Approval of an association

Verified 12 December 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry responsible for associative life

Approval shall be granted by the State and the mark recognition of thecommitment of an association in a domain particular. You want to know the conditions which the association must complete in order to be approved, documents to be provided to the administrative authorities, the duration of the approval and whether it may be canceled ? We present you the useful information.

Approval reflects the recognition by the State (or by one of its public institutions) the commitment of an association in a particular field (consumer protection, environmental protection, animal protection,...).

The approved association shall benefit frombenefits variables according to accreditation: possibility to apply for public subsidies, tax advantages, right to practice certain activities,...

The association law 1901 or theassociation of Alsace-Moselle must fill in the 3 conditions following:

  • Reply to a object of general interestl, i.e. not being based on a cause or a prohibited object, contrary to the laws, good morals
  • Present a democratic mode of operation (for example, having regular meetings of the governing bodies)
  • Comply with rules to ensure the financial transparency, that is to say, keeping accounts, establishing an annual budget,...

One recognized public utility association (Arup) or an association that has already obtained an approval for at least 5 years is automatically considered to meet these 3 conditions.

The issue of an approval may also be subject toother specific conditions according to the approval requested (have at least 1 year of existence, have a certain number of members,...).

Responding to an object of general interest

To meet an object of general interest, the 4 conditions The following must be completed:

  • Justify a selfless management and ne not to pursue for-profit
  • To be open to all without discrimination
  • Present sufficient guarantees with regard to compliance with individual freedoms, i.e. not to have the aim of undermining the integrity of France and the republican form of government
  • The action of the association shall not not just the defense of the collective interest of its members.

Present a democratic mode of operation

The functioning of the association is considered as democratic if all the following conditions are met:

  • The General Assembly shall meet regularly, at least once a year
  • The current members of their obligations (in particular their contributions) have a right of effective participation to the General Assembly and to a right to vote
  • The necessary documents to their information are press releases under the conditions laid down in the statutes or the
  • At least half members in charge of administration or management is elected by the general assembly
  • The renewal of the members responsible for administration or management and the annual activity report are subject toapproval of the general meeting.

Comply with the rules ensuring financial transparency

Financial transparency shall be considered to be respected if all the following conditions are met:

  • One annual budget and financial statements or, optionally, accounts is established
  • The annual budget, financial statements or accounts are press releases to members in the planned deadlines by its statutes
  • These documents are submitted to the general meeting for acceptance
  • The advertising and the communication budgetary and accounting documents to public authorities are made in accordance with the regulations.

The application package must include the following:

  • Activity reports of the last financial year ended
  • Proofs of change reporting occurred in the statutes, management or administration of the association

An association that is not required to publish its annual accounts must also provide its approved financial statements for the last fiscal year. This is the case for associations whose amount of donations and/or grants is less than €153,000.

The legal representative of the association must establish a sworn certificate to certify the following:

  • The information provided to justify that the association fulfills the 3 conditions (object of general interest, democratic functioning, financial transparency) is accurate and sincere
  • The association complies with laws and regulations
  • The association is up to date with its accounting obligations
  • The association respects the Republican commitment contract.

Other specific elements may be requested (minutes of general meeting, note presenting the activity of the association,...).

The dossier shall be forwarded to thecompetent administration to issue the desired approval.

The competent administration varies according to the activity of the association : environmental protection association, sports association not affiliated to a sports federation, educational association, association with youth and/or popular education activities, ...

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Environmental Protection Association

The request should be addressed to prefect the department in which the association has its registered office.

Who shall I contact

Sports association not affiliated to a sports federation

The request should be addressed to prefect the department in which the association has its registered office.

Who shall I contact

Educational Association

The application for national approval shall be forwarded to office for educational, cultural and sporting activities of the directorate-general for school education of ministry responsible for national education.

Association with a youth and/or popular education activity

The application for national approval shall be forwarded to the directorate for youth, popular education and community life at ministry in charge of youth.

Consumer Advocacy Association

The request shall be forwarded to the direction Departmental Office for Population Protection (DDPP or DDETSPP).

This accreditation allows consumers to be officially represented.

Who shall I contact

Association of users of the health system

The application for approval national is to be transmitted to ministry responsible for health.

Who shall I contact

The application for approval regional is to be transmitted to theregional health agency (ARS).

This approval is necessary to sit in the various bodies representing users.

The approval decision shall be taken by thecompetent administrative authority. This depends on the approval requested.

Once the application has been accepted, approval shall be granted for a period of 5 years.

Approval is renewable. The renewal file must be sent to the same organization as the first application.

The administrative authority which issued the approval may cancel it where necessary condition for its allocation is fuller. We're talking aboutrepeal. It shall be carried out in accordance with the procedure specific to each approval.

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