Many entrepreneurs choosing Hong Kong registered addresses or corporate secretarial services rely solely on a screenshot of the license to finalize an agreement. This approach leaves them vulnerable to common scams, such as forged licenses (photoshopped), rented licenses, or expired and revoked credentials. The TCSP license is an official permit issued by the Hong Kong government for trust and company service providers. Only verification through the official Hong Kong government registration system can guarantee its authenticity. The verification process is straightforward and can be completed independently by anyone. When combined with multi-dimensional cross-checks, it effectively eliminates future risks posed by unlicensed intermediaries. Below, we detail the complete step-by-step guide, key verification points, and essential tips to avoid pitfalls.
The most fundamental and core verification channel is the TCSP Register on the Hong Kong Companies Registry's dedicated online portal. It is completely free, requires no account registration, and can be accessed directly from a mobile device or computer. First, open the official inquiry page, which features a traditional Chinese interface so you don't need translation tools. There are two search methods available: we recommend prioritizing the service provider's full TC license number. A valid TC number always starts with "TC" followed by six digits (e.g., TCXXXXXX); simply enter this into the search box to instantly retrieve the registered information. If the provider cannot supply the number immediately, you can instead search using their full English company name. Be extremely careful with Traditional vs. Simplified Chinese character differences; even a single-character discrepancy in the name will result in no search results.
检索出结果后不能草草看过，要逐项核对关键信息。第一确认持牌机构全称，登记系统里显示的主体名称，必须和后续要签署挂靠服务合同的签约公司完全一致。很多不良中介租借别家 TC 牌照接单，签约主体和持牌主体分属两家公司，后续出现收不到政府信函、地址失效、年审漏报等问题，两方会互相推诿追责，客户维权无门。第二查看牌照实时状态，系统会标注有效、暂停、已吊销、到期注销几种状态，只有标注 “有效” 才能正常合作；如果显示暂停或吊销，哪怕对方出示纸质牌照原件也不能采信。同时还要核对牌照有效期，TC 牌照不是终身有效，到期必须完成续审，临近过期的机构即便当下有效，也存在后续资质失效的风险。系统里还会同步公示持牌机构香港本地营业地址，这个地址就是用来承接信函代收的实体场地，能侧面佐证挂靠地址不是虚拟信箱。
线上检索不到任何匹配记录，就可以直接判定这家机构没有合法 TCSP 牌照，无论报价多低、承诺多优厚，都要立刻终止合作。无牌机构承接地址挂靠业务本身触犯香港监管条例，挂靠的香港公司不仅银行开户百分百被驳回，后续税务局、公司注册处下发的税表、周年申报通知无法正常签收，短时间内就会被列入失联名录，面临高额罚款甚至强制除名注销。
After completing the online verification, obtain a scanned electronic or physical copy of the other party's TCSP license and cross-check it against the registration details retrieved from the official website. Carefully verify the license number, licensed company name, issue date, and seal format to prevent intermediaries from using image-editing software to alter screenshots. Additionally, require the submission of their valid Hong Kong Business Registration (BR) certificate. The entity holding the license must match the entity registered on the BR. Mainland offices or proxy agencies do not have independent Hong Kong legal entities; even if they present another party's license, they cannot independently provide address hosting services.
For entrepreneurs unfamiliar with online operations, official manual verification channels are available as a backup. You can call the Hong Kong TCSP Registration Office's official inquiry hotline, provide your institution name or license number, and receive verbal confirmation of credential authenticity and current license status from customer service. Alternatively, you may email the official designated address with your verification request and supporting documents; await the official written response, which serves as a verifiable record for future dispute resolution. If feasible, schedule an in-person visit to their Hong Kong physical office to inspect the original TC license, lease agreement, and property utility bills—confirming the location is permanently established rather than a temporary shared workspace.
Many people mistakenly believe that if a provider shows a solicitor's practising certificate or a Hong Kong CPA licence, they are exempt from holding a TCSP licence. Under Hong Kong regulations, practising lawyers and CPAs may offer registered office secretary services incidentally within their professional scope and enjoy this exemption, but only when the service is provided directly by their own firm under their own name. They cannot mass-market bundled address registration packages to third parties. Service providers offering large-scale, low-cost address registration do not fall under this exemption and must hold an independent TCSP licence; a CPA licence or membership in a secretarial institute cannot substitute for TCSP qualification.
Verifying qualifications is just the first step. After confirming that the license is genuine and valid, ensure the licensed entity's details are fully included in the address hosting service contract. Specify that if the provider's license is revoked or their address cannot receive official government correspondence, resulting in fines or compliance issues for your company, the provider must bear full liability for compensation. Additionally, it is recommended to re-verify the license status via the official system every six months to prevent unforeseen losses caused by undetected license revocation due to the provider's non-compliance during the partnership.