What a CAEM Code Is
CAEM stands for Clasificatorul Activitatilor din Economia Moldovei (Classification of Economic Activities of Moldova). It is a numeric code that says what a company does — sells clothes, repairs cars, provides IT services, or builds houses.
Every company in Moldova has at least one CAEM code assigned at registration. The primary code (the one that generates the largest revenue) determines how the company is classified in statistics, what taxes apply, whether it needs a license, and which reports it files.
The current version is CAEM-2 Rev. 2, aligned with the European NACE Rev. 2 standard. It is the same classification used by Eurostat, the National Bank, the National Bureau of Statistics, and ASP.
CAEM Structure: From Section to Subclass
A CAEM code has up to 5 digits, and each level narrows the activity:
| Level | Example | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Section (letter) | Trade | G |
| Division (2 digits) | Retail trade | 47 |
| Group (3 digits) | Retail in non-specialised stores | 47.1 |
| Class (4 digits) | Retail with food predominant | 47.11 |
| Subclass (5 digits) | Supermarkets and hypermarkets | 47.11.1 |
Documents typically use the 4-5 digit code. At registration you specify the class (4 digits); financial reports go down to the subclass (5 digits).
The 21 CAEM Sections
The economy is split into 21 sections, labeled A to U. Here they are with examples of real companies:
- A — Agriculture, forestry, fishing (Floarea Soarelui SA)
- B — Mining and quarrying
- C — Manufacturing
- D — Energy production and supply (Premier Energy SRL)
- E — Water supply, sewerage, waste management
- F — Construction
- G — Wholesale and retail trade (Moldretail Group SRL)
- H — Transportation and storage
- I — Hotels and restaurants
- J — Information and communication (Orange Moldova SA)
- K — Financial and insurance activities
- L — Real estate activities
- M — Professional, scientific, and technical activities
- N — Administrative and support activities
- O — Public administration
- P — Education
- Q — Health and social work
- R — Arts, entertainment, and recreation
- S — Other service activities
- T — Activities of households
- U — Extraterritorial organizations
In total, CAEM-2 Rev. 2 contains 88 divisions, over 270 groups, and around 615 activity classes.
How to Pick the Right CAEM Code When Registering an SRL
When you open a company (see the full SRL registration guide), ASP asks what activity you will perform. Instead of writing "coffee shop" or "IT", you give a CAEM code.
Practical rules:
1. Pick the primary code based on the activity with the highest revenue.
If you open a coffee shop that also sells groceries, the primary is 56.10 (Restaurants and food service), not 47.11 (food retail).
2. You can add as many secondary codes as you want. There is no official limit. Many companies register 1 primary plus 3-10 secondary codes for flexibility, so they don't have to visit ASP every time they expand.
3. Some activities require a license.
Pharmacies (47.73), road transport (49.4), financial services (section K), and construction with permits (41.20) need a separate license on top of the CAEM code.
4. The CAEM code must match reality.
If your code is 62.01 (IT programming) but you issue invoices for construction, the Tax Service can demand changes and recalculate taxes.
5. Don't copy codes from other companies "just in case". Long lists of unused secondary codes can draw questions during a tax audit. Register only what you actually need.
How to Find the Right CAEM Code (3 Methods)
Method 1: Look up similar companies on Datero.md. If you know a company doing exactly what you plan to do, find it on Datero.md and look at its CAEM codes. The most practical approach — you see how competitors chose.
Method 2: Official CAEM-2 Rev. 2 list. Download the official PDF from the Ministry of Economic Development. Complete list with descriptions. Hard to navigate if you don't know what you're looking for.
Method 3: Consult an accountant or lawyer. If your activity is atypical (for example, online services sold abroad), a specialist is worth the fee. A wrong choice costs far more than the consultation.
Most Common CAEM Codes in Moldova
Based on Datero.md data covering ~280,000 active and liquidated companies, the most popular classes are:
- 47.11 — Retail trade in non-specialised stores with food predominant
- 46.90 — Non-specialised wholesale trade
- 41.20 — Construction of residential and non-residential buildings
- 68.20 — Renting and operating of own real estate
- 56.10 — Restaurants and food service
- 49.41 — Freight transport by road
- 62.01 — Computer programming activities
- 45.20 — Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles
- 96.02 — Hairdressing and beauty treatment
- 74.10 — Specialised design activities
How to Change the CAEM Code of an Existing Company
When you expand or pivot, you add or change CAEM codes at ASP:
- Prepare the shareholder resolution (general meeting for SRLs with multiple founders)
- Submit the request at ASP (online on servicii.gov.md or at a physical office)
- Pay the fee (same as a register change — a few hundred lei)
- In 3-5 working days, the new extract shows the updated codes
Changing the primary code can change the company's tax regime. Moving from a regular activity to a licensed one also requires the separate license.
CAEM vs Tax Code vs IDNO
Three very different things people often confuse:
- CAEM — activity code. What the company does.
- Tax code — identifier for taxation. For most companies, it matches the IDNO.
- IDNO — unique identifier of the company in the state register.
A company has one IDNO, one tax code (usually the same as the IDNO), and several CAEM codes (one primary plus secondary ones).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CAEM codes can I register?
No official cap. In practice, companies register 1 primary plus 3-10 secondary codes. More than that can raise flags at the tax office.
Can I change the primary CAEM code after a year?
Yes. You change it at ASP anytime for an administrative fee.
Do all companies have a CAEM code?
Yes, it is mandatory at registration. Without an assigned CAEM code, a company cannot be registered in Moldova.
Is Moldova's CAEM the same as Romania's CAEN?
Very similar — both based on NACE Rev. 2. The 4-digit codes match in 95% of cases. At the 5-digit subclass level, small differences can appear.
Where do I see the CAEM code of a specific company?
On Datero.md, each company page shows the primary code and all secondary ones, with full description.
See Which Companies Operate Under Each CAEM Code
On Datero.md we don't just explain codes — we show you which companies operate under each one. Search by a code and get the full list, with financial data, founders, and current status.