Can an MM2H operator share an office with another business?
MOTAC’s shared-premises FAQ gives a limited same-owner exception. Check the actual business, layout and MM2H-specific premises conditions.
The short answer
MOTAC’s general licensing FAQ does not allow ordinary sharing of premises with another business, while describing a limited arrangement for TOBTAB/MM2H companies with the same individual owner. That is not blanket approval for coworking or any group-company setup. Check the actual occupants, ownership and dedicated MM2H premises conditions before relying on the exception.
What does the shared-premises answer say?
The official sharing FAQ (external website) sets a general restriction and describes a limited same-owner arrangement for the tourism companies it identifies. Read the exception alongside the restriction. A common trading name or a landlord’s serviced-office package does not establish that the actual companies fit the stated situation.
The MM2H-specific licensing material also contains premises conditions. A short general FAQ should not be stretched into approval for every layout, tenant combination or business use. Where an arrangement is unusual, ask the licensing office about that precise proposal.
Which facts make a clarification request useful?
Prepare a simple explanation of the companies using the address, their legal ownership, licensed activities and the proposed physical layout. Distinguish shared facilities from the space being presented as the operator’s licensed premises. An unclear description such as our group office may not identify what needs assessing.
Ask which documents are needed to show the proposed occupation and business use. Keep the response with the premises planning file. Do not infer permission from the fact that another company currently uses the building or that a similar address appears in an unrelated licence record.
What should applicants ask about a shared address?
Applicants can reasonably ask which company they are appointing, where its official correspondence is received and how their documents are protected. The presence of several businesses at one address is a reason to clarify the arrangement, not an automatic basis for a public accusation.
Check the legal company and the relevant licence independently. A representative saying that every business is part of one group does not eliminate the need to identify the contracting entity. Use the licence-verification guide and keep commercial relationships distinct from permission to operate.
Why should document custody be discussed separately?
Even where an office arrangement is accepted, applicants should understand who can access their private records and where originals are held. Ask the provider about its actual process rather than assuming that a common reception or shared room creates an acceptable document-handling practice.
For a proposed move, read the office-change guide. For the basic office requirement, read the business-premises guide. This article explains questions to resolve; it does not approve a particular shared address or certify the businesses located there.
Related questions readers ask
Is every coworking arrangement automatically allowed?
No. The FAQ describes a limited situation; confirm the actual companies, ownership and premises conditions.
Does a shared address prove misconduct?
No such conclusion follows automatically. Clarify the legal entities and check the official evidence.
Does premises approval settle document privacy?
Applicants should still ask how their records are handled and who can access them.
Check the operator and the evidence.
Read our directory verification standards and use official sources before appointing an operator or preparing a licensing enquiry.
Read operator verification standards Find official MM2H resourcesSources & further checking
- MOTAC FAQ: Can an MM2H operator share an office with another business? (opens in new tab) (external website)
Source consulted: 12 November 2026. Recheck current information before acting.
- MOTAC operator-licensing documents (opens in new tab) (external website)
Source consulted: 12 November 2026. Recheck current information before acting.
General editorial information, not immigration, legal, tax or financial advice. Suggest a correction.