For a Hong Kong incorporated company, the required address at incorporation is the company’s registered office address in Hong Kong (often informally called the “registered address”). This is filed with the Companies Registry as part of incorporation.
In practice, the company secretary often handles filings and follow-up, but the legal responsibility sits with the company and its officers, and the notice can be signed by a director or the company secretary (as applicable).
However, it’s interesting to note that most people don’t find this process easy. If you’re interested in finding out crucial information about the change of business address Hong Kong, you’re at the right place
This piece is a detailed guide that’s designed to teach you everything you need to know about this process.
What is a Registered Address?
More precisely, the registered office address is the official address of the company in Hong Kong where statutory communications and notices may be served.
Government departments may serve notices at, or make enquiries about, the registered office address (for example, for service of documents).
The key requirement is that the registered office must be a physical address in Hong Kong. Non-Hong Kong addresses, “care of” addresses, and P.O. Box numbers are not acceptable for the registered office address filing. A residential address may be used if it is a genuine physical address in Hong Kong and can receive official communications (you should also consider privacy and practical mail handling).
Registered Office Address VS. Business Address
You may wonder if there’s a difference between a registered office address and a business office address. Well, there is.
Your “business address” for Business Registration purposes is generally where the business is carried on / the place of business as registered with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD). It may or may not be the same as the registered office address.
The process for applying for a business office address is completely different from that of a registered office address. Application for a business address in Hong Kong starts after you’ve been incorporated.
After incorporation, a company must be registered under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310) and obtain a Business Registration Certificate (BRC). The BRC (and, where applicable, a branch registration certificate) should be displayed at the place of business/branch.
The Companies Registry handles the registered office address under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622). The IRD (Business Registration Office) handles business registration particulars, including business address, under Cap. 310.
How To Change A Registered Address?
Now, let’s look at how to undergo the process of a change of business address Hong Kong. The process is fairly straightforward.
A board resolution is commonly prepared as a governance step, but the law focuses on the filing requirement: when the registered office address changes, the company must deliver a notice of change to the Companies Registry within the statutory timeframe.
You can file the Notice of Change of Address of Registered Office (Form NR1) via the Companies Registry e-Services Portal (e-Registry/e-Services). For local companies filing the electronic NR1, there is an optional electronic one-stop notification service that can also report the change as a change of business address to the IRD.
The Companies Registry does not “issue a Business Registration Office”. Separately, the IRD handles updating Business Registration particulars and issuing an updated Business Registration Certificate where applicable. If you use the optional one-stop notification together with e-Form NR1 (for eligible local companies), the change can also be notified to the IRD through that service. Otherwise, you must notify the IRD directly.
After the registered office/business address change is effective and filings are done, you should update internal and external records. For example:
- Notify partners, clients and associates
- Notify your bank(s) and insurers
- Notify government authorities, suppliers and service providers.
- Update the new address on the company’s correspondence and official website
- Update address on company stationery (such as Business cards, envelopes, letterheads
If you change business registration particulars (such as business address, business name, nature of business, or cessation), you must notify the IRD (Business Registration Office) in writing within one month under Cap. 310. The IRD will update records and issue an updated certificate where applicable.
What Documents Do You Need To Submit?
For a change of registered office address, you file Form NR1 with the Companies Registry (electronically via the e-Services Portal, or in hard copy where applicable). Handwritten forms may be rejected.
There are a few documents that you’ll need to submit alongside the form. They include:
- The name of your company
- The company’s number
- The registered address and date for the change
- Presenter’s reference
In practice, the Companies Registry filing is made by submitting NR1 (which captures the required particulars). The Companies Registry typically does not require you to submit “proof of address” together with NR1, but you should keep your supporting documents (e.g., tenancy/lease, landlord consent where relevant, and mail handling arrangements) in your corporate records.
When Should You Notify The Authorities ?
If the address of the company’s registered office changes, the company must deliver the notice (Form NR1) to the Companies Registry within 15 days after the change takes effect. It’s a serious offense if you fail to report the change of address, and you’ll be penalized for such actions.
Under section 658 of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), failure to deliver the notice of change of registered office address within the required timeframe is an offence.
The maximum penalty commonly stated for this offence is a level 5 fine (currently up to HK$50,000) and a daily default fine (commonly stated as HK$1,000 per day) while the offence continues.
