Can I use a virtual office for my business registration address? Requirements, change of address process in one article to see clearly

Company registration are required to provide the company's registered address, but the start-up company or online shop may not have a physical office or shop needs, the initial tentative company address with the operation of the business may also change, the following will explain the company's registered address for you to know.

Use of company registered address

According to the laws of Hong Kong, all forms of companies, whether limited or unlimited, are required to register their registered addresses in order to obtain a Business Registration Certificate. The registered address of a limited company is required to be registered with the Companies Registry and the Business Registration Office, while an unlimited company is required to register with the Business Registration Office.

The address provided in the application will be used as the address for the company's incoming and outgoing correspondence, important government correspondence and statutory mail.For example, tax returns and business registration renewal notices will be sent to the company's registered address.

Hong Kong company registered address or business registration address requirements

According toHong Kong Companies OrdinanceIt is stipulated that a company's registered address cannot be located outside Hong Kong, and all Hong Kong companies must have a company registered address. The Ordinance does not require that the registered address of a company must be the place where the company carries out its business activities, i.e. a registered company may have an address that is not the actual business address, but the registered address of the company must fulfil the following conditions:

1. Postal mail addresses cannot be used;

2. The address must be able to receive mail;

3. Must have a physical address in Hong Kong.

Simply put, a Hong Kong company's registered address or business registration is fine as long as it is located in Hong Kong and can receive mail and non-postal mailbox addresses.

Can I use a residential address for my company address?

The Ordinance stipulates that the registered address of a company must be a physical address in Hong Kong, so there is certainly no problem with registering the address of a registered company at one's residence.

However, the following two points should be noted:

i. whether the terms of the tenancy agreement allow it to be used as a company address or for business purposes, and if the dwelling is currently rented, theNeed to make sure the address is commercially availableIf your address is checked and does not meet the company's address criteria, you risk being returned to the company.

II. Whether the company's address will be disclosed to the public as a result of a search in the Companies RegistryThe company's address is available View InformationIf you are concerned about personal data privacy, it is not recommended to register your residence as your business address.

Is it legal to register a virtual office as a company?

If there is no suitable address for the time being, many people will consider renting a virtual office. Many secretarial firms can provide the service of renting a virtual office as a registered address, which can be used as the address of the company's registered office in the first place. In addition, because the company address is public company information, you can find the company address through the search system, so there are also people who choose to rent a virtual office for privacy reasons.

Legitimacy of the Virtual Office

But at the same time, some people may have concerns about renting a virtual office. Is it legal to rent a virtual office in Hong Kong as a company's registered address?

The key to the legality of renting a virtual office is that you are renting theWhether the operator of the virtual office holds a "corporate service provider licence"Under the Anti-Money Laundering Ordinance (AMLO), it is an offence to operate a business centre or virtual office in Hong Kong without a licence.

Therefore, the legality of renting a virtual office depends on whether or not the business owner holds a licence. Before renting a virtual office, you can ask the business owner to produce a licence before renting a virtual office and registering it as a business address.

Change of Company Registered Address

According to the current legislation, if a company needs to change its address, it has to submit a written notice to the relevant authorities within one month after the change of registered address to request for updating the business address. Unlimited companies are required to apply to the Business Registration Office for change of registered address, while limited companies are required to notify the Business Registration Office and the Companies Registry.

Unlimited Company Change of Registered Address Process

Unlimited Company Change of Registered Address Procedure by Completing the "Notification of Change of Business Address (IRC 3111A)" Form ，Mail or hand deliver to the Business Registration Office.

Procedure for Change of Registered Address of a Limited Company

Limited companies are required to notify the Business Registration Office and the Companies Registry respectively. Therefore, a Notification of Change of Business Address form (IRC 3111A) is required for the Business Registration Office and a Notification of Change of Registered Office (NR1) is required for the Companies Registry, which can be sent by post or in person.

Conclusion

If you have the need to rent a virtual office, you may want to contact the Lafont business consulting team, we provide one-stop business consulting services, there are registered companies, open a bank account, secretarial services and office representatives and so on are all-round care of your business needs, so that you can focus your energy and time on the development of the company!

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Extended reading: "TheDefinition of Business Registration Certificate, its function and its difference from a company in a single article》