Change Of Business Registration Address In Hong Kong: What And How?

How do you change your registered address in Hong Kong when moving to a new office or expanding operations?

At first glance, updating an address may seem like a simple administrative step, but in Hong Kong it carries significant legal implications. Every company must have a registered office and report changes promptly to both the Companies Registry and the Inland Revenue Department.

Businesses often update their address to support growth, optimize costs, or restructure operations. Timely updates also foster credibility with clients, investors, and government agencies.

With these obligations in mind, it is important to follow the proper procedures carefully. In today’s article, we examine the registered office requirements in Hong Kong, providing clarity on what companies must do to stay in good standing.

Understanding the change of registered office in Hong Kong

Every company in Hong Kong must maintain a valid registered office address. This address is a required anchor for compliance under the Companies Registry (CR), and a change of registered office must be reported formally, and delays or omissions carry real risk.

Understanding the change of registered office in Hong Kong

Every company in Hong Kong must maintain a valid registered office address. This address is a required anchor for compliance under the Companies Registry (CR), and a change of registered office must be reported formally, and delays or omissions carry real risk.

What is a registered business address?

A registered business address in Hong Kong is the official location where the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) and other government authorities can communicate with your company. It is listed on the Business Registration Certificate (BRC) and is crucial for tax filings, licensing applications, and receiving legal notifications.

Please note that it may or may not be the same as your operational office, but it must be accurate and current. When a change of business registration address occurs, the IRD and the Business Registration Office (BRO) must be notified.

What is a registered office address?

The registered office address is the formal address of the company under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622). It must be a physical address in Hong Kong (not a PO box), suitable for receiving official government and legal correspondence.

All Hong Kong-incorporated companies are legally required to have a physical registered office in Hong Kong. The address is used for receiving legal notices, statutory documents, and official correspondence from regulators.

Companies must notify the CR of any change in the registered office within 15 days by submitting the appropriate form, such as Form NR1 for a Hong Kong-incorporated company or NR1A for a non-Hong Kong company. Late notifications can result in fines, and failing to receive statutory documents due to outdated information will lead to compliance complications.

Difference between the registered business address and the registered office address

The registered business address and the registered office address serve slightly different functions.

In particular, the registered office is mainly for statutory and legal correspondence, whereas the business address is tied to operational and tax records. Thus, updating both addresses is essential whenever your company moves.

For instance, a company may relocate its operational office to a larger facility while continuing to use its corporate service provider’s address as the registered office. In such cases, the company must:

• Submit Form NR1/NR1A to the Companies Registry for the registered office change.
• If the business address (for tax/operations) also changes, submit a notice of change of address of registered office to the IRD / Business Registration Office within one month, typically via Form IRC3111A.
• Update records with banking service providers, suppliers, and other relevant authorities.

Alternatively, companies may opt for the joint e‑Registry one‑stop notification service, allowing CR to notify BRO on their behalf.

Common reasons for changing a registered address in Hong Kong

Below are several common circumstances that prompt businesses to update their registered office or notify a change of business address.

Company formation

Newly incorporated businesses sometimes start with a temporary registered office. Once permanent premises are secured, the official address is updated to reflect the true location for correspondence and legal recognition.

Business expansion

Growth may require relocation to larger premises. Updating the registered office aligns statutory records with operational activities and directs all official documents to the correct address.

Lease expiry or termination

If a lease ends or an office is vacated, companies must notify the registry promptly. Reporting changes avoids administrative penalties and maintains compliance with the Companies Ordinance.

Relocation to new premises

Moving operational offices for expansion, cost optimization, or consolidation requires notification.

Even if the registered office stays with a service provider, the change of business address used for tax and operational purposes must be updated with the Inland Revenue Department and Business Registration Office (BR change of address).

Changing the registered agent or company secretary location

When service providers are changed, the change of registered office may also require revision to reflect the new agent or corporate secretary’s address. This directs official communications without interruption.

Compliance and correspondence management

Keeping an accurate registered office allows companies to receive statutory notices, legal documents, and government correspondence promptly.

The notification of change of business address process communicates the correct information to the Companies Registry and the Business Registration Office.

How to change the registered address in Hong Kong

To complete the process of changing a Hong Kong company’s registered office smoothly, you must follow each of these steps in order.

Step 1: Prepare necessary company documents

Before submitting the application, you should first gather essential company documents:

• A board resolution approving the change of registered office
• An updated Articles of Association (only necessary if the address appears in the company’s constitutional documents)
• Proof of the new office address, such as a lease agreement or an authorization letter from the property owner

Step 2: Notify the Companies Registry

Next, file Form NR1, Notice of Change of Address of Registered Office, within 15 days after the move. The form requires:

• Company name and number
• Old and new registered office addresses
• Effective date of change

You are required to send a notice to the Companies Registry (CR) within 15 days of the registered address change. This notice is submitted using Form NR1 – Notice of Change of Address of Registered Office electronically, by post, or in person.

Submissions can be made online via the CR’s e-Registry or physically at the Registry. In addition, processing typically takes 1–3 working days for online submissions. Once accepted, the Registry will issue an acknowledgment.

It is important to complete this form either in English, Chinese, or both and have it signed by the secretary or director of the company.

Step 3: Notify the Inland Revenue Department (Business Registration Office)

Once the Companies Registry submission is completed, you should submit a notification of change of business address to the IRD within one month of the move. This can be done either through:

• eTax online submission

Paper submission using Form IRC3111A – Change of Business Particulars if your business is not an incorporated company (e.g., sole proprietorship, partnership, etc.) or if you prefer to file a physical notice

Step 4: Notify other relevant parties

After updating your registered office with the Companies Registry and the Inland Revenue Department, you should also inform all relevant parties about the change, such as:

• Banks
• Insurance providers
• MPF trustees (for employee retirement schemes)
• Suppliers, and
• Service partners.

