{"id":2120,"date":"2024-03-13T03:14:01","date_gmt":"2024-03-12T19:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/setuphk.com\/?p=2120"},"modified":"2025-12-02T14:36:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T14:36:56","slug":"company-registered-address","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/setuphk.com\/en\/company-registered-address\/","title":{"rendered":"[Registered address] Can a virtual office be used as a business registration address? Requirements and how to change the address explained"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A registered address is required when registering a company, but start-ups and online shops may not need a physical office or shop. The temporary company address used in the early days may also change as the business develops. This article explains what you need to know about a company's registered address.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What a company's registered address is used for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Under Hong Kong law, all forms of company, whether limited or unlimited, must register their registered address before they can obtain a Business Registration Certificate. The registered address of a limited company must be registered with the Companies Registry (CR) and the Business Registration Office, while an unlimited company only needs to complete business registration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The address provided in the application is used as the company's address for receiving mail. Important government correspondence and statutory mail<\/u>, such as tax returns and Business Registration Certificate renewal notices, will be sent to the company's registered address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Requirements for a Hong Kong company's registered address or business registration address<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the The Hong Kong Companies Ordinance<\/a> provides that a company's registered address cannot be outside Hong Kong, and every Hong Kong company must have a registered address. The Ordinance does not require the registered address to be the place where the company carries out its business activities, which means the registered address of a company need not be its actual place of operation, but it must meet the following conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. A PO box address cannot be used;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. The address must be able to receive mail;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. It must be a physical address in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Requirements<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Put simply, a Hong Kong company's registered address or business registration address is acceptable as long as it is in Hong Kong, can receive mail and is not a PO box address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can a residential address be used as the company address?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Ordinance requires the registered address to be a physical address in Hong Kong, so there is of course no problem with registering the company at your own residence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, please note the following two points:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Whether the terms of the tenancy agreement allow the premises to be used as a company address or for business purposes. If your home is currently rented, then you need to make sure the address can be used for commercial purposes<\/u>, because if checks show that your address does not qualify as a company address, there is a risk of the application being rejected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Whether you mind your company address being made public. A search at the Companies Registry will show that the company address is publicly searchable information<\/u>, so if you are concerned about personal data privacy, we do not recommend registering your residential address as the company address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it lawful to use a virtual office to register a company?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you do not yet have a suitable address, many people consider renting a virtual office. Many company secretarial firms offer virtual office rental as a registered address service, so you can first rent a virtual office as your company's registered office address. In addition, because the company address is public company information that can be found through the search system, some people also choose to rent a virtual office for privacy reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legality of virtual offices<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, some people have doubts about renting a virtual office. Is it lawful in Hong Kong to rent a virtual office as a company's registered address?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key to whether renting a virtual office is lawful is whether the operator of the virtual office you are renting holds a Trust or Company Service Provider (TCSP) licence<\/u>. Under the Anti-Money Laundering Ordinance, it is an offence for anyone to operate a business centre or virtual office in Hong Kong without a licence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So whether renting a virtual office is lawful depends on whether the operator holds a licence. Before renting a virtual office, ask the operator to show its licence first, and only then rent the virtual office and register it as your company address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"FAQs<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to change a company's registered address<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Under current law, when a company needs to change its address, it must submit written notice to the relevant authority within one month after the change of registered address, requesting an update of the business address. An unlimited company changes its registered address by applying to the Business Registration Office, while a limited company must notify both the Business Registration Office and the Companies Registry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How an unlimited company changes its registered address<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To change its registered address, an unlimited company must complete the Notification of Change in Business Address form (IRC 3111A) ,<\/strong> and submit it to the Business Registration Office by post or in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How a limited company changes its registered address<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A limited company must notify the Business Registration Office and the Companies Registry separately. For the Business Registration Office, you need to complete the Notification of Change in Business Address form (IRC 3111A), and for the Companies Registry, the Notice of Change of Registered Office Address (NR1). Either can be submitted by post or in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you need a virtual office, you are welcome to contact the SetupHK team. We provide one-stop business consulting services, including company registration, bank account opening, company secretarial services and registered office representation, covering all your business needs so that you can focus your energy and time on growing your company!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click the WhatsApp button at the bottom right now to contact us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further reading: \u201cThe definition and purpose of the Business Registration Certificate, and how it differs from a company, explained<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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