Registration under the NPO Act
The process to register your organisation under the NPO Act is currently done manually and in person at the Registrar General’s Office on the 7th Floor. The online registration feature on CROS for NPO Registration is currently disabled — you must register in person.
Complete Form 1 — Application for Registration
The Form 1 must be completed manually and taken to the Registrar General’s Office. It has five sections:
- Organisational Details
- Controller(s) Details
- Member(s) Details
- Founder(s) Details
- Beneficiary(ies) Details
Section 1 — Organisational Details (Questions 1–8)
For incorporated organisations, this information must exactly match what is on the CROS system. Any discrepancies will result in a query.
- Name — Enter exactly as it appears on your Certificate of Incorporation
- Status — “Incorporated” (Companies Act) or “Unincorporated”
- Telephone Number — Organisation’s telephone number
- Email Address — Organisation’s email address
- Principal Address — Full address of the organisation
- Multiple locations — State YES or NO and list all additional addresses if YES
- Declared purposes and activities — Must align with Articles of Incorporation for incorporated organisations
- Parent body or affiliation — State YES or NO, and provide particulars if YES
Section 2 — Controller(s) Details (Question 9)
For each controller, state:
- Full name (first, middle, surname)
- Full street address including unit number
- Occupation (with area of specialty where possible)
- Nationality
- Telephone number(s)
- Email address
- The basis upon which the person is considered a controller
Section 3 — Member(s) Details (Question 10)
For each member (natural person or corporation), state full name, address or registered office, occupation or corporate status, and nationality or jurisdiction. Members may be your Directors.
Section 4 — Founder(s) Details (Question 11)
For each founder, state full name, address or registered office, occupation or corporate status, and nationality or jurisdiction. Founders may be your original Directors or existing Directors if unchanged since incorporation.
Section 5 — Beneficiary(ies) Details (Question 12)
State the full name, address, occupation and nationality of each beneficiary or class of beneficiary. Beneficiaries may be stated as a class, for example: “socially displaced persons in Trinidad and Tobago”.
Required Attachments (Question 13)
- Copies of constituent documents of the NPO
- Copy of photo identification of the controller(s)
- Completed AML/CFT/PF risk assessment questionnaire (completed online — do not attach in hard copy)
The controller must date and sign the form, noting their Title as “Controller”.
Submit the Application
Bring the completed hardcopy Form 1, signed by the controller, to the Registrar General’s Office on the 7th Floor in person.