# The Welsh Language Standards (No. 10) Regulations 2026, Part 1: The Standards


1
Standards relating to correspondence sent by a body
(1) When a body replies to correspondence
Standard 1:
If you receive correspondence from a member of the public in Wales (“P”) in Welsh you must reply in Welsh (if an answer is required), unless P has indicated that there is no need to reply in Welsh.
(2) When a body initiates correspondence
(a) When a body corresponds with an individual
Standard 2:
When you correspond with an individual (“A”) for the first time, you must ask A whether A wishes to receive correspondence from you in Welsh, and if A responds to say that A wishes to receive correspondence in Welsh you must—
(a) keep a record of A’s wish, and
(b) correspond with A in Welsh when corresponding with A from then onwards.
(b) When a body corresponds with more than one member of the same household
Standard 3:
When you send correspondence addressed to two or more individuals who are members of the same household (for example, the parents of a child or joint contract-holders) for the first time, you must ask them whether they wish to receive correspondence from you in Welsh; and if—
(a) all individuals respond to say that they wish to receive correspondence in Welsh, you must keep a record of that wish and correspond in Welsh from then onwards when sending correspondence addressed to all of those individuals;
(b) one or more of the individuals responds to say that that individual wishes to receive correspondence in Welsh, you must keep a record of that wish and provide a Welsh language version of correspondence from then onwards when sending correspondence addressed to all of those individuals.
(c) When a body corresponds with several persons (for example, when it sends a circular, or sends the same letter to a number of homes)
Standard 4:
When you send the same correspondence to several persons and at least one of those persons is a member of the public in Wales, you must send a Welsh language version of the correspondence at the same time as you send any English language version unless all of those persons who are members of the public in Wales have informed you that they do not wish to receive correspondence in Welsh.
(3) General standards relating to correspondence
Standard 5:
If you don’t know whether a member of the public in Wales (“P”) wishes to receive correspondence from you in Welsh, when you correspond with that P you must provide a Welsh language version of the correspondence.
Standard 6:
If you produce a Welsh language version and a corresponding English language version of correspondence, you must not treat the Welsh language version less favourably than the English language version (for example, if the English version is signed, or if contact details are provided on the English version, then the Welsh version must be treated in the same way).
Standard 7:
You must state—
(a) in correspondence to members of the public in Wales, and
(b) in publications and notices that invite members of the public in Wales to respond to you or to correspond with you,
that you welcome receiving correspondence in Welsh, that you will respond to correspondence in Welsh, and that corresponding in Welsh will not lead to delay.
2
Standards relating to telephone calls made and received by a body
(1) Telephone calls made to a body’s main contact number and to any helplines or call centres
Standard 8:
When a member of the public in Wales (“P”) contacts you on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must greet the P in Welsh.
Standard 9:
When a member of the public in Wales (“P”) contacts you on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must inform the P that a Welsh language service is available.
Standard 10:
When a member of the public in Wales (“P”) contacts you on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must deal with the call in Welsh in its entirety if that is the P’s wish (where necessary by transferring the call to a member of staff who is able to deal with the call in Welsh).
Standard 11:
When a member of the public in Wales (“P”) contacts you on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must deal with the call in Welsh if that is the P’s wish until such point as—
(a) it is necessary to transfer the call to a member of staff who does not speak Welsh who can provide a service on a specific subject matter, and
(b) no Welsh speaking member of staff is available to provide a service on that specific subject matter.
Standard 12:
When you advertise telephone numbers, helpline numbers or call centre services and where the anticipated audience includes members of the public in Wales, you must not treat the Welsh language less favourably than the English language.
Standard 13:
If you offer a Welsh language service to members of the public in Wales on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, the telephone number for the Welsh language service must be the same as for the corresponding English language service.
Standard 14:
When you publish your main telephone number, or any helpline numbers or call centre service numbers and where the anticipated audience includes members of the public in Wales, you must state (in Welsh) that you welcome calls in Welsh.
Standard 15:
If you have performance indicators for dealing with telephone calls, you must ensure that those performance indicators do not treat telephone calls made in Welsh any less favourably than calls made in English.
Standard 16:
Your main telephone call answering service (or services) must inform members of the public in Wales calling, in Welsh, that they can leave a message in Welsh.
Standard 17:
When there is no Welsh language service available on your main telephone number (or numbers), or on any helpline numbers or call centre numbers, you must inform members of the public in Wales calling, in Welsh (by way of an automated message or otherwise), when a Welsh language service will be available.
