Services
Certificate Transfer
Transfer an existing accredited ISO certificate from another certification body, following a pre-transfer review in line with IAF MD 2.
- Eligibility check against IAF MD 2 requirements
- Pre-transfer review of certificate, scope and audit history
- Review of open nonconformities and complaints
- Site visit where the review shows one is needed
Overview
Move an existing accredited certificate to Hexa
Organisations sometimes decide to change certification body, for example to consolidate several standards with one provider, to improve scheduling or to work with auditors who know their sector. Certificate transfer allows a valid accredited certificate to move from one certification body to another without restarting the certification process from the beginning. The aim is continuity, so that customers and tender assessors continue to see a valid certificate throughout the change.
Transfers follow IAF MD 2, the mandatory document for the transfer of accredited certification. Only certificates issued under an accreditation by a signatory to the IAF multilateral recognition arrangement can be transferred. Before accepting, we carry out a pre-transfer review to confirm the certificate is valid, to understand the status of any open nonconformities and to review recent audit reports and complaints.
Where the review is satisfactory, we make a certification decision and issue a certificate, normally keeping your existing certification cycle. If the review identifies concerns, such as a suspended certificate or unresolved major nonconformities, the transfer may not be possible and the organisation may need to be treated as a new applicant. We will explain the outcome of the review and the reasons for it before any decision is finalised.
How it works
Certificate Transfer, step by step
Every stage is planned and confirmed with you in advance, so your team knows exactly who is coming, when, and what they need to see.
- 1
Transfer enquiry
You provide your current certificate, scope, sites and the most recent audit reports so that we can confirm eligibility for transfer.
- 2
Pre-transfer review
A competent reviewer checks certificate validity, accreditation status, open nonconformities, complaints and the stage reached in the certification cycle. A visit may be needed in some cases.
- 3
Transfer decision
Based on the review, an independent decision is made on whether certification can be transferred and on the audit programme for the remainder of the cycle.
- 4
Certificate issued
A certificate is issued by Hexa Certifications, normally aligned to your existing cycle, and the previous certification body is informed by you of the change.
- 5
Ongoing surveillance
Surveillance or recertification continues according to the original programme, with any open findings followed up at the next audit.
- Organisations holding a valid accredited certificate with another body
- Businesses consolidating several standards with one certification body
- Groups bringing subsidiaries under a single certification arrangement
- Organisations seeking auditors with closer sector experience
Available for
Certificate Transfer for every standard
This service is available for every standard we certify. Choose one to learn more.
Quality
ISO 9001:2026Quality Management
ISO 9001:2026 sets out the requirements for a quality management system. Published in September 2026, it replaces ISO 9001:2015 and keeps the same core approach. It asks an organisation to understand its context and interested parties, plan its processes around risks and opportunities, and show that it consistently provides products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. It is the most widely used management system standard and applies to organisations of any size or sector, from sole manufacturers to national service providers.
- Meet tender and supplier requirements
- Consistent processes
- Fewer errors and complaints
- Risk-based planning
Environment & Energy
ISO 14001:2026Environmental Management
ISO 14001:2026, published in April 2026 to replace the 2015 edition, specifies the requirements for an environmental management system. It helps an organisation identify the environmental aspects of its activities, products and services, understand its compliance obligations, and manage significant impacts through planning, operational control and evaluation. The standard takes a life cycle perspective, so organisations consider stages they can control or influence, such as purchasing, transport, use and end-of-life treatment, as well as their own sites.
- Supply chain and tender credibility
- Structured legal compliance
- Control of significant impacts
- Resource and waste efficiency
Health & Safety
ISO 45001:2018Occupational Health and Safety Management
ISO 45001:2018 sets out requirements for an occupational health and safety management system. Its aim is to prevent work-related injury and ill health and to provide safe and healthy workplaces. The standard places strong emphasis on leadership, the consultation and participation of workers, hazard identification and the hierarchy of controls. It replaced OHSAS 18001 and follows the Harmonized Structure, so it integrates readily with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
- Prequalification and tenders
- Worker involvement
- Systematic hazard control
- Clear legal oversight
Information & Technology
ISO/IEC 27001:2022Information Security Management
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 specifies requirements for an information security management system (ISMS). It requires an organisation to assess information security risks to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information, select controls to treat them and manage those controls through a continual cycle of monitoring and review. Annex A lists 93 reference controls in four themes: organisational, people, physical and technological. Each organisation compares its chosen controls against Annex A and records the outcome in a Statement of Applicability.
- Answer security questionnaires
- Risk-based security
- Supports data protection duties
- Management oversight
Environment & Energy
ISO 50001:2018Energy Management
ISO 50001:2018 specifies requirements for an energy management system (EnMS). It requires an organisation to understand how it uses and consumes energy, identify significant energy uses, set an energy baseline and energy performance indicators, and plan actions to improve energy performance. Unlike some other management system standards, ISO 50001 requires an organisation to demonstrate continual improvement in energy performance itself, not only in the management system.
- ESOS compliance route
- Measured energy performance
- Focus on significant uses
- Cost control
Resilience & Governance
ISO 22301:2019Business Continuity Management
ISO 22301:2019 specifies requirements for a business continuity management system (BCMS). It helps an organisation prepare for, respond to and recover from disruptive incidents when they occur. The core of the standard sits in clause 8, which requires a business impact analysis and risk assessment, business continuity strategies and solutions, documented plans and procedures, an exercise programme and evaluation of business continuity capability. It follows the Harmonized Structure and integrates with other management system standards.
