How to register an association at the Trade Register

A non-profit association must file a start-up notification with the Trade Register if it

has a permanent place of business or
employs at least one person

for the purpose of carrying on a trade.

How to file an association registered at the Register of Associations with the Trade Register

If the association is already registered with the PRH Register of Associations, file the notification with the Trade Register as notification of changes. File the notification using paper form Y4a and appendix form 19A.

Please note that the forms are only available in Finnish and in Swedish.

Open: form Y4a and appendix form 19A (pdf) (in Finnish).

Open: form Y4a and appendix form 19A (pdf) (in Swedish).

On appendix form 19A, there is a field for other matters to be filed with the register, labelled "Mahdolliset muut rekisteriin ilmoitettavat seikat" (in Finnish) or "Övrigt som anmäls till registret" (in Swedish). Use this field to mention that the association wants to be filed with the Trade Register and provide the association’s details in the same field as described below.

Please fill in the forms either in Finnish or in Swedish.

Details to fill in

In the field mentioned above, fill in the following details (in Finnish or in Swedish):

the association’s company name

The company name must contain the association’s name as entered in the Trade Register.

if your association wishes to register auxiliary company names at the Trade Register, file the names and the part of the business carried out under each name

Please note that you must pay a separate handling fee for each auxiliary company name.

what type of business the association carries out

The type of business carried out by the association must be different from the purpose of the association as stated in the association’s rules.

the postal address the association uses in its business.

If you wish to change the details already entered in the Trade Register, file only the parts that have changed.

Please note that the association must pay a separate handling fee for registration at the Trade Register according to the Trade Register price list.

What documents need to be enclosed?

Enclose the following documents with the notification:

proof of payment of the Trade Register handling fee
evidence of the association’s right to practice a trade, if necessary
if holders of procuration are filed for registration with the Trade Register, evidence of their election in the form of a certified copy of the meeting of the executive committee

Who signs the notification?

The form Y4a must be signed by the chairperson of the association’s executive committee, an adult member of the executive committee filed with the Register of Associations, or a person authorised by either of the persons mentioned above.

If an authorised person signs the notification, enclose a certified copy of a special power of attorney or the original general power of attorney.

What does it cost to file?

The Trade Register handling fee is 380 euros. Pay the fee in advance and enclose the receipt with the notification. Read more about the payment instructions for the Trade Register.

How to file the founding of an association with the Register of Associations and the Trade Register at the same time

Before you file a joint notification with the Register of Associations and the Trade Register, read more about founding an association. Read more about filing a start-up notification for an association using a paper form.

File the notification using paper form Y1a and appendix form 12A. Please note that the forms are only available in Finnish and Swedish.

On appendix form 12A, there is a field for other matters to be filed with the register, labelled "Mahdolliset muut rekisteriin ilmoitettavat seikat" (in Finnish) or "Övrigt som anmäls till registret" (in Swedish). Use this field to mention that the association wants to be filed with the Trade Register and provide the association’s details in the same field as described below.