Register a Public Association (NGO) in Ukraine

A public association is the usual legal form for an NGO in Ukraine: a voluntary association of individuals and/or private legal entities that protects rights and pursues social, economic, cultural, environmental and other common interests. Its creation and work are governed by the Law of Ukraine “On Public Associations” No. 4572-VI of 22 March 2012, and its state registration by Law No. 755-IV on state registration of legal entities. We prepare the founding documents, file them with the registrar and help with non-profit status.

Our public association registration service includes:

• advice on the form, goals and governance of the future NGO;
• drafting the minutes of the founding meeting, the charter and the list of participants;
• notarial services where needed;
• filing with the state registrar and obtaining the registration results;
• an application for inclusion in the Register of Non-Profit Institutions and Organisations;
• making a seal, if the organisation plans to use one.

Public organisation or public union

Article 1 of Law No. 4572-VI provides two forms. A public organisation is founded by individuals, and its members are individuals. A public union is founded by private-law legal entities, and both legal entities and individuals can be its members. A public association may operate with or without the status of a legal entity; with that status it is a non-entrepreneurial company whose main purpose is not making a profit.

Founders and minimum members

• a public association needs at least two founders (Article 7);
• founders of a public organisation are citizens of Ukraine, foreigners and stateless persons staying in Ukraine legally, aged 18 or over; for youth and children’s organisations, 14 or over;
• founders of a public union are private-law legal entities; political parties cannot found a union;
• a person declared incapable by a court cannot be a founder.

Charter and governing bodies

The association is created at a founding meeting, recorded in minutes (Article 9). The minutes record the decision to create the association and its goals, the name, approval of the charter, election of the head and governing bodies, and the person authorised to carry out registration. A register of the persons who took part in the meeting is an integral part of the minutes.

The charter states the name, goals and areas of activity, membership rules, powers and terms of the governing bodies, decision-making and reporting procedures, sources and use of funds, rules for branches, amendments and self-dissolution (Article 11). The name consists of a general part (“public organisation” or “public union”) and its own name, and is given in the state language (Article 10).

State registration and fee

Documents must be filed within 60 days of the founding meeting; otherwise the association is considered not created (Article 9). For registration of a legal entity, Article 17 of Law No. 755-IV requires:

• an application for state registration, which may also request inclusion in the Register of Non-Profit Institutions and Organisations;
• the founders’ decision (minutes) on creating the association;
• information on the governing bodies and on the person authorised to carry out registration;
• the charter;
• the register of persons who took part in the founding meeting.

Article 36 of Law No. 755-IV lists no administrative fee for registering the creation of a public association, so registration is free. Later changes to the association’s data cost 0.1 of the subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons, and 75% of that amount when documents are filed electronically.

Non-profit status with the tax office

To be exempt from corporate income tax, the organisation must meet the conditions of subparagraph 133.4.1 of the Tax Code of Ukraine: the charter prohibits distributing income among founders, members, employees and governing bodies; on termination, assets pass to non-profit organisations of the relevant type or to the budget; and the tax authority has entered the organisation in the Register of Non-Profit Institutions and Organisations. If documents for the Register are filed together with registration or within 10 days after it, the organisation is treated as non-profit from the date of its state registration.

Information we need from you

• the form (public organisation or public union) and the proposed name;
• goals and main areas of activity;
• the location (we can advise on a legal address);
• details of at least two founders and their contacts;
• the head and members of the governing bodies, with passport and tax ID details.

After registration you receive

• the registration record in the Unified State Register and an extract from it;
• the approved charter;
• the minutes of the founding meeting with the list of participants;
• confirmation of inclusion in the Register of Non-Profit Institutions and Organisations, if requested;
• a seal, if ordered.

Planning a charity? See registration of a charitable organization. When an NGO is no longer needed, we handle the liquidation of a non-governmental organization, and we also draft internal regulations for public organizations. To start, leave a request on this page.

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