(2) Telephone calls made to departments and to members of a body’s staff
Standard 18:
If a member of the public in Wales (“P”) contacts one of your departments on a direct line telephone number (including on staff members’ direct line numbers), and that P wishes to receive a service in Welsh, you must deal with the call in Welsh in its entirety (if necessary by transferring the call to a member of staff who is able to deal with the call in Welsh).
Standard 19:
If a member of the public in Wales (“P”) contacts one of your departments on a direct line telephone number (including on staff members’ direct line numbers), and that P wishes to receive a service in Welsh, you must deal with the call in Welsh until such point as—
(a) it is necessary to transfer the call to a member of staff who does not speak Welsh who can provide a service on a specific subject matter, and
(b) no Welsh speaking member of staff is available to provide a service on that specific subject matter.
Standard 20:
When a member of the public in Wales (“P”) contacts you on a direct line number (whether on a department’s direct line number or on the direct line number of a member of staff), you must ensure that, when greeting that P, the Welsh language is not treated less favourably than the English language.
(3) Telephone calls made by a body
Standard 21:
When you telephone an individual (“A”) for the first time you must ask A whether A wishes to receive telephone calls from you in Welsh, and if A responds to say that A wishes to receive telephone calls in Welsh you must keep a record of that wish, and conduct telephone calls made to A from then onwards in Welsh.
(4) A body dealing with telephone calls using an automated system
Standard 22:
Any automated telephone systems that you have must provide the complete automated service in Welsh where the anticipated audience includes members of the public in Wales.
3
Standards relating to a body holding meetings that are not open to the general public
(1) Meetings between a body and one invited member of the public
Standard 23:
If you invite one member of the public in Wales (“P”) only to a meeting—
(a) you must ask P whether P wishes to use the Welsh language at the meeting, and inform P that you will conduct the meeting in Welsh, or, if necessary, provide a translation service from Welsh to English for that purpose, and
(b) if P has informed you that P wishes to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must conduct the meeting in Welsh or, if necessary, arrange for a simultaneous or a consecutive translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting.
(2) Meetings between a body and more than one invited person
Standard 24:
If you invite more than one person to a meeting, you must ask each member of the public in Wales invited whether they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting.
Standard 24A:
If you have invited more than one person to a meeting, and at least 10% (but less than 100%) of the members of the public in Wales invited have informed you that they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a simultaneous or consecutive translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting.
Standard 24B:
If you have invited more than one person to a meeting, and at least 20% (but less than 100%) of the members of the public in Wales invited have informed you that they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a simultaneous or consecutive translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting.
Standard 24C:
If you have invited more than one person to a meeting, and at least 30% (but less than 100%) of the members of the public in Wales invited have informed you that they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must arrange for a simultaneous or consecutive translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting.
Standard 24CH:
If you have invited more than one person to a meeting, and all of the members of the public in Wales invited have informed you that they wish to use the Welsh language at the meeting, you must conduct the meeting in Welsh or, if necessary, arrange for a simultaneous or consecutive translation service from Welsh to English to be available at the meeting.
4
Standards relating to meetings arranged by a body that are open to the public
Standard 25:
If you arrange a meeting that is open to members of the public in Wales and at which public participation by a member of the public in Wales is allowed, you must state on any material advertising it, and on any invitation to it, that anyone attending is welcome to use the Welsh language at the meeting.
Standard 26:
When you send invitations to a meeting that you arrange which is open to members of the public in Wales and at which public participation by a member of the public in Wales is allowed, you must send the invitations in Welsh.
Standard 27:
If you invite persons to speak at a meeting that you arrange which is open to members of the public in Wales and at which public participation by a member of the public in Wales is allowed, you must—
(a) ask each person invited to speak whether that person wishes to use the Welsh language, and
(b) if that person (or at least one of those persons) has informed you that that person wishes to use the Welsh language at the meeting, provide a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English for that purpose (unless you conduct the meeting in Welsh without a translation service).
Standard 28:
If you arrange a meeting that is open to members of the public in Wales and at which public participation by a member of the public in Wales is allowed, you must ensure that a simultaneous translation service from Welsh to English is available at the meeting, and you must orally inform those present in Welsh—
(a) that they are welcome to use the Welsh language, and
(b) that a simultaneous translation service is available.
Standard 29:
If you produce and display any written material at a meeting that you arrange which is open to members of the public in Wales, you must ensure that the material is displayed in Welsh, and you must not treat any Welsh language text less favourably than the English language text.
