Apply In-Person

1. To register a charitable organization, you should submit your complete application to the DCFS office. Please view the DCFS contact details via this link:Link
2. Obtain the application form for registration and the Fit and Proper Questionnaire form from the DCFS office in-person or download the forms for the DCFS website via this link: Link (Charity - Application Form (Charity Form 1) and Charity - Fit and Proper Questionnaire (Charity Form 2)). You can also download the forms directly via the links provided in the “Documents to Use” section below
3. Complete both forms as instructed and obtain all the required supporting documents highlighted on page 3 of the registration application form
4. Go to the DCFS office and pay the required registration fee at the accounts and obtain the payment receipt
5. Then submit the complete application including the payment receipt to the DCFS official at the service desk
6. The official will verify your application and issue you an acknowledgment receipt containing details of your application then forward the application to the necessary department for processing
7. The DCFS through the necessary department will assess your application to determine if it meets all the required standards for registration
8. If the application meets the required standards, the DCFS will approve it and prepare the registration documents for your charitable organization
9. Visit the DCFS office and obtain the registration certificate for your charitable organization

• Complete forms
• Tax Registration Number (TRN)
• Certificate of Registration or Certificate of Incorporation
• Fit and Proper Questionnaire
• Certified passport size photograph to be submitted by all the Directors and the Secretary
• Prior year financial statements, audited or unaudited
•  Articles of Association and Memorandum of Association (entities registers with COJ before 2005); Form 1B – Articles of Incorporation to include Schedule 1; Rules; Vested Act; or any other applicable Constitution

Please refer to the checklist on page 3 of the application form

Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies
Address: 2 Musgrave Avenue, Kingston 10, Jamaica
Phone: (1876) 927-4912/927-6572 or 978-1946
Email: info@dcfs.gov.jm
Website: Contact Link
Details: Link

For your organization to be eligible for such status the entity must ensure the following:

• It does not fall under the list of excluded bodies (Interpretation Clause, Charities Act)
• It is established for Charitable purpose exclusively (First Schedule, Charities Act)
• It is intended to and does operate for public benefit (Section 4, Charities Act)
• It has no part of its net income or assets enuring to the personal benefit of any governing broad member or settlor of the organization, or any other private individual. A clause explicitly stating such must be a part of your Constitution.

• Registration fee is $24,000.00

• The registration certificate is valid for two years and it is subjected to renewals when it expires

• Application Form (Charity Form 1): Link
• Fit and Proper Questionnaire (Charity Form 2): Link

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• Within 15 working days

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

• The Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies (DCFS) allows up to six months after the expiry date of the Charity Certificate for renewal. At the end of the six months, a charity must submit a new application, with the relevant documents for re-application for charity status. If there is no change to the Charity constitutive documents, objects, and powers, the re-application will be processed within ten working days.

• Name of entity
• Address
• Date of application
• Registration number
• TRN
• Details of applicant
• Contact details
• Type of entity
• Objectives of entity
• Director/s details
• Secretary information
• Audit details
• Declaration

• The charity certificate proves your organization is registered as a charitable organisation and can utilise the benefits issued by Jamaican government for charitable organizations

• Charities Act:Link

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

DCFS: Link

More information which might help people.