Identification and registration of an association

Verified 19 December 2022 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry for Associative Life

As a founder, you have just declared your association in the prefecture and you are wondering if you should register it in the National Directory of Associations (NAS) and/or register it in the SIRENE Directory? We will provide you with the answers to the questions you have.

During the statement from the creation of the association in the prefecture, the registry of associations proceeds automatically upon registration in the National Directory of Associations (NAS).

The NAS is the national file that lists all information on associations law 1901 and associations recognized as being in the public interest (Arup). It is managed by the Ministry of the Interior.

Registration with the NAS results in registration in the form of an NAS number, sometimes called by the administration file number. It consists of the letter W, followed by 9 digits.

Please note

the inclusion in the NAS does not concern associations declared in Alsace-Moselle. They shall be entered in the register of associations of the court of their seat.

If an NAS registration number is automatically assigned to you when the association declares itself, you must, in some cases, apply for its registration in the national company and establishment directory (also known as the directory) Sirene: titleContent), managed by theInsee: titleContent.

In which cases should registration be sought in the SIRENE register?

You must apply for registration of your association in the SIRENE directory if the association completes at least one of them the following conditions:

  • It wishes to apply for subsidies from the State or from local and regional authorities
  • It plans to employ employees
  • It carries out activities which lead to the payment of the VAT: titleContent or business tax.

The Sirene register records the civil status of all French companies and associations and their establishments.

What numbers are assigned?

The association is assigned a Siren number, composed of 9 digits.

This identifier shall be assigned only once at the time of registration in the directory and shall be deleted at the time of registration dissolution of the association.

Each establishment of the association is also assigned a number Siret: titleContent, consisting of 14 digits:

  • The first 9 digits correspond to the Siren number of the association on which the establishment depends.
  • The following 5 digits, usually called the internal classification number (Nic), are specific to each institution.

In the event of a move or closure of an establishment, the corresponding Siret number shall be deleted.

How to apply for registration in the SIRENE Directory?

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You want to apply for public grants

General case

Registration is done only online.

Registration of an association in the SIRENE directory

The application must be accompanied by a copy of the extract published in JOAFE: titleContent and a copy of the articles of association.

The association receives a certificate of registration to keep. A duplicate shall not be issued in the event of loss.

Next, the association must declare to the Sirene Association Center of the INSEE any change concerning its name, its purpose, its activities, the address of its headquarters or its establishments (opening, closing, moving). Insee shall, if necessary, amend the Siret number(s). A copy of the official document attesting to the change must be attached to the declaration.

Who shall I contact

  • Insee Grand Est - Pôle Sirene Associations

    Insee Grand Est - SNTDA - Pôle Sirene Associations

    5 Henry Maret Street

    CS 90403

    57008 Metz Cedex 01

    (all metropolitan and overseas departments)

    By telephone

    09 72 72 60 00

    By email

    sireneasso@contact-insee.fr

Alsace-Moselle

Registration is done through the INSEE Sirene Association Center, preferably by mail (for faster processing) or by post.

Who shall I contact

  • Insee Grand Est - Pôle Sirene Associations

    Insee Grand Est - SNTDA - Pôle Sirene Associations

    5 Henry Maret Street

    CS 90403

    57008 Metz Cedex 01

    (all metropolitan and overseas departments)

    By telephone

    09 72 72 60 00

    By email

    sireneasso@contact-insee.fr

The application must be accompanied by a copy of the receipt for registration in the register of associations and a copy of the statutes.

The association receives a certificate of registration to keep. A duplicate shall not be issued in the event of loss.

Next, the association must declare to the Sirene Association Center of the INSEE any change concerning its name, its purpose, its activities, the address of its headquarters or its establishments (opening, closing, moving). Insee shall, if necessary, amend the Siret number(s). A copy of the official document attesting to the change must be attached to the declaration.

You're going to employ staff

Registration must be requested from the company formality center (CFE) of the Urssaf: titleContent.

Employer association: Siren and Siret number request and status change declaration

The application must be accompanied by a copy of the receipt of the last declaration issued by the prefecture, or otherwise by a copy of the last extract published in the JOAFE: titleContent.

The CFE forwards the request to the INSEE, which registers and assigns the identification number. The association receives a certificate of registration to keep. A duplicate shall not be issued in the event of loss.

Then, the association must declare to the CFC of the Urssaf any change concerning its name, its object, its activities, the address of its headquarters or its establishments (opening, closing, moving). Insee shall, if necessary, amend the Siret number(s). A copy of the official document attesting to the change must be attached to the declaration.

Your association carries out activities that result in the payment of VAT or business tax

General case

Registration must be requested from the company Formalities Center (CFE) of the Commercial Court Registry.

M0 ASSO Declaration on an Association

Who shall I contact

The application must be accompanied by a copy of the receipt of the last declaration issued by the prefecture, or otherwise by a copy of the last extract published in the JOAFE: titleContent.

The CFE forwards the request to the INSEE, which registers and assigns the identification number. The association receives a certificate of registration to keep. A duplicate shall not be issued in the event of loss.

Next, the association must declare to the CFE of the Commercial Court Registry any change concerning its name, its object, its activities, the address of its seat or its establishments (opening, closing, moving). Insee shall, if necessary, amend the Siret number(s). A copy of the official document attesting to the change must be attached to the declaration.

Alsace-Moselle

Registration must be requested from the company Tax Office (SIE).

M0 ASSO Declaration on an Association

Who shall I contact

The application must be accompanied by a copy of the receipt for registration in the register of associations and a copy of the statutes.

The EIS shall forward the application to the INSEE, which shall register and assign the identification number. The association receives a certificate of registration to keep. A duplicate shall not be issued in the event of loss.

The association must then report to the EIS any change in its name, purpose, activities, address of its headquarters or establishments (opening, closing, moving). Insee shall, if necessary, amend the Siret number(s). A copy of the official document attesting to the change must be attached to the declaration.

What are the conditions for the award?

The EPA code (main activity performed) is assigned automatically, together with the Siren number, for statistical purposes.

The APE code is determined from the French classification of activities (Naf). Thus, the APE code can also be called Naf code by certain institutional actors.

The EPA shall be determined separately for the association as a whole and for each of its establishments.

The EPA code consists of 4 digits and one letter.

How to proceed when a change of activity of the association?

Any change in activity must be reported.

If the association considers that the EPA code assigned to it or to one of its establishments is incorrect, it may request its amendment.

The declaration of change of activity or rectification is made by means of one of the dedicated forms depending on whether the application relates to the activity of the association as a whole or one of its establishments.

Request to change the primary activity code (APE) of an association

The application must be accompanied by a copy of the statutes and of the Official Journal indicating the change in the objects of the company. The INSEE shall amend the EPA code.

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