SSIC Codes in Singapore: A Complete Guide for 2026 (SSIC 2025)

Quick Answer: An SSIC code is a five-digit number that classifies your company’s business activity when you register with ACRA. SSIC stands for Singapore Standard Industrial Classification. Every company must declare a primary SSIC code at incorporation (and may add a secondary one). The current edition is SSIC 2025, which took effect on 9 May 2026 and revised over 1,500 codes. New companies incorporated on or after that date must use SSIC 2025 codes; existing companies were auto-mapped by ACRA and should check the result is still accurate.

For the next step after registration, see our corporate bank account guide for documentation and bank-assessment considerations.

The SSIC code is a small field on the incorporation form that has an outsized impact. It determines which government agency oversees your activity, whether you need a licence, which grants and schemes you can access, and how the authorities understand what your company does. Picking the wrong one creates friction later — so it is worth getting right at the start.

What an SSIC code actually is

The Singapore Standard Industrial Classification is maintained by the Department of Statistics and is used across government to classify economic activity. It has a hierarchical structure: at the top are 22 broad Sections, each labelled by a single letter (for example, Section G for wholesale and retail trade), which then break down into divisions, groups, classes and finally the five-digit codes you select. The five-digit code is what appears on your ACRA business profile.

Primary and secondary codes

At incorporation you must declare a primary SSIC code describing your main business activity. You may also declare a secondary code if your company does two distinct things — for example, a firm that both develops software and provides IT consultancy. Choose the code that most accurately reflects what generates your revenue; you can update it later through your corporate secretary if your business pivots.

What’s new in SSIC 2025

SSIC 2025 is the most significant update since the 2020 edition. Key points for business owners:

• It took effect on 9 May 2026 and revised over 1,500 codes.
• It is now more closely aligned with the United Nations’ ISIC Revision 5 international standard.
• New codes better capture emerging sectors — artificial intelligence, renewable energy, digital services and climate technology among them.
• Any company incorporated on or after 9 May 2026 must select from SSIC 2025 codes via ACRA’s BizFile portal.

If your company already existed before the change

You did not need to do anything immediately. ACRA automatically mapped each existing SSIC 2020 code to its nearest SSIC 2025 equivalent using official correspondence tables. However, automatic mapping is not always perfect — you should review your auto-assigned code and, if it no longer accurately reflects your business, file an update (generally within 14 days of noticing the discrepancy) through your corporate secretary. An out-of-date code can cause problems with licensing, grant eligibility and reporting.

Why choosing the right code matters

The SSIC code is not just an administrative label. It can affect:

• Licensing: certain activities (finance, education, food, employment agencies) require sector-specific licences tied to the relevant code.
• Grants and schemes: eligibility for some support schemes is assessed by activity classification.
• Banking and due diligence: banks look at your declared activity when opening and reviewing accounts.
• GST and regulatory correspondence: agencies route notices and obligations based partly on your classification.

If your declared code does not match what you actually do, expect questions — and potentially delays — from banks and regulators.

How to find your SSIC code

You can search the official SSIC 2025 listing on the Department of Statistics website, or use the search tool inside ACRA’s BizFile portal during incorporation. If you are unsure between two similar codes, a corporate secretary can advise which best fits your revenue-generating activity and flag any licensing implications before you file.

How Assembly Works helps

We help founders select the correct SSIC code at incorporation and keep it current as part of our corporate secretarial service — including reviewing SSIC 2025 auto-mappings for existing clients. Get in touch if you would like us to check or update your classification.