How long charity registration takes
The Commission's guidance, quarterly data and annual report give no average registration time.
| Stage | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Saving a draft application | Up to 3 months from starting | CC21b |
| Initial check of what you sent | Within 48 hours | CC21b |
| Decision, when the four conditions below are met | Normally 40 working days | CIO model guidance |
| Service standard for registration, permission and advice requests | 30 working days, met for 80% in 2025-26 (86% in 2024-25) | Annual report 2025-26 |
| Entry on the public register | Should appear within 48 hours of being told you're registered | CC21b |
The 48-hour check is not the decision. It checks whether you need to register, whether your answers and register details are complete, and whether the trustees are eligible. The 30-day standard and the 40-day figure come from different publications. The 80% covers all three kinds of request together, not registration alone. Neither is a guaranteed date.
Demand, quarter by quarter
Quarterly releases to April to June 2026 (updated 8 September 2026).
| Quarter | Applications received | Charities registered |
|---|---|---|
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 2,811 | 1,101 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 2,901 | 1,301 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 2,863 | 1,158 |
| Jan to Mar 2026 | 3,184 | 1,090 |
| 2025-26 total | 11,759 | 4,650 |
| Apr to Jun 2026 | 2,912 | 1,223 |
2025-26 was a record: 11,759 applications, up from 9,836 the year before, about a fifth more. April to June 2026 was up again on the same quarter of 2025 (2,912 against 2,811), and registrations rose too (1,223 against 1,101). The totals don't show what happened to the applications received in each quarter, so they aren't a pass rate. The annual report describes growing queues and longer waits, and says timeliness "has not been where we want" it to be.
When the 40-working-day figure applies
The CIO model guidance says the Commission can normally decide in 40 working days when you:
- use its model wording for your objects
- show your activities match your objects
- show any private benefit is incidental and properly managed
- use its model governing document
It says other applications need closer consideration and take longer.
What adds time
| Cause | What happens |
|---|---|
| Gaps or unclear answers | The application comes back for you to resubmit. |
| Purposes in the form differ from the governing document | You must explain why. The form warns it could take longer. |
| Special or complex additions to the model | The Commission may need more time for specialist changes. Say what you changed and why. |
| New or unusual purposes | Closer consideration. |
| Generic answers, including AI-written text, not specific to your charity | May lead to requests for more information or clarification. |
Plan backwards from your deadline
If a grant, lease or event needs a charity number by a date, apply well before it. Forty working days is about eight weeks, before bank holidays, and only applies when all four conditions are met. Allow extra time if the Commission asks questions or returns your application.
Tell the Commission about special circumstances when you apply: for example, a disaster appeal where the trustees haven't had time to meet and agree the governing document. The guidance doesn't promise a quicker decision.
Allow time to recruit trustees, agree the governing document and collect ink signatures on the declaration. Unless you're a CIO, you'll normally need evidence of income over £5,000, such as a recent bank statement or a formal funding offer from a recognised funding body.
After registration
You get your number by email. Each trustee with an email address gets a list of guidance. Registration can also come with conditions the trustees must meet. A rejection comes with written reasons; you can reapply once you've dealt with them, ask for a review or appeal to the Charity Tribunal. HMRC recognition for Gift Aid is a separate application: how to apply.