SSIC Codes Singapore: 2026 Classification Guide

Published: 21 July 2026

SSIC codes are standardized five-digit codes that classify every Singapore-registered business’s primary economic activity for regulatory and statistical purposes. All ACRA-registered entities must select at least one SSIC code when reserving a business name on BizFile+. Selecting the wrong code carries real consequences: fines of up to S$2,000 and potential delays in licensing, grant eligibility, and regulatory approvals.

Key facts to know before you register:

• Every business must select one primary SSIC code representing its main revenue-generating activity.
• A secondary code is optional, but recommended when a second activity contributes roughly 20% or more of business.
• The current edition is SSIC 2025, released by the Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat) and adopted by ACRA.
• Official resources include the SingStat SSIC 2025 portal and the ACRA BizFile+ search tool.

How SSIC codes Singapore are structured in 2026

The SSIC 2025 framework uses a five-level hierarchy that moves from broad industry categories down to highly specific sub-classes. SingStat and ACRA jointly maintain this classification, which aligns with the United Nations’ ISIC Rev. 5 international standard for global comparability.

The hierarchy works as follows:

• Section (single letter): 22 broad categories, such as C for Manufacturing or G for Wholesale and Retail Trade.
• Division (2-digit): the highest numerical level, e.g., Division 46 for Wholesale Trade.
• Group (3-digit): a narrower cluster within a division, e.g., Group 469.
• Class (4-digit): a more specific grouping, e.g., Class 4690.
• Sub-class (5-digit): the most detailed level, e.g., Sub-class 46900. This is the code you select during ACRA registration.

SSIC 2025 contains 1,062 Sub-classes in total, an update from the 2020 edition. New codes cover emerging sectors including carbon capture activities, alternate protein manufacturing, and concert organizers. Codes that had few registered units were removed or merged to keep the classification current.

The five-digit code is the only one you submit to ACRA. It automatically bundles all higher classification levels into a single identifier, so selecting the correct sub-class is the entire task.

How to find and choose the right SSIC code for your business

Finding the right code takes three steps. Follow them in order to avoid misclassification.

1. Search BizFile+ with a simple keyword. Log in to the ACRA BizFile+ portal, go to “Business Activity,” and enter a plain-English term describing what your business does. Use one or two words, not a full sentence. “Web design,” “catering,” or “device repair” will return better results than “providing digital marketing and website development services.”

2. Cross-check using GoBusiness e-Adviser. The GoBusiness e-Adviser tool provides step-by-step guidance for new businesses, including SSIC code suggestions before you apply on BizFile+. It is especially useful if you are unsure which sector your activity falls under.

3. Verify against the official SingStat definitions. Each five-digit code in the SSIC 2025 list carries a lead statement, examples of included activities, and a list of exclusions. Read the exclusions carefully. A code that looks right by title may explicitly exclude your specific activity.

Additional checks before finalizing:

• Confirm the code reflects your primary revenue source, not a planned future activity.
• If a second activity is sufficiently significant, identify a secondary code separately.
• Watch for asterisk markers in the SSIC list. A single asterisk can signal agency approval requirements; a double asterisk may require a license before operations begin.
• When no specific sub-class fits, an “n.e.c.” (not elsewhere classified) code is acceptable, but use it only as a last resort.

Common SSIC codes and what they cover

The table below illustrates how different codes map to distinct business activities. SSIC code 46900 is one of the most frequently selected wholesale codes, covering businesses that trade in a variety of goods without any single dominant product category.

Codes ending in “0” at the sub-class level typically indicate a broader grouping with no further split. Codes ending in “9” usually denote n.e.c. categories. Both are valid choices when no more specific code exists, but a precise match always reduces the risk of licensing referrals or grant eligibility issues.

Which Singapore incorporation specialists can help with SSIC code selection?

Selecting the right code is straightforward for many businesses, but regulated activities, multi-sector operations, and international structures often benefit from professional services staffing advice. Two Singapore-based corporate service providers specialize in this area.

VIVOS Pte. Ltd. covers the full corporate lifecycle: incorporation, corporate secretarial services, tax filing, accounting, and immigration support. For international entrepreneurs who need SSIC code guidance alongside banking setup, compliance management, and residency facilitation, Vivos handles all of it under one engagement. That breadth is particularly useful when a business spans multiple regulated activities and needs each code cross-checked against licensing requirements.

Singapore Company Incorporation Specialist focuses exclusively on company incorporation. It suits clients whose primary need is a clean, straightforward registration without extended advisory or immigration support.

How to choose the most suitable SSIC code for your business

The right code reflects what your business actually does today, not what it plans to do. SingStat defines the principal activity as the one contributing the highest value added to goods or services produced, not by headcount or future expansion plans.

Key criteria for selection:

• Primary revenue source. Match the code to the activity generating the most income, not the most time or effort.
• Official definitions and exclusions. Read the full sub-class definition before confirming. An exclusion list can disqualify an otherwise plausible code.
• Avoid overly broad codes. A general “n.e.c.” code chosen for convenience can trigger grant ineligibility or licensing referrals that a specific code would not.
• Regulated activity flags. Finance, healthcare, food service, and transport codes often require agency approvals. Identify these before registration, not after.

Pro Tip: When searching BizFile+, enter the simplest word a customer would use to describe what you sell or do. Single-word searches like “catering,” “logistics,” or “insurance” consistently return more accurate matches than multi-word phrases.

If your business spans two distinct revenue streams, register a primary code for the dominant activity and a secondary code for the second if that secondary activity contributes roughly 20% or more of your business. Both codes appear on your company profile and affect how agencies assess your licensing and grant eligibility.

How to update your SSIC code after company registration

Business activities change, and your registered SSIC code must stay current. Filing an outdated or inaccurate code creates the same compliance exposure as an initial misclassification.

To update an SSIC code post-registration, file a change through BizFile+ with a S$15 fee. ACRA typically processes the update within 1–2 business days. The revised code then flows through to IRAS and other government systems, correcting your tax treatment, grant eligibility, and licensing profile.

Update your code whenever your primary revenue source shifts to a new activity, when you add a secondary activity that now contributes roughly 20% or more of revenue, or when a new SSIC edition reclassifies your existing code. The SSIC is reviewed every five years, so the transition from SSIC 2020 to SSIC 2025 required many businesses to recode. Staying current with each edition protects your access to government schemes tied to specific classifications. For businesses managing multiple compliance obligations, pairing code updates with a review of core statutory compliance requirements keeps the full regulatory picture accurate.

Vivos offers end-to-end support beyond basic incorporation

Getting the SSIC code right is one step in a longer compliance chain. Vivos is the alternative to managing that chain piecemeal, offering a single point of contact for Singapore company incorporation, corporate secretarial services, tax filing, accounting, and immigration support for international entrepreneurs and businesses.

Where a standalone incorporation specialist handles registration and stops, Vivos continues through post-incorporation compliance, SSIC code updates, banking setup, and ongoing corporate advisory. That continuity matters most for businesses entering Singapore from overseas, where regulatory requirements across multiple agencies need coordinated management from day one.

Key Takeaways

Selecting the correct SSIC code at registration protects your licensing eligibility, grant access, and tax treatment under Singapore’s 2025 classification framework.

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