Setting up a civic association

Guide to setting up a civic association

1. 1

   Guide to setting up a civic association

   To set up a civic association / register a trade union organization or an employers' organization, you need a preparatory committee.
    

   The preparatory committee must have:
   • at least three members,
   • at least one member older than 18.

    

   Appoint an authorized representative
   The preparatory committee appoints an authorized representative, who will represent the committee in the registration of the civic association / registration of the trade union organization and employers' organization. The authorized representative of the preparatory committee must be one of the members of the preparatory committee.
   The authorized representative must have permanent or temporary residence in the territory of the Slovak Republic.

    

   Prepare the application for registration
   A template application for registration can be found on the website of the Ministry of Interior of the SROpens in a new window, or fill in the electronic form for the application for registration/registration.

2. 2

   Draw up the statutes

   The statutes must contain:

   • the name of the organization – it must not be defamatory, offensive, or interchangeable with the name of a public authority or another legal entity already operating in the territory of the Slovak Republic,
   • the registered office of the organization – state an address in the territory of the Slovak Republic including the city district (in the case of Bratislava or Košice), the registration and orientation number; if the municipality has no streets, state only the registration number,
   • the purpose of the activity – the activity must not be aimed at making a profit, the activity of political parties, churches, or hunting,
   • the bodies of the organization – state the bodies and authorized persons who will act on behalf of the OZ/trade union organization and the manner of their acting,
     • organizational units, if you plan to establish them and they will act in their own name, including: the manner of their establishment, the designation of their statutory body, the manner of appointing the statutory body (which body elects and recalls it),
     • the principles of financial management.

    

   Good to know
   The statutes do not need to be signed. However, all members of the preparatory committee must sign the application for registration of the civic association or the application for registration of the trade union organization and employers' organization.

    

   Template statutes
   A template for the statutes of a civic association, which can be adjusted, can be found on the website of the Ministry of Interior of the SR.Opens in a new window

3. 3

   Submit the application for registration

   You can submit the application for registration of a civic association / registration of a trade union organization and employers' organization electronically or in paper form.

    

   Electronic submission
   Fill in the electronic form "Application for registration/registration – civic association/trade union organization and employers' organization."Opens in a new window
   The application must be signed by:
   • all members of the preparatory committee.
   Use a qualified electronic signature (KEP) for the signature.

    

   Attach:
   • the statutes of the civic association, trade union organization, or employers' organization,
   • power of attorney, if the application is submitted by an authorized person.

    

   How to proceed
   1. Fill in the electronic form.
   2. Attach all required annexes.
   3. Sign the submission with a qualified electronic signature (KEP).
   4. Send the form.
   5. You will pay the administrative fee based on a payment order that will be delivered to your electronic mailbox after the application is submitted.

    

   Good to know
   The administrative fee for electronic filing is reduced by half, i.e. €50.
   Trade union organizations and employers' organizations are exempt from the administrative fee.

    

   Warning:
   For electronic filing you need an ID card with an eID chip. When submitting, you must sign the document with a qualified electronic signature (KEP).

    

   Signing by multiple persons
   If more than one member of the preparatory committee is signing the application, follow the guide on signing electronic submissions by multiple persons.Opens in a new window
   Detailed PDF guideOpens in a new window
   Video guideOpens in a new window

    

   Paper submission
   Deliver the application in person or by post to the district office in the regional seat that has jurisdiction according to the seat of the civic association, trade union organization, or employers' organization (hereinafter "the registration authority"), department of general internal administration.

    

   Attach:
   • the signed application for registration / registration (signed by all members of the preparatory committee),
   • the statutes in two counterparts,
   • confirmation of payment of the administrative fee of €100, if the fee obligation applies to you,
   • power of attorney, if the application is submitted by an authorized person.

    

   State in the application:
   • the members of the preparatory committee – given name, surname, birth number, and place of residence,
   • the authorized representative – the person who will act on behalf of the preparatory committee; must be older than 18 and have permanent residence in the territory of the Slovak Republic. The authorized representative must also be a member of the preparatory committee,
   • the statutory body or members of the statutory body – given name, surname, address of permanent residence, date of birth, and birth number; if the statutory body consists of several persons, also state the manner in which they act and their designated function; the statutory body or a member of the statutory body must be of full legal age and have full legal capacity.

