In today’s world, business processes, economic interactions, and regulatory requirements are constantly changing. Countries are updating rules, standards, and approaches to keep pace with new technologies, international practices, and economic realities. Such changes affect not only large companies but also every entrepreneur, impacting document flow, tax procedures, and interactions with government agencies.
One such reform, which has already been decided for the coming years, is the update of the classification system for types of economic activity in Ukraine.
Introduction of NACE 2.1-UA
In 2027, Ukraine will completely abolish the current classification of economic activities (hereinafter referred to as CCEA) and switch to the NACE 2.1-UA classification, which is a national adaptation of the modern European NACE Rev. 2.1 system.
This classifier was approved by the State Statistics Service in October 2025 and becomes mandatory for all business entities: companies, sole proprietors, organizations, and institutions.
NACE 2.1-UA covers an updated structure:
- 22 sections,
- 87 divisions,
- 287 groups,
- 651 classes of activities.
Such detailed structuring allows for a more accurate description of modern business areas, in particular the IT sector, creative industries, digital services, environmental technologies, and other new markets.
Why is this transition necessary?
The update of the classification has several strategic objectives:
- harmonization of Ukrainian statistics with European Union (EU) standards;
- facilitation of international comparison of economic indicators;
- a more modern approach to defining types of activities;
- accurate market analytics for the state and business;
- better accounting for new technological and digital professions.
2026 will be a year of preparation, or even a “transition year,” during which businesses will be able to verify their current CCEA codes against the new codes. In 2026, the State Statistics Service will publish an official table of correspondence between the old and new codes, and some businesses will be automatically transitioned, but for many, the update will have to be made manually.
What does this mean for entrepreneurs and companies?
It will be necessary to update the data in the Unified State Register, and sole proprietors and legal entities will have to check:
- whether their current CCEA codes have a direct counterpart;
- whether it is necessary to change the types of activities in the register;
- whether it is necessary to update the charter, contracts, and other documents where the codes are specified.
Licensed businesses: additional attention
Those whose activities are listed in licenses, permits, or other regulatory documents may need to:
- clarify their activities;
- submit updated documents;
- notify regulators.
With regard to internal and external documents, entrepreneurs should prepare in advance:
- updates to charters, regulations, and contracts;
- adaptation of accounting programs and CRM systems;
- technical correction of databases;
- notify partners of the classification change.
How to prepare now?
- Review all current CCEA codes in your registry.
- Follow the news from the State Statistics Service, especially regarding the correspondence table.
- Assess which codes you will need in 2027 depending on your actual areas of activity.
- Prepare documents for possible changes.
- If necessary, seek legal advice if your business has specific features (e.g., IT, financial services, logistics, medicine, manufacturing).
The transition to the NACE 2.1-UA classification is a logical step for Ukraine on the path to European integration. It will allow for more accurate economic statistics, facilitate international cooperation, and create a modern system for recording types of activities.
For businesses, this means the need to prepare, update documents, and verify code compliance; the opportunity to obtain a more accurate classification of their work; and adaptation to European standards.
With the right preparation, the transition will be smooth and without unnecessary difficulties. If you need help selecting codes or making changes, you can always contact our team for professional legal support.
business / classification of economic activities / copyright / intellectual property
