Can a Virtual Office Address Be Used to Register a Hong Kong Company? How to Check the TCSP Register
A Hong Kong company must have a local registered office; P.O. boxes and 'care of' addresses are not accepted. What to check before using a virtual office address, and how to verify a provider's licence on the Companies Registry's TCSP register.
Start-ups and overseas founders often use a virtual office or registered address service to save rent and keep their home address private. Can such an address be used as a company’s registered office, and how do you check that a provider is properly licensed?
What the registered office must be
According to the notes to Companies Registry Form NR1, every company must have a registered office in Hong Kong to which all communications and notices may be addressed. The form states clearly that non-Hong Kong addresses, “care of” addresses and P.O. box numbers are not accepted.
In other words, the registered office must be an actual address in Hong Kong that can receive communications and notices sent to the company. Before using a provider’s address, confirm that it meets these requirements and that the provider holds a valid TCSP licence; if your situation is unusual, ask first.
Deadline for changing the registered office
If a company changes its registered office address, it must notify the Registrar of Companies on Form NR1 within 15 days of the change. The form must be signed by a director or the company secretary.
Why choose a licensed provider?
Anyone carrying on a trust or company service business in Hong Kong — such as providing a registered office address or acting as company secretary — must hold a Trust or Company Service Provider (TCSP) licence from the Companies Registry. Licensees must comply with the customer due diligence and record-keeping requirements of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance.
The advantage of a licensed provider is that you can verify it yourself on the official register instead of relying on its marketing.
How to search the TCSP register
The Companies Registry’s Guideline on Licensing of Trust or Company Service Providers explains that the register of licensees shows each licensee’s name and business address, and that the public can search it free of charge on the TCSP Licensing System website:
- Go to www.tcsp.cr.gov.hk
- Choose the register of trust or company service licensees
- Search by licensee name or licence number
- Check that the name, licence number and business address match what the provider has told you
For example, HKESC’s licensed legal name is HKCSC LIMITED and its licence number is TC010205 — you can check it this way.
Summary
A virtual office address is not a problem in itself. What matters is whether the address meets the legal requirements, whether mail is handled properly and whether the provider is licensed. A few minutes on the register before signing is the simplest safeguard.
Sources
- Companies Registry: Form NR1 and notes https://www.cr.gov.hk/en/companies_ordinance/docs/NR1_fillable.pdf
- TCSP Licensing System https://www.tcsp.cr.gov.hk/tcspls
- Guideline on Licensing of Trust or Company Service Providers (Chapter 14, register of licensees) https://www.tcsp.cr.gov.hk/tcspls/portal/guide/59/eng
General information only, not legal or tax advice.