NGO (public association) registration in Ukraine
Under Ukrainian law an NGO is usually a hromadska orhanizatsiia, a public association with at least two founders. We write its charter, prepare the founding meeting minutes and file with the Ministry of Justice, asking in the same application to add the NGO to the Register of Non-Profit Organizations, so tax-exempt status applies from day one. Registration costs from UAH 8,000. After that our bookkeeper can keep the NGO's books as part of our accounting services in Ukraine.
A charter written for your mission
Non-profit status from the first day
Accounting from the very first month
Tell us about your organization
Write what the NGO will do, how many founders it will have and whether any of them are foreigners. A manager replies within one business day and suggests the right route.
What NGO registration in Ukraine includes
Charter for your mission
We write down the purpose and every source of money the NGO will use, such as membership fees, grants and paid events. The ban on distributing income and the transfer of assets on liquidation are worded the way the Ukrainian Tax Code requires.
Founding meeting
We prepare the minutes of the founding meeting and the details of the head and the founders. A public association needs at least two founders, and they sign the minutes themselves, without a notary.
Filing with the Ministry of Justice
We file the documents with the regional office of the Ministry of Justice and follow them until the registry extract is issued. The application already asks to add the NGO to the Register of Non-Profit Organizations.
Status check
We check that the tax office has added the NGO to the Register with code 0032 and order an extract. Banks and donors ask for it.
What we need from you and how long it takes
- the name of the organization and its purpose;
- passports and Ukrainian tax numbers (RNOKPP) of the founders and the head;
- an address for the NGO in Ukraine;
- for a foreign founder, a translated passport and proof of legal stay in Ukraine, such as a residence permit.
We give you the timeline before we start, because NGO documents are reviewed by the Ministry of Justice. The tax office then has three business days to add the NGO to the Register of Non-Profit Organizations. If that request was missing from the application, it must be filed within 10 days of registration, otherwise the NGO pays corporate income tax until it is added.
How much NGO registration in Ukraine costs
NGO registration
Accounting from the first month
Consultation before registration
- a registered address, if you do not have one;
- a qualified e-signature (KEP) for the head, if needed.
All prices are on the accounting prices in Ukraine page. NGOs, charitable foundations, LLCs and sole proprietors are compared on the company registration in Ukraine page.
After NGO registration
Extract and bank account
Membership fees and grants
First reports
How we register an NGO in Ukraine
NGO or charitable foundation for founders abroad
Foreign founders of a Ukrainian NGO must be adults who stay in Ukraine legally, so a public association suits a team that lives here. If the founders live abroad, or the founder is a foreign foundation or company, a charitable foundation in Ukraine usually fits better, because one person or a foreign legal entity can set it up. A foundation has stricter rules and may spend no more than 20% of its annual income on administration. On the other hand, only charitable organizations can distribute aid to people affected by the war without a cap and without personal income tax for the recipient. Our firm was founded by Philipp Orlov, a Ukrainian tax attorney, and it has been working for almost 20 years. We work with clients in English.
Register through Diia yourself or with us
Diia, the Ukrainian e-government app, now registers public associations under a model charter, and the same application can ask the tax office to add them to the Register. It is free and fast if all founders are adult Ukrainian citizens with a tax number, a demographic register number (UNZR, shown on the ID card) and a Ukrainian e-signature (Diia.Signature or KEP) and the standard wording covers your purpose. Clients come to us when they need their own charter with custom membership rules or paid services, when some founders are foreigners, or when they want a bookkeeper from the first month. A model charter can be replaced later, but that means registering changes and another check by the tax office, so it is better to decide before filing.
There is no state fee for registering an NGO. Our work costs from UAH 8,000 and covers the charter, the founding minutes, filing with the Ministry of Justice and the request to add the NGO to the Register of Non-Profit Organizations. We confirm the exact amount before work starts, because it depends on the number of founders and whether any of them are foreigners.
At least two founders, a name, a purpose and an address in Ukraine. Each founder and the head provide a passport and a Ukrainian tax number (RNOKPP). The founders hold a founding meeting and sign the minutes, no notary is needed. We prepare the charter and the other documents.
Yes, if they stay in Ukraine legally, for example with a residence permit. A foreign founder needs a Ukrainian tax number (RNOKPP) and a notarized translation of the passport. When the founders live abroad or the founder is a foreign company, a charitable foundation is usually the better option.
Yes, if the organization needs a bank account, grants or tax-exempt status. Ukrainian law also allows an association to be registered without legal entity status, but it cannot open its own account or join the Register of Non-Profit Organizations.
The Ministry of Justice through its regional offices, a notary cannot register an NGO. The tax office then has three business days to add the NGO to the Register of Non-Profit Organizations.
An NGO in the Register of Non-Profit Organizations that spends its money only on its purpose pays no corporate income tax. For employees it pays a 22% social contribution (ESV) and withholds 18% personal income tax and a 5% military levy. VAT applies only when sales of goods or services exceed UAH 1 million in 12 months. Read how we handle accounting for non-profit organizations.
Yes, if the charter provides for that activity and all income goes to the NGO's purpose. Profit may not be shared among founders, members or staff beyond their pay, and the tax office removes organizations from the Register for that. This is why we write paid events and services into the charter before registration.
Shall we discuss your organization?
Tell us what the NGO will do and who the founders are. We will tell you whether the model charter is enough before you pay for registration.