Businesses in Romania now have until 1 April 2027 to complete the transition to CAEN Rev. 3, following a six-month extension introduced by the Romanian Government.
In Romania, the CAEN codes identify the business activities a company is registered and authorized to carry out.
CAEN Rev. 3 entered into force on 1 January 2025, replacing the previous classification, CAEN Rev. 2. The transition requires businesses to review their registered activities and, where applicable, update their records to reflect the revised classification.
The initial implementation period was scheduled to end on 25 September 2026, under Government Decision No. 284/2025. However, Government Decision No. 788/2026, published in the Official Gazette on 1 October 2026, established an additional six-month implementation period, ending on 1 April 2027.
This requirement applies to all types of entities, whether or not they are registered with the National Trade Register Office.
The extension is particularly relevant to companies, sole traders and other professionals registered with the Romanian National Trade Register Office (ONRC). The CAEN classification also applies more broadly to economic activities carried out by other types of entities, although their specific registration and updating procedures may differ.
What happens if the CAEN Rev. 3 update is not completed?
After 1 April 2027, public authorities and private entities, including banks, will no longer accept corporate documents showing activities under CAEN Rev. 2.
As a result, a registration certificate issued by the National Trade Register Office or a tax registration certificate issued by ANAF may not be accepted by banks in various procedures.
Public authorities may also make certain public services conditional upon updating the scope of activity. This may include ANAF, local authorities and other agencies within ministries.
Problems may also arise in dealings with suppliers, customers and other private partners, whether Romanian or foreign.
In some cases, updating the registered activity codes may be relatively straightforward. In others, the transition may involve changes to the company’s registered scope of activity, particularly where activities have been reorganised, split or reclassified under CAEN Rev. 3.
Practical next step
Although the implementation deadline has been extended, reviewing business activity codes remains an important compliance step, particularly for companies undertaking corporate changes or expanding their operations.
Businesses should review their current activity codes before the deadline and determine whether a simple CAEN Rev. 3 update is sufficient or whether a formal amendment of the scope of activity is required.
Further support is available for corporate law matters in Romania, including governance, ownership changes and Trade Register procedures.