1. How is an association or foundation established?
- The founder of an association or foundation shall first draft a constitution and apply to the Identification Services Bureau (DSI) for the “Certificate of Adoptable Name of Association and Foundation”;
- Upon receipt of the certificate, the founder shall notarize the establishment of the association or foundation at the Public Notary Office;
- After the constitution is published in the Official Gazette, DSI will notify the association or foundation of the registration number by an official letter;
- The founder of the association may call general assemblies and elect members of the leadership structure in accordance with the constitution;
- General assembly minutes and photocopies of the identity documents of all members shall be submitted to DSI.
2. How does the applicant collect the Certificate of Adoptable Name of Association and Foundation? How long is the processing time?
After DSI received the application for the Certificate of Adoptable Name of Association and Foundation, the certificate will be posted to the contact person in letter according to the address provided on the application form 12 working days after the date of receiving all required documents.
3. How is a constitution written for establishing an association on foundation?
Please refer to the constitutions of established associations or foundations on the website of the Government Printing Bureau (www.io.gov.mo). The establishment of all associations or foundations are published in the Official Gazette, Series II, of the Macao Special Administrative Region.
4. How can an established association or foundation revise its name or add another name?
- The association or foundation has to properly fill out an application form for the “Certificate of Adoptable Name of Association and Foundation” and affix the seal of the association or foundation to the form (the applicant must be the president or director of the association or foundation, or any individual authorized by the president or director);
- The application form must specify the registration number of the association or foundation and the new name to be adopted;
- A photocopy of the identification document of the applicant;
- The draft amendment to the constitution (please specify the articles to be amended);
- The minute of the general assembly in which at least three-fourth of members attending the assembly agreed on the resolution to amend the constitution (if any).
5. How can an established association or foundation amend articles of its constitution (including changing the address)?
The association or foundation can apply to Cartório Notarial (the Public Notary Office) for the amendment of articles of its constitution (including the association address) provided that there is not any change in the name of the association. (1.º Cartório Notarial, Tel: 28574258; Cartório Notarial, Tel: 28554460; Cartório Notarial das Ilhas, Tel: 28827504).
6. How does an association or foundation set up a minute register?
Pursuant to the stipulations of Article 146 of the Civil Code, the resolutions of an association or foundation should be recorded in its minute register. The minute register shall be accessible by the members.
The minute register can be set up by the person-in-charge or the administration body of an association or foundation (e.g. the board of directors or other organs of similar function). The minute register could be made up of blank loose-leaf pages. The association has to ensure that each page is kept intact by an effective means so as to avoid loss.
7. What must be included in general assembly minutes?
Pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article 146 of the Civil Code, general assembly minutes must include:
- The venue, date, time, and agenda of the assembly;
- The name of the person who chairs the assembly;
- The contents of proposed resolutions and the results of votes thereupon;
- The voting intentions of members of the body as requested by them;
- The signature of members of the leadership structure attending the assembly;
- The signature of the person who chairs the assembly.
8. Is it necessary to notify DSI when the term of office of members of the leadership structure of an association expires?
At the expiry of term of office of members of the leadership structure, a general assembly shall be convened for the purpose of electing new members of leadership structure according to the constitution. After the election, the association shall submit the general assembly minutes to DSI along with photocopies of the identification documents of all members within 90 days according to law (In cases where photocopies of the valid identification documents of members were submitted to DSI before, it would not be necessary to file them again).
9. How can an association submit general assembly minutes and apply for a new Certificate of the Leadership Structure after it has convened a general assembly and elected new members of leadership structure?
a. General assembly minutes and certificate applications can be submitted to one of the following service locations of DSI in person or by an authorized representative:
- The Identification Services Bureau (1st floor, China Plaza)
- The Macao Government Services Centre in Areia Preta (Zone R, 2nd floor)
- The Macao Government Services Centre in Islands (Zone D, 3rd floor)
The certificate will be issued in 12 working days (following the day of receipt of the application and all required documents by DSI).
b. Through the“Online Management System of Association and Foundation” of DSI, associations can register information about members of the leadership structure, and upload general assembly minutes and photocopies of identification documents. After that, they can apply for a Certificate of the Leadership Structure in the system. The processing time of the certificate will be shortened to 3 working days (following the day of confirmation of the registered list of members of the leadership structure by DSI).
10. What is the eligibility for “Same-day Issuance of Certificate of Association and Foundation” service?
“Same-day Issuance of Certificate of Association and Foundation” targets on associations and foundations which had ever applied for the certificate of the latest leadership structure. This service is applicable to online and self-service applications lodged by the members of the latest leadership structure.
