New decree converts the Registry of Associations into an electronic service

The Governing Council of Castilla-La Mancha approved Decree 63/2026, of October 13, which replaces the 1999 regulations and converts the General Registry of Associations of Castilla-La Mancha into an electronic public service. The regulation is published in the Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha number 202, of October 21, 2026, within section I of general provisions (reference 2026/7521). It will enter into force twenty days after its publication, on November 10, 2026.

The decree, promoted by the Ministry of Finance, Public Administrations and Digital Transformation, repeals Decree 8/1999, of February 2, on the coordination of Association Registries, and the Order of March 15, 1999, which regulated registrations in the General Registry and other registries dependent on the Regional Government. Both provisions were issued under the validity of the Associations Law of December 24, 1964, subsequently repealed by Organic Law 1/2002, of March 22, regulating the Right of Association, which had left the regional framework outdated.

The text consists of 26 articles distributed across four chapters, two additional provisions, one repealing provision, two final provisions, and an annex of classification codes. It is issued under articles 33.2, 31.1.1ª and 39.3 of the Statute of Autonomy, with reports from the Legal Cabinet and the Spanish Data Protection Agency, and in agreement with the Consultative Council of Castilla-La Mancha. It is signed by President Emiliano García-Page Sánchez and Minister Juan Alfonso Ruiz Molina.

A unitary registry with provincial management

The General Registry of Associations of Castilla-La Mancha maintains an administrative and unitary character for the entire community, although its management is decentralized in the provincial bodies of the ministry competent in administrative organization, according to the province of the registered office. For the sole purpose of publicity, it registers associations, unions of associations, federations, and confederations constituted under Organic Law 1/2002 that operate primarily in the region and are not subject to a specific associative regime.

Registry sheets will be prepared exclusively in electronic format, and both the processing of information and the storage of documentation will be carried out through this medium. The decree provides for three types of entries: registration, marginal notes, and cancellation, with the rectification of material errors via marginal note.

Documentary requirements act by act

Chapter III details the documentary obligations for each procedure. The following acts, among others, shall be registrable:

• The constitution of associations, federations, confederations, and unions of associations.
• The incorporation, withdrawal, or separation from federative entities.
• The modification of bylaws and the identity of the members of the board of directors.
• The opening and closing of delegations.
• Suspension, dissolution, and deregistration due to transfer to another registry.
• Judicial resolutions and internal disputes.
• The recognition and revocation of public utility status.

Among the simplifications, a copy of the identity document of the promoters will only be required when they object to the Registry verifying their data. Documentation may be provided via a certified true copy under the responsibility of the signatory, and interested parties may seek assistance at the registry offices for identification and electronic signature.

Classification by purposes and internet publicity

Each entity will receive an activity code according to its purposes, in accordance with the annex of the decree, based on the regulations of the National Registry of Associations approved by Royal Decree 949/2015, of October 23. The annex organizes associations into ten large groups: ideological, cultural, educational, and communication; women and equality; childhood, youth, seniors, family, and welfare; environment and health; disability and dependency; victims; solidarity; economic, technological, and professional; sports and recreational; and miscellaneous.

Publicity will be provided through certificates, simple notes, copies of entries, or lists, with a maximum period of ten days to issue certificates. The Registry will maintain an internet portal with the basic data of the registered entities—name, registration number, territorial scope, municipality and province of the address, activity code, and registration status—and will not accept generic or abusive requests in application of data protection regulations.

The new framework obliges the associations and federations of the region to register their acts electronically and with standardized documentation, but eliminates superfluous procedures and burdens. The forms will be available on the regional electronic office, along with guiding templates for the founding act, bylaws, and certificates, which must be accessible to people with disabilities.

Source: Official Gazette of Castilla-La Mancha, no. 202, October 21, 2026, section I, page 37188 (official reference: 2026/7521).