with the OQLF and implement a formal francization process.

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Is Your Business Compliant with Bill 14?

7 questions to find out your level of compliance with Quebec’s OQLF francization process — and get a personalized action plan.

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What Are the Risks of Non-Compliance?

The penalties are significant. Fines range from CAD 3,000 to 30,000 per violation, with higher amounts in the event of repeat offenses or failure to remedy non-compliance. The OQLF may also suspend or revoke a francization certificate and seek injunctions.

Oversight and complaints are increasing: there were close to 6,900 complaints in 2022–2023, with almost half being related to packaging, one quarter to signage, and more than ten percent to websites.

Our Francization Support: Simple, Structured, Effective

We support you at every stage, adjusting our role to fit your organization’s size and maturity.

Linguistic Assessment and Compliance Diagnosis

Once registered with the OQLF, you must submit an analysis of your linguistic situation. We either conduct this assessment for you or work with you to develop it, identifying:

Documents and content that present compliance risks;
Gaps relative to OQLF requirements;
Clear compliance priorities.

OQLF Process Management

We help you:

Understand the exact requirements applicable to your industry;
Complete the required forms and organize supporting evidence;
Submit a strong first submission with the highest likelihood of approval.

Design and Rollout of Your Francization Program

We build a realistic program that meets OQLF expectations:

Phased action plans (documents, HR, digital assets, brand materials, etc.);
A timeline aligned with your internal constraints;
Ongoing monitoring and update mechanisms.

Bill 14–Compliant Translation and Localization

We translate and localize your content with a high standard of legal and cultural accuracy (raw machine translation alone does not meet Bill 96 requirements). This includes:

Contracts, terms and conditions, warranties, invoices;
E-commerce customer journeys and digital interfaces;
Packaging, instructions, and marketing materials;
HR policies, internal training materials, and management communications.

Team Training and Change Management

To support lasting compliance, we train:

HR, legal, marketing, and operations teams;
Executives and managers;
Quebec-based and/or international teams involved in the process.

Francization Committee (100+ Employees)

If your organization has 100 or more employees in Quebec, a francization committee is mandatory. We can:

Plan and facilitate committee meetings;
Train members on their responsibilities;
Draft meeting minutes for submission to the OQLF;
Address operational questions as they arise.

Long‑Term Oversight and Three‑Year Review Cycle

Once certification is obtained, the OQLF requires follow-up reports every three years. We help you:

Maintain compliant practices over time;
Anticipate regulatory changes;
Avoid restarting the process from scratch at the next cycle.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Francization, Bill 14, and the OQLF Certificate

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Frequently asked questions

Who must comply with Bill 14 in Quebec?

Any business or employer operating in Quebec must comply with the Charter of the French Language as strengthened by Bill 14. The determining factor is the number of employees.Once a company has 25 employees for at least six months, it is required to follow the formal OQLF francization process, which includes registration, linguistic assessment, a francization program if required, and certification.Companies with fewer than 25 employees are not subject to mandatory formal francization, but general obligations still apply, including:Providing customer service and information in French;Ensuring French is the primary language used in the workplace (job postings, employment contracts, internal documents, health and safety materials).In addition, companies with 5 to 24 employees have reporting obligations to the OQLF. These include attesting to employees’ French proficiency and reporting the percentage of non-French-speaking staff. Such companies may also be offered for francization support services through Francisation Québec.Public-sector bodies (ministries, municipalities, schools, healthcare institutions, etc.) are also required to use French in an exemplary manner, subject to the specific exceptions provided for by law.

At what number of employees is registration with the OQLF mandatory?

Registration with the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) is mandatory for businesses that employ 25 or more people and have done so for at least six months.For companies with 25 or more employees, the deadline to register and set out on the francization process was June 1, 2025. Companies with 50 or more employees are presumed to already be registered.

What are the timelines after registering with the OQLF?

Once a company has submitted its registration application and has received the OQLF certificate of registration, it must complete and submit its linguistic self-assessment within three months.If the OQLF determines that the use of French is not sufficiently prevalent within the organization, the company must submit a proposed francization program within three months of receiving the notice denying immediate certification.

Which content must be prioritized in French?

French must be the primary language used in the workplace. Content that must be drafted in French or made available in French includes, in particular:All commercial communications, websites, and customer-facing digital content;Written documents such as contracts, invoices, and customer support materials;Product labeling (on packaging, containers, or accompanying brochures);Individual employment contracts, collective agreements, training materials, employee handbooks, internal communications, and health and safety documentation;Public signage and commercial advertising, where French must be clearly predominant, including when a non-French business or trademark is displayed outdoors.

Is machine translation sufficient to be compliant?

The translation method used must be suited to the document’s purpose and legal significance.AI-based translation tools may be cost-effective for large volumes of internal communications. However, professional translation services are strongly recommended for legal and regulatory documents. Relying on readily available machine translation tools for legal documents would be imprudent and may expose the company to compliance risks.

How do you obtain a francization certificate?

To obtain a francization certificate, a company must first register with the OQLF (if it employs 25 or more people). It must then submit a detailed self-assessment of French usage within the organization.If the OQLF determines that the use of French is prevalent or sufficient, certification is granted upon approval. If French usage is deemed insufficient, the company must implement and complete a francization program aimed at standardizing the use of French at all levels of the organization. Once this objective is met, the OQLF issues the francization certificate.

What is a francization committee?

A francization committee is mandatory for companies employing 100 or more people. The OQLF may also require companies with fewer than 100 employees to establish such a committee if the use of French is considered insufficient. The committee is responsible for conducting the linguistic assessment, developing the francization program where applicable, overseeing its implementation, and preparing the three-year reports to be submitted to the OQLF. This committee is composed of four or six members, with half representing employees and the other half appointed by management.

Is the francization certificate permanent?

No. Once a francization certificate has been issued, the company must continue to ensure the standard use of French within the organization.Every three years, the company is required to submit a report to the OQLF on the use of French. If the OQLF determines, following its review, that French is no longer sufficiently prevalent, it may require the company to develop and implement an action plan. In such cases, the OQLF has the authority to suspend compliance certification.

What financial penalties apply for non-compliance with Bill 14?

Failure to comply with certain provisions of Bill 96, or with an order issued by the OQLF or the Minister, may result in fines.For individuals, fines range from CAD 700 to 7,000. For legal entities or organizations, fines range from CAD 3,000 to 30,000. These amounts are doubled for a first repeat offense and tripled for each subsequent offense.

How does Bill 14 affect eligibility for government contracts and grants?

Public bodies may not enter into contracts with, or award grants to, companies subject to the francization process (25 or more employees) if those companies:Do not hold proof of registration;Have failed to submit their linguistic assessment within the prescribed timeframes;Do not hold proof of program implementation or a valid francization certificate.In addition, public bodies may not award grants to companies with five or more employees if they have refused French-language training services offered by Francisation Québec or failed to comply with the agreed terms.Failure to comply with francization requirements may result in the loss of eligibility for government grants and contracts with the Government of Quebec and its agencies.