Associations; registration of a foreigners' association or a foreign association

A foreign association is an association whose members or leaders are predominantly foreigners. A foreign association is an association based abroad whose organization or activities extend to Germany. The board of directors is required to register. If an association does not have a board of directors, the obligation to register applies to the members authorized to represent the association. In the case of an organizational structure of a foreign association, the obligation to register also applies to the persons who manage the structure.

The registration must be in German and contain the following

• the articles of association of the association or, if the association does not have articles of association, details of the name, registered office and purpose of the association
• the names and addresses of the board members or persons authorized to represent the association
• details of the countries in which the association has sub-organizations

The authorities will issue a certificate of registration free of charge.

Violation of the obligation to register is subject to a fine.

• Statutes of the association

  where available