The processing time of online and self-service application for “Same-day Issuance of Certificate of Association and Foundation” varies subject to the collection location. |
Time of Application |
Collection Location |
The Identification Services Bureau
(1st floor, China Plaza) |
The Macao Government Services Centre in Areia Preta (Zone R, 2nd floor) |
The Macao Government Services Centre in Islands (Zone D, 3rd floor) |
09:00~10:15 |
13:30 |
13:30 |
10:16~13:00 |
17:00 |
17:45 |
13:01~14:30 |
13:30 on the following working day |
14:31~16:00 |
17:45 |
After 16:01 |
13:30 on the following working day |
11. What is the “Online Management System of Association and Foundation” used for?
For the ease of the president or chairman of the association or foundation to conduct enquiry, registration and application, the Online Management System has the following functions:
- Registering members of the leadership structure and uploading general assembly minutes and valid identification documents;
- Checking information about members of the latest leadership structure of an association or foundation registered with DSI;
- Applying for the Certificate of the Leadership Structure.
12. Who are eligible to use the “Online Management System of Association and Foundation”?
President or chairman of associations or foundations, or their delegates can use their “Common Access to Public Services of the Macao SAR” account to log in to the “Online Management System of Association and Foundation” and manage the information of the association or foundation.
13. By which means can the president or chairman authorize other individuals to use the “Online Management System of Association and Foundation”? Must these individuals be members of the leadership structure?
- The president or chairman of an association or foundation may designate up to three individuals to manage the information of the leadership structure in the “Online Management System of Association and Foundation” (the designated individuals must have an account of the “Common Access to Public Services of the Macao SAR”). It can also fill out an application form for using “Online Management System of Association and Foundation” and submit it, in person or by post, to DSI along with photocopies of identification documents of designated individuals;
- Any individual, no matter he/she is a member of the association or foundation or not, can be designated to use the “Online Management System of Association and Foundation”.
14. How can citizens check the position taken in different associations or foundations?
- Holders of “Common Access to Public Services of the Macao SAR” (individual account) can enquire about the information in regard to the position that they have taken in different associations or foundations by using the “Common Access to Public Services of the Macao SAR” mobile application or the “Association and Foundation Office-holders Information Enquiry” service under “Association and Foundation Application Service” in DSI’s “Online Services” zone;
- Holders of Macau SAR resident identity card can use DSI’s self-service kiosks to check the position that they have taken in different associations or foundations.
15. Is there any expiry date on the Certificate of Association and Foundation?
There is no expiry date on the Certificate of Association and Foundation. The receiving department or organization decides to accept the document or not.
16. What should be done if the application receipt of the Certificate of Association and Foundation is lost?
The applicant should specify his or her name, number of identity card or identification document, and the name of the association or foundation on a blank paper. Also, he/she has to declare the loss of above application, sign the declaration (identical to the signature on the identification document) and affix the association stamp on it.
17. After the written/printed minute of the general assembly has been signed and confirmed by the chairperson and members who attended the assembly, what can be done if the minute needs additional information or modification?
Addition of details or deletion of errors should be made using ballpoint pens on the original handwritten or printed general assembly minute. Revisions should be made beside the relevant content and signed by the president or chairman as confirmation.
18. What should be done if members of an association doubt the legality or validity of a resolution adopted at a general assembly?
The person concerned can start civil proceedings pursuant to Articles 165 and 166 of the Civil Code and Article 341 and subsequent articles of the Civil Procedure Code.
19. What are the procedures to establish a foundation?
A foundation is referred to a legal person which is asset-based and social-interest-oriented. (refer to the stipulations of Articles 173 to 183 of the Civil Code). A founder who intends to establish a foundation has to apply to DSI for the “Certificate of Adoptable Name of Association and Foundation” and submit the constitution of the foundation, in which its purpose must be indicated and the assets allocated must be specified. Upon receipt of the certificate from DSI, the founder may apply to Cartório Notarial (the Public Notary Office) for confirming foundation status with relevant documents.
20. How does an association or foundation apply for becoming an “administrative public welfare legal person”?
Pursuant to the stipulations of Article 4 ofLaw No. 11/96/M of August 20, it is the authority of the Chief Executive to declare an entity an “administrative public welfare legal person”. An association or foundation can apply, through Cartório Notarial (the Public Notary Office), to the Chief Executive for declaring it to be an “administrative public welfare legal person”. DSI will register the associations or foundations that have been declared “administrative public welfare legal persons” within its jurisdiction.
For details about formalities for declaring to be an “administrative public welfare legal person”, please visit the website (https://www.safp.gov.mo/safptc/pages/WCM_068592) or contact the Public Information Center:
- Address: Rua do Campo, n.°188-198, Vicky Plaza, Macao
- Tel: 8866 8866 Fax: 2835 3355
- Office Hours: 9:00~18:00, Monday-Friday, without lunch break.
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