- Changing your registered office address in Hong Kong requires filing Form NR1 with the Companies Registry within 15 days of the change. There is no government fee.
- For most incorporated companies, the CR’s One-Stop service automatically notifies the Inland Revenue Department. You do not need to file Form IRC3111A separately.
- Late filing can result in fines of up to HK$50,000 plus a daily default fine of up to HK$1,000 per day.
- Your registered office address is a public record on the Companies Registry — it is not the same as your business address, and cannot be a P.O. box.
- You can file the change in advance by specifying a future effective date on Form NR1.
Most founders who change their registered office address in Hong Kong file Form NR1 with the Companies Registry and consider the job done. The part that often gets missed: the Inland Revenue Department needs to be updated too — either separately or via the CR’s One-Stop service. When that step is skipped, your two official records show different addresses, and government correspondence starts arriving at the wrong place.
This guide covers the exact process, the deadlines, the penalties, and when the One-Stop service means you don’t need to contact the IRD at all.
When do you need to update your registered office address?
You must notify the Companies Registry every time your registered office address changes, regardless of the reason.
Under Section 658 of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), the deadline is 15 days from the effective date of the change. Common triggers include:
- Moving to a new office or co-working space
- Switching from a home address to a corporate service provider
- Changing from one registered office provider to another
- Relocating to a different building in the same area
The 15-day clock starts from the effective date of the change — not the date you decide to move, and not the date you get around to filing.
Registered office address vs business address
These two are not the same, and confusing them is one of the more common admin errors for new founders. Here’s how they differ:
| Registered office address | Business address | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Official address for government and legal correspondence | Where daily business activities take place |
| Requirement | Mandatory under Cap. 622 | Optional |
| Public record | Yes — appears on the Companies Register | No |
| Location | Must be a physical address in Hong Kong; no P.O. boxes | Can be an office, shop, or virtual workspace |
| Use case | Government mail, tax notices, court documents | Marketing, client communications, operations |
How to change your registered office address in Hong Kong
The processhas three steps. For most incorporated companies, only Steps 1 and 3 require action.
Step 1: File Form NR1 with the Companies Registry (within 15 days)
This is the primary and time-sensitive filing. You must notify the Companies Registry using Form NR1 (Notice of Change of Address of Registered Office) within 15 days of the change taking effect.
Source: Companies Registry
What you’ll need:
- Your company number and company name
- The new registered office address
- The effective date of the change
How to file:
- Online (recommended): Submit through the e-Registry portal — available 24 hours, 7 days a week, with instant confirmation
- In person or by mail: Deliver the completed, signed paper form to the Companies Registry at Queensway Government Offices
Filing fee: None.
You can file in advance by specifying a future effective date on the form. Just make sure the form is submitted no later than 15 days after that effective date.
Step 2: Check whether you need to file Form IRC3111A with the IRD
For most incorporated Hong Kong companies, the CR’s One-Stop service handles this automatically. After processing your Form NR1, the CR notifies the Inland Revenue Department on your behalf.
Source: IRD
File Form IRC3111A directly with the IRD only if:
- Your business is a sole proprietorship or partnership (not an incorporated company)
- You want to ensure the IRD is updated immediately, without waiting for the CR to process your NR1
The IRD deadline for Form IRC3111A is 1 month from the effective date of the change. There is no filing fee.
Step 3: Receive and display your updated Business Registration Certificate
Once the IRD processes the address change (whether via One-Stop or direct filing), they issue an updated Business Registration Certificate showing your new address. The certificate arrives by post to your new registered office address at no charge.
You are legally required to display the current, up-to-date version of your Business Registration Certificate in a visible place at your principal place of business. Replace the old one as soon as the new one arrives.
You do not have to wait until moving day to file Form NR1. You can submit the form in advance by stating a future effective date. This is the easiest way to avoid missing the 15-day deadline when you are busy setting up a new space.
What are the penalties for late filing?
Both the CR and IRD have firm deadlines. Here’s what applies to each:
|
Authority |
Form |
Deadline |
Government fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Companies Registry |
NR1 |
15 days from effective date |
Free |
|
Inland Revenue Department |
IRC3111A |
1 month from effective date |
Free |
Penalties for late NR1 filing:
- Fines up to HK$50,000 plus a daily default fine of up to HK$1,000 per day while the breach continues
- Missed government notices and compliance letters sent to the old address
- In persistent cases, director prosecution under Cap. 622
Filing late costs more to fix than it would have cost to file on time.
What else to update after the address change
The government filings are the legal requirement. Everything else below is operational, but letting these slip causes its own problems.
Financial and banking:
- Notify your bank and payment service providers so statements and compliance mail reach you
- Update your company secretary if they’re separate from your registered office provider, so their records match the Companies Registry
Payroll and HR:
- Update your MPF contributions trustee records with the new address
- Notify business licensing authorities if your licence is tied to a specific address
Company materials:
- Website and social media
- Email signatures, invoices, letterheads, business cards
Internal records:
Keep copies of the filed Form NR1 and any Form IRC3111A with your statutory records. If the address change required a board resolution, file that too. Your company secretary should hold these alongside your statutory registers.
How Sleek can handle your registered office address change
Switching your registered office address to Sleek is a single handoff. Here’s what we take care of:
- Prepare and file Form NR1 with the Companies Registry
- Coordinate the One-Stop IRD notification
- Confirm your Business Registration Certificate update once it comes through
Your new registered office will be in Central Hong Kong — the address that appears on the Companies Register after the change.
Once you’re onboarded, our virtual mailroom handles everything that follows:
- Scans and forwards government and official correspondence to you digitally
- Flags anything time-sensitive as soon as it arrives
Move your registered office to Sleek, and we’ll handle the rest.
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