5
Standards relating to public events organised or funded by a body
Standard 30:
If you organise a public event, or fund at least 50% of a public event, you must ensure that, in promoting the event, the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language (for example, in the way the event is advertised or publicised).
Standard 31:
If you organise a public event, or fund at least 50% of a public event, you must ensure that the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language at the event (for example, in relation to services offered to members of the public in Wales attending the event, in relation to signs displayed at the event and in relation to audio announcements made at the event).
6
Standard relating to a body’s publicity and advertising
Standard 32:
Any publicity or advertising material that you produce must be produced in Welsh where the anticipated audience includes members of the public in Wales, and if you produce the material in Welsh and in English, you must not treat the Welsh language version less favourably than you treat the English language version.
7
Standards relating to a body displaying material in public
Standard 33:
Any material that you produce and display in public in Wales must be displayed in Welsh, and you must not treat any Welsh language version of the material less favourably than the English language version.
Standard 34:
Any material that you produce and display at a public exhibition held in Wales organised by you must be displayed in Welsh, and you must not treat any Welsh language version of the material less favourably than you treat an English language version.
8
Standards relating to a body producing and publishing documents or forms
Standard 35:
If you produce a document or form which is available to members of the public in Wales, you must produce it in Welsh.
Standard 36:
When you send a document or form to an individual (“A”) for the first time, you must ask A whether A wishes to receive documents or forms in Welsh, and if A responds to say that A wishes to receive documents or forms in Welsh you must—
(a) keep a record of A’s wish, and
(b) send any documents or forms you send to A from then onwards in Welsh.
Standard 37:
If you don’t know whether an individual (“A”) wishes to receive documents or forms from you in Welsh, when you send a document or a form to A you must provide a Welsh language version.
Standard 38:
If you produce a document (but not a form) which is available to members of the public in Wales, and no other standard has required you to produce the document in Welsh, you must produce it in Welsh—
(a) if the subject matter of the document suggests that it should be produced in Welsh, or
(b) if the anticipated audience, and their expectations, suggests that the document should be produced in Welsh.
Standard 39:
If you produce a document or form in Welsh and in English you must—
(a) not treat any Welsh language version less favourably than you treat the English language version (whether separate versions or not),
(b) not differentiate between the Welsh and English version in relation to any requirements relevant to the document or form (for example, in relation to any deadline for submitting the form, or in relation to the time allowed to respond to the content of the document or form), and
(c) ensure that the English language version clearly states that the document or form is also available in Welsh.
9
Standards relating to a body’s websites and on-line services (including portals)
(1) Websites published by a body
Standard 40:
You must ensure that—
(a) the text of each page of your website is available in Welsh,
(b) every Welsh language page on your website is fully functional, and
(c) the Welsh language is not treated less favourably than the English language on your website.
Standard 41:
You must ensure that—
(a) the text of the homepage of your website is available in Welsh,
(b) any Welsh language text on your homepage (or, where relevant, your Welsh language homepage) is fully functional, and
(c) the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language in relation to the homepage of your website.
Standard 42:
You must ensure that when you publish a new page on your website or amend a page—
(a) the text of that page is available in Welsh,
(b) any Welsh language version of that page is fully functional, and
(c) the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than the English language in relation to that page.
Standard 43:
If you have a Welsh language web page that corresponds to an English language web page, you must state clearly on the English language web page that the page is also available in Welsh, and you must provide a direct link to the Welsh page on the corresponding English page.
Standard 44:
You must provide the interface and menus on every page of your website in Welsh.
(2) Apps published by a body
Standard 45:
All apps that you publish for use by members of the public in Wales must function fully in Welsh, and the Welsh language must be treated no less favourably than the English language in relation to that app.
(3) Live chat facility
Standard 46:
If you have a live chat facility for use by members of the public in Wales—
(a) you must provide it in Welsh, and
(b) you must state (in Welsh) on your website that your live chat facility is available in Welsh and how it can be accessed.
Standard 47:
If you have a live chat facility for use by members of the public in Wales, you must state (in Welsh) on your website that your live chat facility is available in Welsh and how it can be accessed, and you must provide it in Welsh until such point as—
(a) it is necessary to transfer the live chat to a member of staff who does not speak Welsh who can provide a service on a specific subject matter, and
(b) no Welsh speaking member of staff is available to provide a service on that specific subject matter.
10
Standards relating to a body’s use of social media
Standard 48:
When you use social media, you must not treat the Welsh language less favourably than the English language.
