Before submitting an application, organisations should carefully review all requirements to ensure readiness.

Applicants must:

1. Review the European Code of Standards for Independent Fact-Checking Organisations
2. Read the Guide for applying to the EFCSN
3. Complete the recommended self-assessment checklist
4. Verify compliance with all mandatory standards

The Code distinguishes between mandatory standards and best practices. Compliance with mandatory standards is required for membership, while best practices are encouraged.

To help organisations prepare in advance, we offer a PDF preview of the application form. This document shows all questions and required information before you start your application, allowing you to prepare materials ahead of time.

Organisations operating in multiple languages

If your organisation publishes fact-checking content in more than one language, your application and your editorial work will be reviewed in two languages. If you operate in more than two languages, the languages of assessment are chosen by the EFCSN Governance Body. This review helps ensure that the same editorial standards, verification methods and transparency practices are applied consistently across all languages in which you operate.

Before submitting your application, you will therefore need to provide evidence showing that these standards are applied equally in every language version of your work. To do so, please submit this form before beginning your online application.

The EFCSN team will contact you directly to confirm which languages will be assessed and to clarify any related requirements. If you have concerns about meeting this requirement or questions about how to complete the application specific to your scope, please contact us at [email protected].

To begin the application process, your organisation must create a profile on the EFCSN Application Platform and submit all required information there.

Creating your account and organisation profile

To submit your application, follow these steps:

1. Click the “Start your application” button on the EFCSN website.
2. Register a personal account by entering:
   • Your name
   • Surname
   • Email address
   • Create a password
3. Confirm your email address through the verification message you receive.
4. Log in to your EFCSN account
5. Create or select your organisation profile on the platform.
   • After logging in, you’ll see a prompt to “Create or join your organisation”
   • Click “Create organisation”
   • Fill in the organization details
   • Click “Create”
6. Once the organisation profile is created, you can begin completing the application form.

Completing the application

While filling out the form:

• The system auto-saves after you stop typing for 1 second. A green checkmark indicates successful saving.
• You may complete the application over multiple sessions if needed.
• Review all sections for completeness
• Check the validation summary at the top
• Click “Submit Application” when all required fields are complete
• You’ll receive an email confirmation

Important: Once submitted, you cannot edit the application unless it’s returned for more information.

After submission, the application enters an independent evaluation phase designed to ensure fairness and professional assessment.

External assessors

Each application is reviewed by two independent external assessors who:

• Work separately and do not know each other’s identities
• Are experts in disinformation, fact-checking and/or journalism
• Have knowledge of the applicant’s country or region

Their task is to assess whether the applicant organisation complies with the standards required for membership.

Each answer is evaluated as:

• Compliant: Meets the standard 
• Non-compliant: Does not meet the standard 
• Needs more information: Requires clarification or additional evidence

If assessors request more information, you will receive an automatic notification and will have the chance to log back in and respond to their comments. Once all requested information is provided, you can click “Request Assessment” and the application will return to assessment.

Final review by the Governance Body

In addition to the assessors, the Governance Body of the EFCSN reviews each application. To provide clarity and regional context where necessary, the Governance Body may also consult existing EFCSN members from the same country as the applicant organisation, or if none exist, from the same geographical region.

After receiving the recommendations from the external assessors and current EFCSN members from the same country/region, the Governance Body will make a final decision on your application. The decision requires a qualified majority of 2⁄3 of the voting members of the Governance Body.

The EFCSN Governance Body is currently composed of 11 members, who will not participate in the votes on their own organisation’s application. The final decision of the Governance Body will be explained and made publicly available on the EFCSN’s website. The possible decisions are:

• “Approval”, in case of full and definitive approval
• “Pending decision”, if the Governance Body asks for more information from the applicant before taking a definitive decision
• “Rejection”, in case of full and definitive rejection

We aim to conclude the entire assessment procedure within 90 working days.

At the end of the procedure, approved members will be asked to publish an EFCSN badge on their websites. The names of members will also be listed on the EFCSN’s website together with their application.

More information about the application process and compliance can be found in the European Code of Standards for independent fact-checking organisations.

The application process entails a non-refundable fee. This fee offsets the cost of hiring two external assessors to evaluate the application. The amount you pay will depend on the annual turnover of your organisation, which you must declare on your application form:

If accepted to the network, you will also have to pay an annual membership fee. The Governance Body may, at any time, waive or lower these economic contributions under a reasoned decision.