Associations; Registration of a Foreigners' Association or a Foreign Association

An “foreign association” is an association whose members or leaders are predominantly foreign nationals. A “foreign association” is an association headquartered abroad whose organization or activities extend to Germany. The executive board is responsible for registration. If an association does not have an executive board, the obligation to register falls on the members authorized to represent the association. In the case of an organizational unit of a foreign association, the obligation to register also applies to the persons who manage that unit.

The registration must be submitted in German and must include the following:

• the association’s bylaws or, if the association has no bylaws, information regarding the association’s name, registered office, and purpose
• the names and addresses of the members of the executive board or the persons authorized to represent the association
• Information on the countries in which the association has branch organizations

The authorities issue a registration certificate free of charge.

Violation of the registration requirement is punishable by a fine.

Contact:

+(49) 09131 / 86 - 3275

+(49) 09131 / 86 - 1706

• Bylaws of the Association
  if available