Choosing your main area in the field of activity codes in Estonia might be the second most challenging part of company registration with Unicount. The first would be figuring out a unique name with available web domains.
The Estonian Classification of Economic Activities (EMTAK) is the Estonian version of the international harmonised NACE statistical classification of economic activities in the European Union. EMTAK is the basis for determining your company’s type of activities and is an essential source of statistics for the Estonian government and EU. You don’t need to overstress when picking your field of activity code when registering a company; we’ll explain why.
Choosing the right field of activity code
In the Unicount company formation service, you can easily choose the area of activity for your new company from a dropdown list of Estonian e-residents’ most popular choices.
If you need to find additional codes because your planned activity is not among the top choices, please see the complete list of EMTAK codes with a text search function. After finding the one you like, you can type your code into the Code field in the Unicount web app for it to appear.
There can be only one EMTAK code when registering a company
You can only pick one activity which corresponds most closely with your planned source of revenue. There are no restrictions on activity in other areas besides the one you selected. You should still not use a random code as some codes require licenses or are unavailable for limited companies. Wrong code can also mean that your company is part of the group that will have special statistical reporting requirements that do not match your actual activity.
Fun fact: you can’t change your EMTAK code in the Business Register after your company gets registered, but you must declare your actual sources of revenue with your annual accounts. The main area of activity will be automatically determined based on which activity generated the most income. The primary sources of income would then be displayed on the public register without you changing anything yourself.
No limitations for other business activities
When registering a limited company, it is mandatory to pick one activity code field. Some clients ask if they can register more than one, and the answer is no. Your chosen activity code does not limit your business activities, though, as long as you are involved in other business lines that do not require a license or registration with authorities. You can read more about these on the e-Residency website.
Your company can invest in all asset classes available to investors even if it is not explicitly registered as an investment company (its activity code is 64301). However, some trading platforms might not support Estonian limited companies or legal persons.
Engaging in finance-related business models with your limited company is a potential regulatory minefield, and you need to consult with experts before starting—for example, consumer credit, e-money, or ICO emissions. Regulations are similar for financial institutions all over the EU.
What are the most common field of activity codes?
According to the data published by the e-Residency team, the most common fields of activity for e-residents are computer programming and consultancy, with 8699 companies registered by e-residents since 2014. This is followed by activities of head offices and management consultancy, with 5493 companies registered.
Here are the figures from the e-Residency website scraped in October 2024.
| Field of activity | Companies registered 2014-2024 |
| Computer programming, consultancy and related activities | 8699 companies |
| Activities of head offices; management consultancy activities | 5493 companies |
| Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 3029 companies |
| Information service activities | 1919 companies |
| Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles | 1682 companies |
| Publishing activities | 1560 companies |
| Financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding | 1403 companies |
| Other professional, scientific and technical activities | 1154 companies |
| Advertising and market research | 1115 companies |
You need to know that these figures are generalised into activity groups, so the actual field of activity codes in Estonia are the following:
| EMTAK codes | Field of company activities |
| 62011 | Computer programming activities |
| 62021 | Computer consultancy activities |
| 70221 | Business and other management consultancy activities |
| 47911 | Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet |
| 62091 | Other information technology and computer service activities |
| 63121 | Web portals |
| 46901 | Non-specialised wholesale trade |
| 82991 | Other business support service activities n.e.c. |
| 58211 | Publishing of computer game |
| 58291 | Other software publishing |
| 64991 | Other financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding n.e.c. |
| 74901 | Other professional, scientific and technical activities n.e.c. |
In a nutshell
When registering a limited company in Estonia, you must select one EMTAK activity code that aligns with your primary source of revenue, but this doesn’t restrict you from engaging in other business activities. While only one code is allowed, your company can still operate in different fields that don’t require special licensing or registration. The activity codes will later be displayed in the Business Register based on your revenue sources published in annual accounts for the previous financial year.
The most popular EMTAK codes include 62011 and 62021, which are related to computer programming and IT consultancy, as well as 70221, covering business and management consultancy activities in the field of activity codes in Estonia.
Thanks for reading!
If you have more questions about the field of activity codes in Estonia, check out our extensive support articles or contact us for personalized advice.
