Use of a language other than French by the civil administration

French is not only the sole official language of Québec, but also the common language of the Québec nation. It serves as a common denominator in the public sphere and as a means of communication between Quebecers who do not have the same first language. French is also the language through which immigrants integrate into Québec society.

The Charter of the French Language establishes the civil administration’s duty to lead by example. According to this principle, to set an example, the civil administration must use only French, except for certain cases. This includes, in particular, signage and the language used in communications.

Since June 1, 2023, the civil administration shall provide its services exclusively in French, unless it is authorized to use another language and chooses to do so.

Each civil administration body (in French only) (PDF 839 Kb) shall establish a directive specifying the types of situations in which it intends to use a language other than French—where permitted by the provisions of the Charter—as well as the measures or instructions established by the body that must be followed before another language may be used. Furthermore, these bodies shall use only French whenever they deem it possible, even when the provisions of the Charter would allow them to use another language. 

If you would like a body to communicate with you in a language other than French, the body must determine whether its directive permits it. To do so, the body must confirm that you belong to one of the groups covered by the exceptional circumstances under which the use of a language other than French is permitted by the Charter. No supporting documentation is required; a statement of good faith is sufficient. However, the body must use only French whenever it deems it possible. 

If the body’s directive (in French only) does not allow it to communicate with you in a language other than French, the body must use only French, both verbally and in writing. It should be noted that each body determines the situations in which it may use another language. That said, the fact that one body uses a language other than French in a specific situation does not guarantee that another body will use that same language in a similar situation.

The following are the main situations in which a civil administration body may communicate in a language other than French.

Communication with individuals

Persons who communicated solely in English with a civil administration body prior to May 13, 2021

A civil administration body may continue to provide service exclusively in English to any person with whom it communicated only in English prior to May 13, 2021, with regard to a matter concerning that person.

Persons declared eligible to receive instruction in English

A civil administration body may communicate in English with a person declared eligible for instruction in English, who submits a request, and who has been issued a Certificate of eligibility for instruction in English (in French only) by the Ministère de l’Éducation du Québec.

However, this does not apply to certain groups, including children of foreign nationals who are staying in Québec on a temporary basis (foreign students and temporary foreign workers) and who have received authorization to receive instruction in English.

Indigenous peoples

A civil administration body may communicate in another language, in addition to French, to provide services to Indigenous peoples.

Immigrants

A civil administration body may communicate in another language, in addition to French, to provide services to help immigrants integrate into Québec society during the first six months following their arrival in Québec.

Services provided outside Québec

A civil administration body may use another language, in addition to French, to provide services and maintain relationships outside Québec.

Tourism services

A civil administration body may communicate in another language, in addition to French, to provide tourism services.

Legal persons and enterprises established outside Québec

A civil administration body may communicate in another language, in addition to French, when addressing a legal person or an enterprise that has no head office or establishment in Québec.

Legal persons and enterprises established in Québec with a head office or establishment outside Québec

A civil administration body may use another language, in addition to French, to communicate with a legal person or an enterprise established in Québec when the communication is addressed solely to the head office or establishment of that legal person or enterprise located outside Québec.

Legal persons that are exempt from the application of the Charter under section 95 – the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement and Northeastern Québec Agreement

A civil administration body may use another language, in addition to French, to communicate with legal persons that are exempt from the application of the Charter under section 95, which makes reference to the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement and the Northeastern Québec Agreement.

Certain legal persons and enterprises that provide services on a territory or to a person referred to in section 97 of the Charter

A civil administration body may use another language, in addition to French, if the communication is addressed to the establishment of a legal person or an enterprise formed and administered exclusively for the purpose of providing services on a reserve, on a settlement or on lands referred to in section 97 of the Charter or to a person referred to in that section.

Sole proprietorship

A civil administration body may use another language, in addition to French, when communicating with a sole proprietorship operated by an individual with whom the civil administration is authorized to communicate in another language.

Learn which bodies are subject to the civil administration’s duty to set an example by consulting the list of bodies of the civil administration (in French only) (PDF 839 Kb).

Francisation Québec is the sole government access point to learn French for individuals 16 years and older living in Québec, those planning to settle there, and workers in businesses. 

Learning French in English-language institutions providing elementary, secondary or college instruction

A person residing in Québec who receives elementary, secondary, or college instruction from an English-language institution has the right to receive French-language instruction from that institution. This instruction is intended to ensure that students who have received it throughout their elementary, secondary, and college education have acquired sufficient skills to use French as a common language so that they can interact and thrive within Québec society, as well as contribute to its development.