How to Change a Hong Kong Company Name

How do you change a Hong Kong company name?

A Hong Kong incorporated limited company changes its registered name by passing a special resolution and filing Form NNC2 (Notice of Change of Company Name) with the Companies Registry within 15 days. The new name takes legal effect only when the Certificate of Change of Name is issued—not when shareholders vote or when the form is submitted.

The Companies Registry’s official change-of-name procedure sets out the steps. This guide concerns a local Hong Kong company; a registered non-Hong Kong company reporting a change to its overseas corporate name uses a different procedure.

Check the proposed name before the resolution

Start with an exact company-name search using the Companies Registry’s e-Search service. The new name must satisfy the same registration rules as a name chosen at incorporation. A company limited by shares using an English name must end it with “Limited”, not merely “Ltd”. A Chinese name must use traditional Chinese characters; a single registered name cannot mix English letters and Chinese characters.

A matching or prohibited name may be refused, and some sensitive names require prior approval. Search the Intellectual Property Department’s trademark register separately: passing a company-name search is not trademark clearance. See the Companies Registry’s official naming guideline and Captime’s guide to mistakes when choosing a Hong Kong company name for further context.

Before filing, check the proposed company name for potential conflicts. A preliminary name check does not guarantee approval; the Companies Registry makes the final decision on whether the name can be registered.

Pass the special resolution and file Form NNC2

The members must pass a special resolution approving the new company name, following the Companies Ordinance and the company’s Articles of Association. The company secretary should retain the resolution and approval evidence in the statutory records.

Within 15 days after the special resolution, submit Form NNC2 (Notice of Change of Company Name) and the required fee to the Companies Registry electronically or in hard copy. The Registry states that the name-change special resolution and articles altered solely for the name change do not need to be filed with Form NNC2.

Wait for the Certificate of Change of Name. The new name is effective on the certificate issue date; do not prematurely replace the registered name on contracts or regulated accounts.

What are the fees and processing times?

As listed on the Companies Registry’s official fee schedule in October 2026, the government fee to change a local company name is HK$295. Professional company secretary charges, if engaged, are separate and depend on the service provider. If the application is unsuccessful, the Registry says an application for a HK$55 refund may be made; do not assume the entire fee is refunded.

The Registry’s service guidance says an electronic Certificate of Change of Name is normally issued within one hour after an eligible electronic submission, while a hard-copy certificate is normally issued within four working days. These are usual service times, not guaranteed deadlines: incorrect forms, name objections or approval requirements can delay completion.

Does the company number change?

No. Changing a Hong Kong company’s name does not create a new legal entity. The company continues with its existing registration identity, rights and obligations; its contracts and liabilities do not disappear simply because its name changes. Keep the Certificate of Change of Name with the original incorporation records to explain the continuity to banks, customers and marketplaces.

There is an important terminology point: for local companies, the Business Registration Number (BRN) has been used as the unique business identifier in the Companies Registry’s relevant systems since 27 December 2023. A name change is not a fresh incorporation and does not assign a new identity number merely because the legal name changed. The Form NNC2 instructions refer to the business registration number used on the filing.

Update business registration and tax records

For a local company’s registered name change, the Companies Registry and Inland Revenue Department (IRD) operate a one-stop notification arrangement. The company is generally not required to separately notify the Commissioner of Inland Revenue of that registered-name change. The IRD normally sends an amended Business Registration Certificate (BRC) after the change; check that the updated certificate arrives and its details match.

The IRD’s change-of-particulars guidance distinguishes the one-stop treatment of local company names from other business-registration changes. The IRD one-stop notification frequently asked questions explains that amended certificates are usually posted on the next working day after the name-change certificate is issued, with separate arrangements for urgent collection.

A separate change to a business or trading name, business address or other particulars may trigger its own notification requirements. Do not assume every tax account, filing, invoice template or third-party platform updates automatically.

Which banks and business accounts need updating?

After receiving the certificate, contact each bank and payment provider about its legal-name amendment procedure. Banks may request the certificate, updated Business Registration Certificate, authorized signatory records, resolutions and revised account mandate; the precise checklist depends on the institution. A company-name change does not automatically mean a new bank account is required.

Review electronic money institution (EMI) accounts, payment gateways, marketplaces such as Amazon, payment processors such as Stripe, merchant descriptors and invoicing profiles. Make sure legal-name fields, beneficiary names and supporting documents agree to avoid verification or payout interruptions.

Use the following as an operational checklist, not a claim that every provider imposes the same documents.

What happens to contracts and Form NAR1?

Existing contracts generally remain obligations of the same company, but counterparties may need a formal notification or amendment for their own records. Check loan agreements, licenses, insurance, leases, supplier contracts and client onboarding terms for specific notification clauses.

The next Companies Registry Annual Return (Form NAR1) should reflect the company’s current registered particulars in accordance with the normal filing requirements. Form NAR1 does not replace Form NNC2 and is not the instrument that makes a name change effective. See the Companies Registry’s annual-return guidance.

A company secretary can coordinate the name-change resolution, Registry submission and post-certificate document trail. Captime’s Company Secretary Services are the relevant support route for this process.