NEQ and RBQ licence: what you need to bid on Québec construction tenders

Published October 12, 2026 · Updated October 12, 2026

Before bidding on construction tenders in Québec, two numbers come up again and again: your business's NEQ and your Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) licence.

General information, not legal advice. Check the requirements in each tender document and with the official bodies.

The NEQ (Québec enterprise number)

The NEQ is assigned when you register with the Registraire des entreprises. Registration is mandatory for, among others: - corporations carrying on activities in Québec; - general and limited partnerships; - an individual running a sole proprietorship under a name other than their own first and last name.

An individual operating under their own legal name generally doesn't need to register. Your NEQ also appears on your business's record in the RBQ licence holder register.

The RBQ licence

To carry out or have construction work carried out, you need an RBQ licence with the right subclass(es) for the work.
Your subcontractors must also hold the right subclasses. Hiring an unlicensed subcontractor exposes the contractor to prosecution.
Tender documents can require an RBQ licence; it often appears in the compliance conditions of the SEAO notice.

Restricted licence: no bidding

Under section 65.2 of Québec's Building Act, the holder of a licence restricted for the purpose of obtaining a public contract may not bid on a public tender or conclude a public contract; their bid can't be accepted. The restriction appears in the licence holder register. Check your record, and your subcontractors', before bidding.

Other common construction requirements

Revenu Québec certificate: contracts of $25,000 or more (including construction contracts).
AMP authorization: construction contracts and subcontracts of $5M or more. See our AMP guide.
RENA: a listed business can't bid.
Bid and performance security: per the tender document and the Regulation respecting construction contracts of public bodies.

Where Veillea fits

Veillea monitors SEAO and CanadaBuys, ranks notices against your profile and summarizes them in English and French. Free for SEAO (weekly digest); Solo $29/month, Team $69/month, Enterprise $199/month ($1,990/yr), flat with no per-notice fees, plus taxes.

Veillea does not replace registering on SEAO, CanadaBuys or a buyer's portal: to get documents and bid, you still use the official platform. Summaries help you triage; the official notice always prevails.

Start free Start 14-day free trial

14-day free trial on paid plans, no credit card.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an NEQ to bid on a Québec tender?

The NEQ is assigned at registration, which is mandatory for corporations, partnerships and sole proprietorships operating under a name other than the owner's. Tender documents generally ask for the business's identifying information.

Do I need an RBQ licence for a construction tender?

To carry out construction work, yes, with the right subclasses. Construction tenders often make it a compliance condition.

What is a restricted RBQ licence?

A licence restricted for public contracts. Its holder can't bid on a public tender or conclude a public contract (Building Act, s. 65.2).

How do I check an RBQ licence?

In the RBQ licence holder register, which shows the NEQ, subclasses and any restriction for public work.

Do my subcontractors need an RBQ licence?

Yes, with the right subclass(es) for the work they carry out.