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 application must be in German and contain the following:

• the articles of association of the association or, if the association has no articles of association, details of the name, registered office and purpose of the association
• Names and addresses of the members of the Management Board or persons authorized to represent the company
• Information on the countries in which the association has sub-organizations

The authorities will issue a registration certificate free of charge.

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

• § Section 14 Act on the Regulation of Public Association Law - Associations Act (VereinsG)

  Foreigners' associations

• § Section 15 Act on the Regulation of Public Association Law - Associations Act (VereinsG)

  Foreign clubs

• § Section 19 Ordinance on the Implementation of the Law on the Regulation of Public Associations (VereinsG-DVO)

  Obligation to register for foreigners' associations

• § Section 21 Ordinance on the Implementation of the Law on the Regulation of Public Associations (VereinsG-DVO)

  Obligation of foreign associations to register and provide information