   The application must be signed by all members of the preparatory committee.

    

   Templates for the application and statutes
   • A template for the application for registration or registration can be found on the website of the Ministry of Interior of the SR.Opens in a new window
   • A template for the statutes, which can be adjusted, can be found on the website of the Ministry of Interior of the SR.Opens in a new window

    

   Good to know
   • Trade union organizations and employers' organizations are exempt from paying the administrative fee.
   • You can pay the administrative fee via a Confirmation of Payment of an Administrative or Court Fee, available at branches of the Slovak Post. More information on paying administrative fees can be found on the Slovak Post website. Opens in a new windowYou can also pay the fee at a self-service payment kiosk at the registration authority's building.

4. 4

   Find out the fees

   Electronic submission
   • Application for registration of a civic association: €50

   Paper submission
   • Application for registration of a civic association: €100

    

   Good to know
   Registration of a trade union organization and an employers' organization is fully exempt from the administrative fee.
   Administrative fees and their amounts are governed in accordance with Act No. 145/1995 Coll. on Administrative Fees of the National Council of the Slovak Republic (opens in a new window).Opens in a new window

5. 5

   Pay the administrative fee

   Electronic submission
   After the submission is sent, a payment order will be delivered to your electronic mailbox.
   You can pay the administrative fee by:
   • payment card,
   • bank transfer,
   • QR code (PAY by square).

    

   Good to know
   When paying by bank transfer, the payment is usually credited within two working days.

    

   Paper submission
   You can pay the administrative fee:

   • via a Confirmation of Payment of an Administrative or Court Fee, available at branches of the Slovak Post (more information can be found on the eKolok – Slovak Post websiteOpens in a new window),
   • at a self-service payment kiosk at the registration authority's building.
     More information on paying administrative fees can be found on the Slovak Post website.
6. 6

   Wait for a response from the registration authority

   After receiving the application, the registration authority checks whether it contains all the required data and annexes.

    

   If the application is in order
   If the application meets all the conditions:
   • the registration authority registers the civic association within 15 days of the start of the proceedings,
   • it registers the trade union organization and the employers' organization on the day following receipt of the application.
    

   It will deliver to the authorized representative of the preparatory committee:
   • one copy of the statutes with the date of registration marked,
   • a notification of the assignment of the company identification number (IČO).

    

   If the application contains deficiencies
   • If the registration authority finds deficiencies, it will notify you of them and call on you to remedy them.
   • The notice will be delivered to the electronic mailbox of the authorized representative of the preparatory committee. If the application is submitted by an authorized person based on a power of attorney, the notice will be delivered to that person.
   • Proceedings on the registration will only begin once all deficiencies have been remedied.

    

   Good to know
   No decision is issued in administrative proceedings for registration or registration of a trade union.

7. 7

   Open a bank account

   After registration or registration you can open a bank account in the name of the civic association, trade union organization, or employers' organization.
    

   You will need:

   • the organization's statutes,
   • proof of identity of the statutory body,
   • an extract from the Register of Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations.
   • You can obtain the register extract by submitting an application to the registration authority that has jurisdiction according to the seat of the organization. You can submit the application electronically through the form "Application for an Extract from the Register of Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations."

    

   Good to know: Each bank sets its own requirements for the documents needed to open a bank account.

8. Register with the tax office

   (optional)

   If the organization has no income subject to tax, registration with the tax office is not mandatory.
   If you plan to carry out business activity, you must obtain the relevant authorization, for example a trade licence.

9. Register for the 2% tax allocation

   (optional)

   If you want to receive a share of paid tax, you must be listed in the list of recipients.
    

   Conditions for registration:
   • registration is carried out by a notary by drawing up a notarial deed,
   • a civic association that was established at the latest in the previous calendar year may apply for registration,
   • you can submit the application for registration as a recipient of the 2% tax allocation each year from 1 September to 15 December,
   • registration must be renewed every year,
   • the statutes of the civic association must contain at least one of the purposes listed in § 50 of Act No. 595/2003 Coll. on Income Tax.Opens in a new window