Graz info corner

Getting started

• At the beginning, there is the decision to set up an association.

• In Austria, an association must consist of at least 2 people (according to the Association Act 2022).

• Two phases of setting up an association in Austria

  • Establishment

  • Establishment of the association

Construction:

• Internally between the founders of the association

• At least 2 people decide to establish and agree on statutes (sample statutes - scroll down to sample statutes)

• That is the “founding agreement”

• Agreement including statutes form the civil law basis for the further steps of founding an association

• Association founders (and club members) may be natural persons (people) and/or legal entities (e.g. other associations)

  • Natural persons do not need to have Austrian citizenship

Next, the founders must report the establishment of the association to the association authority

• Advertisement for association creation here

• In Graz, the responsible association authority is: Landespolizeidirektion Steiermark

• The statutes must be enclosed

• Within a period of 6 weeks, the association authority shall make the declaration if the association is not permitted due to unlawfulness à if no negative decision is received, the association was created upon expiry of the period (it also happens that earlier notice is given that the association can start its activities).

If the conclusion is positive, the association has been established & the association authority will send a copy of the applicable statutes and a first extract from the register of associations free of charge.)

From this point on, you have 1 year to appoint corporate representatives, which means you must appoint persons who represent the association externally and/or have the right to sign (in practice, these are often the people from the management body)

• Changes must be submitted to the association authority within four weeks

Statutes

• The statutes determine the name, objectives and internal organization of the association.

• Form the basis of organization and activity.

• The statutes are the “contract” between members and the association.

• Must be written in German.

• Every association needs at least one “general meeting”, a “governing body” and two “auditors”

  • General Assembly: must be open to all members & must be convened at least every five years

  • Management body: must consist of at least two natural persons. (mostly chairperson and deputy)

• Auditor: must be elected by the general meeting, must be at least two natural persons, check the use of funds from the association and report to the governing body

• (Sample statutes - scroll down to sample statutes)

Expenses

• For the ad: €14.30 federal fee

• Additional supplement fees (for attached statutes): €3.90 per sheet (max. €21.80)

• A copy of the applicable statutes and a first extract from the register of associations is free of charge

• For the decision on the invitation to take up the association's activities upon request:

• Positive: €6.50 Federal Administration Tax

• Negative: toll-free

• The fees are due after the procedure has been completed. A payment slip is usually sent for this purpose

.

More info and details:

• A detailed and well-structured step-by-step guide is available here:

• https://vereinsplaner.at/c/verein-gruenden-in-oesterreich

• https://www.bmi.gv.at/609/start.aspx