The Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco maintains and periodically updates the register of Italian associations operating within its consular district, in accordance with the applicable Italian legislation.
The register plays an important role in the implementation of the legislation governing the General Council of Italians Abroad (CGIE) and the Committees of Italians Abroad (Com.It.Es.). In particular, Article 13 of Law No. 368/1989, as amended by Law No. 198/1998, provides that representatives of registered associations may participate in the electoral assemblies for the CGIE. Furthermore, Law No. 286/2003 and Presidential Decree No. 395/2003 assign specific functions to registered associations in relation to the composition and activities of the Com.It.Es.
Pursuant to Article 7 of Presidential Decree No. 329/1998, associations may be entered in the register provided that they have been operating in the host country for at least five years and meet the legal requirements concerning their date of establishment, statutory purposes, legal representatives, and other information required by law.
In order to be registered with this Consulate General, associations must meet a number of formal and substantive requirements, as set out in Circular no. 2 of 9 October 2013 issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Registration is carried out only upon request by the association. Associations are not registered automatically.
Associations wishing to be included in the register are invited to submit the following documentation to the Consulate General:
- a registration request signed by the legal representative;
- a copy of the association’s current bylaws (Statute);
- a copy of the articles of incorporation, where available;
- an updated list of officers and legal representatives;
- a brief summary of the association’s activities;
- any additional documentation demonstrating compliance with the applicable legal requirements.In accordance with Circular no. 2 of 9 October 2013 issued by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, registered associations are required to communicate the Consulate General, at least once a year, of their activities, of the convening of their annual general meeting, and of any changes to their bylaws, governing bodies, or other relevant information.
The Consulate General may remove an association from the register under the conditions specified in the law, including dissolution of the association, a request by its legal representative, or failure to maintain the required eligibility criteria. In cases of uncertainty, the Consulate General may seek the non-binding opinion of the relevant Com.It.Es.
For further information or to request registration, please contact the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco at it.sanfrancisco@esteri.it.