So, why’s it essential that you notify the government of a change in business address?Multiple government departments (including the Companies Registry and IRD) may send statutory and tax correspondence to the registered office address and/or business address on record.
It’s essential that you can receive this correspondence to ensure that your business complies with government standards.Keeping addresses up to date helps ensure you receive filing reminders, tax communications, and statutory notices in time to meet deadlines.
One-stop notification vs. separate IRD notification (avoid a common compliance miss)
If you change your registered office address, you should separate the question into two possible notifications:
- Companies Registry (registered office address) – Form NR1, within 15 days
This is mandatory when the company’s registered office changes. The filing updates the Companies Registry record under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622).
- Inland Revenue Department (business registration particulars, including business address) – within 1 month
If the change also affects the business address shown on your Business Registration Certificate, you must ensure the IRD is notified under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310). The IRD accepts notification through its prescribed channel(s), including the IRC3111A “Notification of Change of Business Address” and the eTax “Change of Business Registration Particulars” service (where applicable). The key compliance point is the one-month notification requirement for business registration changes.
How the “one-stop” option fits in:
For eligible local companies filing e-Form NR1, the Companies Registry e-Services Portal provides an optional electronic one-stop notification that can also report the change to the IRD as a change of business address. This is helpful, but it is still your responsibility to ensure the IRD record is actually updated correctly—especially if your “business address” and “registered office address” are not the same, or if you have multiple branches.
Practical tip: If your registered office changes but your place of business does not (or vice versa), treat them as distinct updates and make sure the correct department(s) are notified.
Practical compliance checklist and common mistakes
Here are common pitfalls businesses run into when handling a change of address in Hong Kong, and how to avoid them:
- Mistake: Using a non-physical address (e.g., P.O. Box, “care of” address, or an address outside Hong Kong) for the registered office.
Fix: Ensure the registered office is a physical Hong Kong address that can reliably receive mail and statutory documents. - Mistake: Missing the deadline (15 days for Companies Registry, 1 month for IRD business registration particulars).
Fix: Set an internal “effective date” and file immediately. Keep submission acknowledgements and a copy of the filed forms in your company records. - Mistake: Assuming updating one authority updates all authorities automatically.
Fix: Confirm whether you used the optional one-stop notification and whether it applied to your situation. If not, submit the IRD notification separately. - Mistake: Forgetting branches and signage/display obligations.
Fix: If you have branches, check whether a branch registration certificate needs updating and ensure certificates are properly displayed at each location. - Mistake: Not updating contracts, banking KYC, and internal governance records.
Fix: Update your corporate register/records, notify banks (KYC refresh may be required), insurers, key suppliers, platform accounts, and update your website/footer, invoices, and letterheads.
These steps help ensure you continue receiving statutory correspondence and reduce the risk of missed filings, penalties, or operational disruption.
How Can We Help?
No doubt, the process of change of business address Hong Kong is fairly lengthy and requires lots of attention to detail.
As a result, numerous businesses struggle with it. Do you intend to change your business address but have plenty of activities to handle at once? You can hire us to ease your burden.
At Premia TNC, we have professional company secretarial services that will help you complete your change of business address with ease. We are a leading business consultancy firm with numerous years of experience. You can trust us to handle the entire process quickly and smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my business address?
You must notify the IRD (Business Registration Office) in writing within one month of the change in business registration particulars (including a change in business address). One common method is submitting Form IRC3111A (Notification of Change of Business Address), or using the eTax “Change of Business Registration Particulars” service where applicable.
How can I change my address with Inland Revenuse Department?
- “IR1249” is commonly used for certain tax registration/update scenarios, but for business address change notification under Business Registration, the commonly used form is IRC3111A or the eTax “Change of Business Registration Particulars” service (where applicable).
- Writing a letter to the IRD.
- This depends on the type of taxpayer and the specific change; do not rely on a tax return alone if you have a Business Registration change that must be notified within one month.
- Using the GovHK eTax service (where available).
- Through the eTax platform.
What's the penalty for not informing the government of a change of address?
If a company fails to notify the Companies Registry of a change of registered office within 15 days (Cap. 622), the company and responsible officers may commit an offence with a maximum level 5 fine (commonly up to HK$50,000) and a daily default fine (commonly HK$1,000 per day) while the offence continues. Separately, failure to notify the IRD of changes in business registration particulars within one month (Cap. 310) may lead to prosecution and penalties under the Business Registration Ordinance.