Additionally, remember to update your company’s letterheads, invoices, website, and office signage to reflect the new address.

By communicating these updates promptly, you can avoid missed notices, delays in payments or deliveries, and unnecessary confusion. Moreover, keeping everyone informed supports a professional company image.

After successfully updating your company’s registered office address with the Companies Registry and Inland Revenue Department through Form NR1, remember that your Business Registration Certificate still needs to reflect the new address upon expiry – a step many businesses overlook during relocation.

To avoid penalties and ensure uninterrupted compliance, you should renew business registration well before the current certificate lapses, as the renewal process will automatically incorporate the updated address previously notified to the IRD.

When to notify the local authorities? 

When changing your registered office in Hong Kong, you should act promptly to stay fully compliant with legal requirements.

Once the new address is finalized, submit Form NR1 to the Companies Registry within 15 days. It’s beneficial to opt for the e-Registry, which can then trigger the optional one-stop notification service.

After filing, the updated registered office becomes publicly searchable within about two days, allowing banks, clients, and partners to access accurate contact information.

You should also make sure that the registered office can accept physical deliveries during business hours, as PO Boxes or “care-of” addresses are not acceptable under the Companies Ordinance.

Under section 658(5) of the Companies Ordinance, a company that does not submit Form NR1 within the required period may incur a level 5 fine of up to HK$50,000 and an additional daily fine of HK$1,000 until the update is completed.

Consequently, timely updates are crucial to maintain a company’s legal standing and protect against missed statutory notices or regulatory issues.

Checklist for changing your registered address in Hong Kong

The process of updating your registered office involves several filings and confirmations, so here is a simple checklist for you. The table below summarizes the key timelines for each authority involved in the change of registered office in Hong Kong.

Requirement	Responsible Authority	Deadline
File NR1 for the notice of change of address of registered office	Companies Registry	Within 15 days after the change
File notification of business registration change of address	Inland Revenue Department	Within 1 month after the change
Update bank, suppliers, service providers, and partners	Relevant institutions	As soon as the new address is active

Additionally, you can rely on the following tips to keep the process accurate and well coordinated.

• Start by preparing a board resolution and gathering address proof so your filings are ready without delays.
• File Form NR1 through the e Registry to receive immediate acknowledgment and reduce the chance of missing the 15-day deadline.
• Use eTax for the business registration change of address, as it creates a clear digital trail for future reference.
• Update banks and payment platforms early, since outdated address records will affect transactions and account verification.
• Refresh your company website, stationery, and contract templates so every public-facing document reflects the correct registered office.
• Keep a simple internal log of who has been notified. This helps you avoid gaps when multiple teams or service providers are involved.

Considerations when changing your registered office 

When you plan a change of registered office in Hong Kong, you need to weigh practical and regulatory factors before committing to a new address.

Choose a location accessible for official correspondence and record inspection

Your registered address must be a physical location in Hong Kong, not a PO box or a non-physical mailbox. Government departments, courts, and creditors may deliver statutory documents or legal notices directly to this address.

Therefore, selecting an address where mail can be reliably received during business hours, and where authorised persons can inspect statutory records, is essential.

Ensure compliance with your company secretary or service provider agreement

If you rely on a corporate-service provider or company secretary for registered-office services, check your service agreement carefully. The agreement should allow their address to be used as your official registered office.

Conveniently, BBCincorp offers compliant address services that meet requirements under the Companies Ordinance.

Keep address consistent across company records, letterheads, and digital listings

Once you update the registered office, make sure to revise every official contact point: Business Registration Certificate, statutory registers, invoices, website, email signatures, and signage. This reduces confusion and makes sure that all relevant parties have your current details on file.

Review timing around the financial year-end to avoid administrative disruption

If your accounting or financial year-end is approaching, plan address changes carefully to avoid overlapping with statutory filings or audits. Changing address during a busy reporting period could complicate document submission and notifications, and increase the risk of missing a compliance deadline.

Partner with BBCIncorp for a seamless address change in Hong Kong 

When managing a change of registered office in Hong Kong, companies would seek support from a provider that understands the regulatory process clearly. BBCIncorp is a long-established Hong Kong corporate service provider with extensive experience across company secretary services for ongoing compliance.

From assisting with preparing Form NR1 for the Companies Registry to notifying the business registry of your change of address, we manage your address update with precision and care.

With BBCIncorp, you can expect:

• Coordination with government authorities to confirm updated records
• Guidance on timelines and statutory obligations
• Support for urgent changes when needed
• Ongoing monitoring of company secretarial compliance through our online Client Portal
• Dedicated assistance from BBCIncorp professional team

We also provide broader corporate services to support long-term governance, including setting up a company in Hong Kong, accounting, auditing, opening bank accounts, annual return filing, nominee director services, and office address registering services.

Visit our website or chat with the support team now for more information on how we can help with doing business in Hong Kong.

To wrap up

Timely filing of a notice of change of address of registered office with both the Companies Registry and the Inland Revenue Department is essential for every Hong Kong company. Accurate records enable businesses to communicate with government authorities, ensure regulatory compliance, and minimize penalties.

Thus, updating your change of business address or BR address change is more than an administrative task. It reflects sound corporate governance and professional management. Working with BBCIncorp team lets you navigate the process efficiently, from preparing and submitting statutory forms to coordinating with relevant authorities.

Simplify your change of registered office Hong Kong with BBCIncorp’s expertise. Contact us today at service@bbcincorp.com for timely support.

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