Transferring Your ISO Certificate: What You Need to Know

If your business holds an ISO certification—such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, or ISO 45001—you may not realise that you’re not locked into your current certification body. Just like with other professional services, you have the option to switch to a different provider that may better meet your needs, and it’s simpler than you might think.

Can You Transfer Your ISO Certificate?

Yes, you can.

ISO certificates are issued under the rules of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), which allows organisations to transfer their certification from one accredited certification body to another—without losing validity, provided the transfer is managed correctly.

You can transfer at any stage of your certification cycle—during surveillance, recertification, or even mid-cycle—subject to a few conditions:

• Your current certificate must be issued by an accredited certification body.
• The certificate must be valid and not suspended.
• You must be willing to provide access to past audit reports and evidence of corrective actions.

Reasons for Transferring Your Certificate

There are several valid reasons for transferring your ISO certification. Some of the most common include:

• Better customer service: You may not be satisfied with your current provider’s responsiveness, flexibility, or communication.
• Cost efficiency: A new provider may offer more competitive pricing or better value.
• Improved audit experience: Some certification bodies provide more industry-specific knowledge or a more supportive audit approach.
• Consolidation of services: You may want to work with a certification body that can cover multiple standards or sites more effectively.
• Local presence: You might prefer a provider with consultants and auditors based closer to your operations.
• Dissatisfaction with current service: Poor communication, inconsistent audit quality, or lack of industry understanding can lead businesses to seek better alternatives.
• Business acquisition or merger: Changes in company ownership or structure may require consolidation under a single certification provider.

How to Transfer Your ISO Certificate

Transferring your certificate is a straightforward process. Here’s how it typically works:

1. Initial Discussion:

• Contact the new certification body to express your interest.
• Provide details about your current certification, scope, sites, and audit cycle.

2. Submission of Transfer Application:

• Complete and submit the transfer application form provided by the new certification body.
• This form typically includes company details, scope of certification, and the reason for transfer.

3. Document Review:

• Submit a copy of your current ISO certificate.
• Submit recent audit reports, nonconformity records, and corrective action plans.
• The new certification body will review your documents to assess transfer eligibility.

4. Transfer Audit (if required):

• Depending on your situation, the new provider may conduct a short transfer audit, particularly if there are concerns about previous audit coverage or unresolved issues.

5. Issue of New Certificate:

• Once approved, the new certification body will issue a certificate for the remainder of your existing audit cycle.
• Your certification remains valid, and the transition is seamless.

6. Future Audits:

• Your audit schedule continues as planned under the new provider, with no disruption to your ISO status.