If you are self-employed in France, a micro-entrepreneur, freelancer or small business owner, you may have noticed that new APE codes are already showing for your business.
France is changing the way business activities are classified, and from 1 January 2027, the new NAF 2025 classification will replace the current NAF 2008 system used for APE codes.
The change will affect businesses throughout France, including micro-entrepreneurs and sole traders.
The good news is that you do not normally need to register your business again or make an INPI application simply because your APE code is changing.
However, it is worth checking what code has been allocated to you — particularly if your business carries out several different types of work.
What is an APE code?
APE stands for Activité Principale Exercée, or principal activity carried out.
It is a five-character code assigned by INSEE to identify the main activity of a business or establishment.
You may also hear it called your NAF code, because the APE code is based on the French NAF (Nomenclature d’Activités Française).
For example, a business might have an APE code relating to:
- gardening and landscaping
- cleaning
- building work
- consultancy
- translation
- IT services
- retail
- property activities
- personal services
The APE code is assigned by INSEE. It is primarily a statistical classification and does not itself give you permission to carry out an activity. It also does not determine your legal status or, by itself, create a particular tax or social-security obligation.
Why are APE codes changing?
The current NAF classification dates from 2008.
The French classification system is being updated to reflect changes in the economy, new types of businesses and changes in the way activities are carried out.
The new NAF 2025 classification was developed as part of wider changes to international and European classifications. It will become the reference classification for APE codes from 1 January 2027.
This means that every active business and establishment recorded in the French SIRENE register will receive a new APE code.
This includes:
- micro-entrepreneurs
- entrepreneurs individuels
- freelancers
- companies
- associations
- other organisations registered in SIRENE
INSEE says that the new code will be allocated automatically.
Do I need to do anything?
Not necessarily.
You do not need to submit a new business registration simply because your APE code is changing.
INSEE is handling the change automatically.
However, you should check your proposed new APE code.
During 2026, you can enter your SIREN number on the official SIRENE website and see the APE code that is expected to apply to your business from 2027.
If the proposed code accurately reflects your main activity, there is generally nothing further you need to do.
If it does not, you can request a correction.
Why should you check your new code?
This is particularly important if your business has changed since you first registered.
Perhaps you originally registered as a cleaner but now mainly work as a gardener.
Or perhaps you started as a translator but your business has developed into administrative support and consultancy.
You may also have several different activities registered with your business.
Your APE code is supposed to reflect your principal activity, so it is worth checking that the information held about your business still accurately describes what you actually do.
The APE code itself does not prevent you from carrying out other activities that are properly declared. A business with several activities will still have one principal APE code.
What if the new code is wrong?
If the new APE code proposed for 2027 does not accurately reflect your principal activity, you can ask INSEE to review it.
INSEE currently provides an online procedure allowing businesses to select a more appropriate activity from the available choices or request a review where necessary.
It is worth doing this rather than simply assuming that the automatically allocated code must be correct.
But there is an important distinction
The automatic change to your APE code is not the same thing as changing your business activity.
If your business has genuinely changed and you need to add, remove or modify activities registered for your business, that is a separate administrative matter.
Changes to your business information, including changes to declared activities, are made through the Guichet unique des formalités des entreprises, operated through INPI.
In other words:
APE code automatically changing because of NAF 2025:
INSEE handles this.
Your business activity changing:
You may need to make a formal modification through the INPI Guichet Unique.
That distinction is important.
What about regulated professions?
Changing an APE code does not automatically give you the right to carry out a regulated profession.
If you are starting a new activity, you still need to check whether that activity is subject to particular qualifications, authorisations, insurance requirements or professional rules.
This is especially relevant if you are adding a new type of service to an existing micro-enterprise.
The APE code is a classification; it is not a professional licence.
What should self-employed people do during 2026?
For most business owners, there is no need to panic or make unnecessary changes.
Instead, I would suggest this simple checklist:
1. Find your SIREN number
You will need your SIREN to check the information held by INSEE.
2. Check your future APE code
Look up your business on the official SIRENE service and check the proposed NAF 2025 classification.
3. Ask yourself whether it describes your main activity
Don’t just look at the code itself. Look at the activity description.
Does it accurately describe what you mainly do?
4. Check your registered activities
If your business has developed since you registered it, make sure the activities declared for your business still reflect what you actually offer.
5. Don’t make an unnecessary INPI modification
You do not need to submit an INPI modification simply because INSEE is changing your APE code as part of the national NAF 2025 update.
But if your actual business activities have changed, an INPI modification may be appropriate.
One more thing: don’t confuse your APE code with your business registration
This is an easy mistake to make.
Your:
- SIREN number
- SIRET number
- legal status
- declared business activities
- APE code
are not all the same thing.
Your APE code is the classification assigned by INSEE to your principal activity.
If you are changing your actual business activities, you may need to update your business registration separately.
This is one reason why simply searching for a new APE code isn’t always enough when setting up or changing a business.
Starting or changing a business in France?
If you are an English speaker setting up a business in France, the INPI Guichet Unique can be one of the more confusing parts of the process.
You need to describe your activities accurately, select the appropriate activity categories and provide the required information and supporting documents.
And if INPI comes back asking for additional information, it isn’t always obvious what they are asking you to change.
That’s where Help in France can help.
Need help with an INPI procedure?
I provide practical administrative support to English-speaking entrepreneurs in France, including:
- New business registrations through INPI
- Changes to an existing business
- Adding or removing business activities
- Help understanding INPI questions and requests for additional information
- Checking activity descriptions
- General administrative support for micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses
You don’t have to buy a complete business package if you only need help with one particular procedure. Individual administrative tasks can also be dealt with separately.
Find out about Help in France business services
If you’re not sure whether you need an INPI modification or simply need help understanding what has changed, get in touch before submitting anything.
The important dates
2026:
Your existing APE code under NAF 2008 remains the official code for administrative and regulatory purposes. You can, however, already check your future NAF 2025 code and request a correction if necessary.
1 January 2027:
The new NAF 2025 classification becomes the reference for APE codes and the new codes officially take effect.
In short
If you’re self-employed in France, the change to APE codes is mostly an automatic update rather than something you need to apply for.
But it is worth checking your proposed new code during 2026.
And if your business itself has changed — rather than simply being reclassified by INSEE — that’s a different matter and may require an update through the INPI Guichet Unique.
So before you start changing forms or submitting a new registration, check exactly what has changed: your APE classification, or your actual business activity.
Information in this article is based on information published by INSEE and the French public administration and is correct at the time of publication. NAF 2025 implementation guidance may continue to be updated. Help in France provides practical administrative assistance and is not a legal, tax or accountancy service.