Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)

IGOs are in most cases established by a treaty that acts as a charter creating the group. Treaties are formed when lawful representatives (governments) of several states go through a ratification process providing the IGO with an international legal personality.

International Nongovernmental Organizations (INGOs)

INGOs are usually registered in accordance with national law of the country or countries in which they are founded.

A critical first step in establishing an NGO is researching the legal requirements that must be met in order to achieve legal recognition and eligibility for certain benefits. Both the domestic and European legal frameworks may impose requirements and confer benefits on NGOs.

The International Center for Not-For-Profit Law (ICNL) provides a checklist of legal considerations relevant to formation of an NGO, as well as an online database of country laws and reports concerning the nongovermental sector.

The United States government has also compiled a database of country reports, laws and codes, searchable by country.