Charities Commission

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Registration guidelines

Select from the menu on the left to see guidelines about registration under the Charities Act 2005 and how to apply to register.

Apply on paper or online

Our forms include notes to help you complete them but if you choose to apply on paper you may find it helpful to refer to our tips for applying by post.

If you prefer to apply online, you can log on and off so that you can complete the form in stages before sending it to us. You can upload electronic versions of supporting documents, such as your rules, and submit them as part of the online process, or post them to us at the address on the form.

Helpful tip – before you start to complete your application you may like to look at the Charities Register to see how we display information about registered charities.

To apply online, go to our Charities Register page and follow the step-by-step instructions.

Registration information pack

Our Registration information pack will help you decide whether your organisation should register under the Charities Act and explains how to apply for registration. It contains printable versions of the registration forms for an individual organisation (or you can access our online forms here) and information sheets that explain:

  • the benefits and responsibilities of registration
  • when to register
  • other important information to help you with your application.

Use the links below to access the contents of the registration information pack, or call our free information line 0508 242 748 and ask us to post a pack to you.

Forms

Information sheets