Standard 49:
If a member of the public in Wales contacts you by social media in Welsh, you must reply in Welsh (if an answer is required).
11
Standard relating to audio and video content
Standard 50
Any audio content or video content that you produce must be produced in Welsh if the anticipated audience includes members of the public in Wales and the Welsh language must be treated no less favourably than the English language in relation to that content.
12
Standard relating to self-service machines
Standard 51:
You must ensure that any self-service machines that you have in Wales function fully in Welsh, and the Welsh language must be treated no less favourably than the English language in relation to that machine.
13
Standards relating to signs and notices displayed by a body
Standard 52:
When you—
(a) erect a new sign in Wales or renew a sign erected in Wales (including temporary signs), or
(b) publish or display a notice in Wales,
any text displayed on the sign or notice must be displayed in Welsh (whether on the same sign or notice as you display corresponding English language text or on a separate sign or notice); and if the same text is displayed in Welsh and in English, you must not treat the Welsh language text less favourably than the English language text.
Standard 53:
When you—
(a) erect a new sign in Wales or renew a sign erected in Wales (including temporary signs), or
(b) publish or display a notice in Wales,
which conveys the same information in Welsh and in English, the Welsh-language text must be positioned so that it is likely to be read first.
14
Standards relating to a body receiving visitors at its buildings
Standard 54:
Any reception service you make available in English must also be available in Welsh, and any member of the public in Wales (“P”) who requires a Welsh language reception service must not be treated less favourably than a P who requires an English language reception service.
Standard 55:
If you arrange a visit or appointment in advance for a member of the public in Wales (“P”) which will mean that P will come to your reception, you must ask P whether P wishes to receive a Welsh language reception service (unless you already know whether P wishes to receive that service in Welsh).
Standard 55A:
You must provide a face to face Welsh language reception service for a member of the public in Wales (“P”) at your reception if you have arranged a visit or appointment for P in advance and—
(a) P has informed you in advance that P wishes to receive the service in Welsh, or
(b) you are already aware that P wishes to receive the service in Welsh.
Standard 56:
If you have no face to face Welsh language reception service available at your reception, you must ensure that a Welsh language reception service is available over a phone in your reception.
Standard 57:
You must display a sign in your reception which states (in Welsh) that persons are welcome to use the Welsh language at the reception.
Standard 58:
You must ensure that staff at the reception who are able to provide a Welsh language reception service wear a badge to convey that.
15
Standards relating to a body awarding grants
Standard 59:
Any documents that you publish which relate to applications for a grant which members of the public in Wales may apply for, must be published in Welsh, and you must not treat a Welsh language version of such documents less favourably than an English language version.
Standard 60:
When you invite applications for a grant from members of the public in Wales, you must—
(a) state in the invitation that applications may be submitted in Welsh and that any application submitted in Welsh will be treated no less favourably than an application submitted in English, and
(b) not treat applications for a grant submitted in Welsh less favourably than applications submitted in English (including, amongst other matters, in relation to the closing date for receiving applications and in relation to the time-scale for informing applicants of decisions).
Standard 61:
When you inform an applicant of your decision in relation to an application for a grant, you must do so in Welsh if the application was submitted in Welsh.
16
Standards for raising awareness about Welsh language services provided by a body
Standard 62:
You must promote any Welsh language service that you provide, and advertise that service in Welsh.
Standard 63:
If you provide a service in Welsh that corresponds to a service you provide in English, any publicity or document that you produce, or website that you publish, which refers to the English service must also state that a corresponding service is available in Welsh.
17
Standard relating to a body’s corporate identity
Standard 64:
When you form or revise your corporate identity, you must not treat the Welsh language less favourably than the English language.
Standard 65:
When you present your corporate identity, you must not treat the Welsh language less favourably than the English language.
18
Standards relating to courses offered by a body
Standard 66:
If you offer an education course that is open to members of the public in Wales, you must offer it in Welsh.
Standard 67:
If you offer an education course to members of the public in Wales, you must—
(a) undertake an assessment of the need for that course to be offered in Welsh;
(b) offer that course in Welsh if the assessment indicated that the course needs to be offered in Welsh.
19
Standard relating to public address systems used by a body
Standard 68:
When you announce a message over a public address system, you must make that announcement in Welsh and, if the announcement is made in Welsh and in English, the announcement must be made in Welsh first.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2026/99/schedule/1/part/1 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/welsh-language-standards-no-10-regulations-2026/schedule-1/part-1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.