To start an association, you must first establish it and adopt rules for how it will operate. You can then register it in Enhetsregisteret and receive an organisation number. Frivillighetsregisteret is a separate registration with its own conditions; it does not automatically provide money or support.
Is an association suitable for what you want to do?
An association is suitable when members want to work towards a shared purpose, such as a local cultural activity. Members govern the association, but they do not each own a share of it. Brønnøysundregistrene describes this as a self-owning association.
If the plan is for participants to own assets and share profits among themselves, you must consider another organisational form. Read Brønnøysundregistrene’s explanation of what an association is before starting the forms.
Begin by discussing what you want to do, whom the activity is for and who wants to be a member. A name and a social media group are not the same as documented decisions on how the association will be governed.
If you would rather join an existing activity, you can find advice in SamfunnPrep’s guide to volunteering and dugnad. This article concerns creating a new association, with registration information checked on 2 November 2026.
How do you establish the association?
You must hold a founding meeting with at least two people present as founders. The association must be established before it is registered. The minutes of the meeting serve as the founding document.
At the meeting, you must decide how the association will work and adopt statutes. Statutes are the rules members must follow. You can use Brønnøysundregistrene’s founding examples, but adapt them to your actual association.
A practical meeting agenda is to review the purpose, name and draft statutes, then elect a board under the rules you adopt. Make sure the minutes describe the decisions clearly. Do not let different documents list different names or board compositions.
If the association has already been established, do not invent a new founding date just for registration. If the old founding document is missing, Brønnøysundregistrene explains which other documents can show that the association exists, including annual meeting minutes.
What should the statutes contain?
The statutes should let you resolve common questions without guessing. Who can be a member? How is the board elected? How do you change the rules, and what happens if the association closes?
Brønnøysundregistrene’s guidance on statutes recommends including the name, purpose, rules on the board and annual meeting, members’ relationship with the association, amendments to the statutes and dissolution. The association’s self-owning status should also be clear.
The annual meeting is where members make decisions under the statutes, including elections. The board manages the association between meetings. Write rules you understand and can actually use; a template is a starting point, not a record of decisions you have already made.
For a new local cultural association, a useful question might be: “How do we elect a new board if someone moves away?” The answer should be found in your rules and decisions. This is a planning question, not an additional official document requirement.
What do you need for Enhetsregisteret?
You receive the organisation number by registering in Enhetsregisteret. Use the form “Registrering i Enhetsregisteret og Foretaksregisteret” in Altinn, linked from Brønnøysundregistrene’s guidance. Many associations register voluntarily, partly because banks often ask for the number when opening an account.
In some cases, registration is compulsory. These include having employees, being required to pay VAT or registering in Foretaksregisteret or Frivillighetsregisteret. Brønnøysundregistrene explains the registration obligation.
For first registration, you must attach the founding document and statutes. For the board election, declare in the form that the board was validly elected and that minutes exist showing the most recently elected board. Brønnøysundregistrene may request the minutes during a check.
Prepare the following before opening the form:
| Have ready | What to check |
|---|---|
| Founding document | It shows the establishment of the association |
| Statutes | The name and rules match what you adopted |
| Board election minutes | They exist and support the information you report |
| Board details | The full board and deputy members are included |
Follow the current attachment requirements. The form must also be signed. Do not assume a saved draft means the registration has been submitted and fully processed.
How do you report the board and signing authority?
Brønnøysundregistrene registers the board chair, board members and deputy members. Internal titles such as treasurer or secretary are not separate board roles in the register. If the treasurer was elected to the board, report that person as a board member.
The official registration FAQs explain which identity details are required and how to report the board. Use them if you are unsure about a role. Do not leave out an elected member because you cannot find the internal title in the form.
Signing authority is different from the right to use the bank account. Signing authority may allow someone to enter into commitments on the association’s behalf in many situations. Do not register such authority simply because someone needs to pay bills. Arrange bank access with the bank.
To report signing authority, there must be a valid decision matching the information supplied. It must be clear, among other things, whether the authority is exercised alone or jointly with others.
Should you also join Frivillighetsregisteret?
This register is relevant for associations that meet the conditions for voluntary activity. The association must already be registered in Enhetsregisteret with a board, operate without a profit-making purpose and meet the other requirements. A majority of the board cannot have been elected to their roles by virtue of public office.
Registration is free. Read the conditions and choices in Frivillighetsregisteret before applying. Two choices are easy to confuse:
- Attaching statutes: This is required with the application. Registering the statutes themselves is a separate, voluntary choice. If you choose registration, you must submit updated statutes whenever they change.
- Accepting a voluntary duty to file accounts: If you choose this, accounts must be sent to Regnskapsregisteret every year. Do not tick the box without understanding the follow-up required.
Registration may be a condition for applying for grants or VAT compensation. It does not mean an application will be approved.
Does the association automatically receive Grasrotandelen?
No. You must apply to participate and meet separate conditions. Lotteri- og stiftelsestilsynet explains the requirements for Grasrotandelen recipients, including voluntary effort, a public-benefit purpose, local or regional activity and a registered bank account.
An association can therefore be registered without being approved for Grasrotandelen. Clarify the scheme before counting on this income in your budget.
Finally, divide up the practical tasks: who follows the registration case, who keeps the documents and who checks the bank’s requirements? SamfunnPrep also offers practical tools for everyday life in Norway. For questions about a specific registration, contact Brønnøysundregistrene.