- Evidence for customers
- Clear recovery priorities
- Tested plans
- Understanding dependencies
Sector-specific
ISO 22000:2018Food Safety Management
ISO 22000:2018 specifies requirements for a food safety management system for any organisation in the food chain, from feed and primary production through processing, storage, transport, retail and food service, as well as packaging and equipment suppliers. It combines the Harmonized Structure management system clauses with HACCP principles from Codex Alimentarius, prerequisite programmes (PRPs) and interactive communication across the food chain. The standard uses two linked Plan, Do, Check, Act cycles: one for the management system and one for operational hazard control.
- Structured hazard control
- Applies across the food chain
- Management system discipline
- Communication across the chain
Sector-specific
ISO 13485:2016Medical Devices Quality Management
ISO 13485:2016 specifies requirements for a quality management system where an organisation needs to demonstrate its ability to provide medical devices and related services that consistently meet customer and applicable regulatory requirements. It applies to manufacturers and to organisations involved in other stages of the device life cycle, such as design, distribution, installation, servicing, sterilisation and component supply. The standard places particular emphasis on risk management, process validation, traceability and regulatory reporting.
- Supports regulatory submissions
- Supply chain requirements
- Risk management throughout
- Validated processes
Information & Technology
ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018IT Service Management
ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving a service management system (SMS). It covers the planning, design, transition, delivery and improvement of services to meet agreed requirements. Clause 8 sets out the operational processes, grouped into service portfolio, relationship and agreement, supply and demand, service design, build and transition, resolution and fulfilment, and service assurance. The 2018 edition follows the Harmonized Structure, which allows integration with ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO 9001.
- Procurement credibility
- Consistent service delivery
- Clear service agreements
- Controlled change
Information & Technology
ISO/IEC 42001:2023Artificial Intelligence Management
ISO/IEC 42001:2023 is the first international management system standard for artificial intelligence. It specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving an AI management system (AIMS) within an organisation that develops, provides or uses AI systems. It requires AI risk assessment, AI risk treatment and AI system impact assessment, considering effects on individuals, groups and society. Annex A provides reference controls covering areas such as AI policy, resources, impact assessment, the AI system life cycle, data and third-party relationships.
- Evidence of responsible AI governance
- Structured risk and impact assessment
- Clear roles and accountability
- Life cycle controls
Resilience & Governance
ISO 37001:2025Anti-Bribery Management
ISO 37001 specifies requirements for an anti-bribery management system. It helps an organisation prevent, detect and respond to bribery, whether by the organisation, its personnel or business associates acting on its behalf, and bribery of the organisation. Requirements include an anti-bribery policy, top management and governing body oversight, an anti-bribery compliance function, bribery risk assessment, due diligence, financial and non-financial controls, gifts and hospitality controls, and processes for raising and investigating concerns. The second edition, ISO 37001:2025, was published in February 2025.
- Supports adequate procedures
- Risk-based controls
- Due diligence on third parties
- Clear governance oversight
FAQs
Certificate Transfer: your questions
Which certificates can be transferred?
Only accredited certificates issued by a certification body accredited by a signatory to the IAF multilateral recognition arrangement can be transferred under IAF MD 2. Certificates that are not accredited, or issued by a body without recognised accreditation, cannot be transferred in this way, and the organisation would normally go through initial certification instead.
Can a suspended certificate be transferred?
No. A certificate that is suspended, or under threat of suspension, cannot be accepted for transfer. The issues leading to suspension need to be resolved with the current certification body first. Once the certificate is restored to full validity, a transfer can be considered through the normal pre-transfer review.
Do we have to restart our certification cycle?
Normally not. A transferred certificate usually keeps your existing cycle and expiry date, and we continue the surveillance or recertification programme from where it was. In some cases, for example where the review raises concerns, the reviewer may decide that a recertification or fuller audit is needed.
What documents do we need to provide?
We typically ask for your current certificate, the most recent audit reports, any open nonconformities and the related corrective action status, details of complaints received and how they were handled, your scope and sites, and confirmation of any recent changes. These allow the pre-transfer review to be completed without unnecessary delay.
What happens to open nonconformities from our previous body?
Open nonconformities should ideally be closed by the issuing certification body before transfer. Where this is not possible, we review them as part of the pre-transfer review. Open major nonconformities must be verified as addressed before a transfer decision can be made, and minor findings are followed up at the next audit.
Is a site visit always required?
Not always. IAF MD 2 requires a pre-transfer review, which is usually a document review. A visit is needed where the reviewer cannot complete the review from documents alone, for example where there are open major nonconformities, unclear scope or concerns about the information supplied.
Should we cancel our existing contract first?
We recommend that you do not cancel your existing certification until the transfer decision has been made, so there is no gap in certification. Check the notice period in your current contract and plan the timing so that both arrangements align. You remain responsible for informing your previous certification body.
Can we transfer several standards at once?
Yes. Each certificate is reviewed in its own right, but the reviews can be carried out together, and you may then be able to move to an integrated audit programme. Where certificates have different expiry dates, we can discuss whether aligning them over time would be practical.
Certificate verification
Check a Hexa certificate
Need to know whether a supplier's certificate is current? Customers, buyers and other interested parties can ask us to confirm the details held in our records.
We confirm the organisation name, certificate number, ISO standard, certified scope, status, and issue and expiry dates.
More services
Explore our other services
- Initial CertificationIndependent Stage 1 and Stage 2 certification auditsLearn more
- Surveillance AuditsAnnual audits that keep your certificate validLearn more
- Recertification AuditsRenew your certificate for a further three-year cycleLearn more
- Integrated Management SystemsCombined audits for several ISO standardsLearn more
- Pre-assessmentAn optional readiness check before certificationLearn more
- Management System TrainingPublic awareness and internal auditor coursesLearn more
- Certificate VerificationConfirm a Hexa certificate is genuine and currentLearn more
Start your certification
Get a fixed, three-year certification quote
Tell us about your organisation and the standards you need. We will confirm audit days, scope and dates in writing, with no obligation.