What is the APE code (NAF code)?

Verified 05 February 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The primary activity (APE) code is used to identify the primary industry of a company or business. It has to be on the employee's pay slips.

EPA means Main activity pursued.

The APE code is 4 digits + 1 letter.

It is based on the French national classification of activities (available on INSEE's website). That's why it's sometimes called NAF code.

The following simulator allows you to quickly find the APE code for a specific job or activity:

Which EPA code for which activity?

Example :

Hairdressing activity, the APE code is then 96.02A (the same as for hairdresser-barber)

Activity of driver of VTC, the code APE is 49.32Z (the same as for taxis)

Plumber activity, the APE code is 43.22A

Electrician activity, the APE code is 43.21A

One The new 2025 NAF is currently being prepared.

From january 2026, all companies and establishments will have a new EPA code determined in accordance with NAF 2025.

The APE code identifies the main branch of activity on both companies.

This activity must be the one actually carried out.

Please note

If the company has several activities, the main activity is determined either by turnover or by the number of employees associated with each, depending on the nature of the activity.

The EPA code shall be shown on the pay slips employees.

It can also help determine the national collective agreement (NCA) that applies to employees. This is an indicator, not an automatic match.

Warning  

The EPA Code has no legal value. It cannot be used to justify or not to justify the application of certain rights.

When the company is created

It is allocated automatically by theInsee: titleContent during theregistration company (i.eregistration of a micro-company, or individual business that of a, orregistration of a business).

The contractor has no request to be carried out to obtain it.

This identifier is located in its personal space on the Company Formalities Window as soon as his application for registration is accepted.

Company Formalities Window

For questions about the allocation of numbers and identification codes of a company, you can contact Inpi Direct.

Who shall I contact

For any EPA code search

In the case of a general search for APE code, the following simulator may be used:

Which EPA code for which activity?

If the EPA code does not correspond or no longer corresponds to the main activity of a company, it is possible to request its modification.

Two situations are possible: either the company has changed its main activity or the EPA code assigned by INSEE is incorrect.

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Change of activity

The main activity of the company has changed.

The change request the main activity and therefore the EPA code must be carried out on the company formalities window.

Company Formalities Window

Please note

If the company is a business, you must also think about changing its social purpose.

Correction of an anomaly

The company has not changed its main activity but the contractor believes that the EPA code assigned to it needs to be corrected.

A report must be made to INSEE using the following online service:

Request change of main activity code (EPA code, NAF)

Who can help me?

The public service accompanying companies

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