Accessibility and alternate formats
Is the questionnaire available in alternate formats for people with disabilities?
Hearing or speech impairment
Although the 2026 Census questionnaire is not available to complete in alternate formats, presentation of the census questions and reasons why we ask the questions is available on the census website. The presentation is available in both American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des signes québécoise. To access the presentation, please visit Alternate formats for the census questionnaire.
People who have a hearing or speech impairment and need help completing their questionnaire should call the Census Help Line TTY number (1-833-830-3109) to request assistance. Video relay services (VRS) (opens in a new window) can also be used.
Visual challenges
For people with visual challenges, the census questions and reasons why we ask the questions are available for reference purposes in digital braille and audio formats. These formats can be obtained by visiting Alternate formats for the census questionnaire.
If a person does not return a questionnaire, census employees will follow up and help them complete their questionnaire.
What other assistance is available?
Help buttons are available in the online questionnaire. They provide instructions, examples, and explanations about why the questions are asked and how the information is used.
Can the online questionnaire be accessed by people who are blind or have vision loss?
The online census questionnaire has been designed to comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines to ensure that it is accessible to people using assistive technologies.
The census questionnaire can be completed online in English or French using screen reader and screen magnification software. The online questionnaire is also compatible with supported braille displays.
Non-official languages
What help is available for people who do not understand English or French?
People who do not understand English or French can call the Census Help Line at 1-833-314-3652.
Census employees who speak languages other than English or French are available to help. It is not guaranteed that staff will be able to respond immediately in the requested language, but every effort will be made to provide timely assistance.
Family and community members who speak the respondent's requested language—in addition to English or French—are encouraged to help the respondent complete their questionnaire.
If a person does not return a questionnaire, a census employee will follow up and help them complete their questionnaire. During the follow-up, if a language barrier is noticed and another household member is unable to help, a census employee who speaks the respondent's language will contact the household. Census employees carry a language card to help them assist respondents who do not speak English or French.
Is the census questionnaire available in languages other than English and French?
Although the 2026 Census questionnaire is not available in other languages, the census questions and reasons why we ask the questions are available in 28 other languages for reference purposes.
Respondents can obtain the census questions in any of these languages by visiting Census information in many languages. The census questionnaire must be completed in either English or French, online or on paper, or in person with an enumerator.
In what languages other than English and French are the census questions available?
Immigrant languages
- Chinese (simplified)
- Chinese (traditional)
- Punjabi (Panjabi)
- Arabic
- Spanish
- Persian
- Vietnamese
- Portuguese
- Italian
- Korean
- Urdu
- Russian
- Hindi
Indigenous languages and dialects
- Inuktitut (South Baffin)
- Nunavimmiutitut
- Innu (Montagnais)
- Atikamekw
- East Cree
- Oji-Cree
- Mi'kmaq
- Tlicho (Dogrib)
- Nehiyawewin (Plains Cree)
- Nihithawiwin (Woods Cree)
- Naskapi
- Blackfoot
- Saulteaux (Western Ojibway)
- Nehinawewin (Swampy Cree)
- Inuinnaqtun
How does Statistics Canada determine which non-official languages to translate the census questions into?
Statistics Canada used 2021 Census data on knowledge of neither English nor French and on mother tongue to determine which Indigenous and immigrant languages to translate the 2026 Census questions into. Statistics Canada also used Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada immigration data for the purpose.