Why Your Company’s Address Is More Than a Formality in Hungary

This overview explains why a company's registered office in Hungary is more than a formal requirement, and how it affects legal reachability, administration and day-to-day compliance for foreign-owned companies.

When a foreign founder sets up a company in Hungary, the registered office is often treated as a technical detail.
A required field in the incorporation documents.
An address that simply needs to be filled in.

In the Hungarian legal and administrative system, however, a company's address carries far greater weight.
Not because it determines commercial success,
but because it defines how and where the company is legally reachable.

What a registered office means in Hungary

Every Hungarian company must have a registered office.
This is the company's official correspondence address and the place where the company is considered legally present.

Official communications are sent to this address, including:

• notices from authorities

• tax authority correspondence

• court and company registry communications

The system relies on this address even if the company operates elsewhere or provides services entirely online.

Without a registered office, a company cannot be registered and cannot legally exist in Hungary.

Company signage – not a formality, but legal identifiability

The registered office is not merely a line in the company register.
Hungarian law also requires that the company be clearly identifiable at this address.

In practice, this means that a company sign must be displayed at the registered office showing the company's name.
In multi-storey buildings or office complexes, additional identifiers such as floor or door number are strongly recommended to ensure clear identification.

This is not a minor administrative detail.
Authorities and postal services rely on this information when attempting to contact the company.

If a company is not identifiable or reachable at its registered office, administrative or tax-related consequences may follow — even if the business itself is otherwise properly operated.

Why this matters especially for foreign founders

Many foreign managing directors do not reside permanently in Hungary.
Some operate remotely, others are present only on a project basis.

This is not a problem in itself.
Difficulties arise when official correspondence does not reach the company in time, or when there is no one handling it properly.

From the perspective of Hungarian authorities, the registered office is the primary point of contact.
If communication breaks down at this point, legal and administrative consequences may follow — regardless of the company's actual activity.

Registered office services – when they make sense

In Hungary, registered office services are lawful and widely used.
For many foreign-owned companies, they are a practical and entirely legitimate solution.

They are particularly useful if:

• the managing director lives abroad

• the company does not maintain a permanent office in Hungary

• the business operates online

• continuous handling of official correspondence is essential

Registered office services typically ensure that official mail is received and that the company is informed of relevant documents.
This is not a workaround, but a lawful structure that fits modern business models.

Connection to taxation and administration

The registered office is rarely an isolated decision.
It is closely linked to the company's administrative and tax-related operations.

Tax authority notifications, deadlines and procedures are tied to this address, and the location of the registered office may also be relevant for local business tax purposes.

For this reason, the choice of registered office often goes hand in hand with selecting an accountant and setting up internal administrative processes.

Related: Company Formation in Hungary – Clarity for Those Taking Their First Steps Here

A small decision with long-term impact

Choosing a registered office rarely feels like a major business decision.
Yet it is one of those small steps that has a lasting effect on how smoothly a company operates.

A Hungarian company does not need to be everywhere.
But it must be legally reachable, consistently and reliably.

Official reference

For official company data, including registered office information, Hungarian companies are publicly listed in the Company Registry maintained by the Ministry of Justice: https://www.e-cegjegyzek.hu/

Frequently Asked Questions – Registered Office in Hungary

1. Is a registered office mandatory for all Hungarian companies?
Yes. A registered office is a fundamental requirement for company registration. Without it, a company cannot be registered or legally operate in Hungary.

2. Can a foreign-owned company use a registered office service in Hungary?
Yes. Registered office services are lawful and commonly used, particularly by foreign founders who do not reside permanently in Hungary or whose businesses operate remotely.

3. What happens if a company is not reachable or identifiable at its registered office?
If official correspondence cannot be delivered or the company cannot be identified at its registered office, administrative or tax-related measures may follow. This can occur even if the company is otherwise active and compliant.

Planning to establish a Hungarian company?
We help clarify the legal framework around incorporation and registered office requirements, so that administrative issues do not become obstacles later.

Contact: lilla.acs@dunalegal.com

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Related: 

Opening a Corporate Bank Account in Hungary – A Key Step After Your Kft (LLC) Is Registered

Why Every Foreign Company Needs an Accountant in Hungary – Even When the Company Is “Silent”