In summary
- CAE 62201 corresponds to “Computer consultancy activities” and belongs to NACE Rev. 4, in force since 2025.
- The Rev.4 CAE replaced the Rev.3 through Decree-Law no. 9/2025, which forced many companies to review their classification.
- The code it is not a formalitymakes applications for incentives, eligibility for public sector competitions and insurance coverage conditional.
- In case of doubt, the source to consult is the SICAE — not the interpretation of the accountant or the supplier.
In this article
If you searched for “CAE 62201”, you are probably in one of three situations: setting up a company, reviewing your classification following the entry into force of the new CAE, or filling out an application that requires the correct code.
This article explains what the code covers, why it changed, and where to confirm your specific case — because the choice of CAE has practical consequences that only appear later.
What is CAE 62201
The CAE — Portuguese Classification of Economic Activities — is the code that identifies a company's main activity before the Tax Authority, Social Security, INE and all entities that need to know which sector the company operates in.
O 62201 corresponds to “Computer consultancy activities”. It covers companies whose main activity is advising organisations on IT systems: infrastructure planning, choice of solutions, system architecture, and technical monitoring of technological decisions.
Why did the code change
Many companies that have always used a computer code have recently discovered that their CAE no longer exists with the same numbering. The reason is simple: the NACE Rev. 4 superseded Rev.3, through Decree-Law No. 9/2025 of 12 February.
It was not a cosmetic renumbering. The revision kept pace with the evolution of the sector itself — activities that in 2007 barely existed, such as cloud services and managed security, gained enough weight to justify separate treatment.
If you haven't reviewed your rating since 2025, it's worth checking it. An outdated CAE goes unnoticed for months and only causes problems at the worst possible moment — usually in the middle of a grant application or a tender.
What activities fall under this category
Broadly speaking, 62201 covers technical consultancy on computer systems. In business practice, this includes work such as:
- Needs analysis and systems architecture design
- Infrastructure and migration planning
- Technology choice, licensing and supplier advice
- Risk assessment and business continuity
- Technical monitoring of digital transformation projects
The distinction that matters is between advise e run or operate. A company that designs the solution fits here; one that manufactures software, manages infrastructure continuously or installs equipment may need to consider other codes — or declare more than one.
Neighbouring codes and confusions
Division 62 covers IT activities, and this is where almost all doubts arise. The most frequently misinterpreted boundaries are these:
- Consultancy vs programming — those who develop custom software are not in the same code as those who advise on systems.
- Consultancy vs infrastructure management — operating clients' servers and networks on an ongoing basis is a distinct activity from advising on them.
- IT vs retail — whoever resells equipment as their main activity is in another division, even if they also provide technical service.
Many IT companies actually carry out several of these activities. In this case, the activity is declared headmaster — the one that generates the highest turnover — and leave the secondary ones aside. Declaring only one when there are several is a common and unnecessary mistake.
Why does this matter
The CAE looks like a registration formality and it isn't. It dictates concrete things:
- Incentives and support — the overwhelming majority of programmes define eligibility by CAE code. The wrong code excludes the application before anyone reads the project.
- Civil service exams — the specifications frequently require activity compatible with the object of the tender.
- Insurance — the categorisation of the professional indemnity policy follows the declared activity. A discrepancy may be invoked in the event of a claim.
- Hiring and sectoral obligations — collective regulatory instruments and certain reporting obligations vary according to the activity.
- Commercial credibility — more and more clients check the supplier's CAE before contracting, especially in critical services.
How to confirm your case
The official source is the SICAE, the Portuguese Economic Activities Classification Information System, which allows codes to be consulted and a company's registered classification to be verified. The explanatory notes for CAE Rev.4 published by INE contain the text that defines what each code includes and excludes.
Three practical recommendations. Confirm the code before if you need it, and not on the day of the application. If you carry out several activities, declare them all instead of forcing everything into a single code. And, in case of genuine doubt, check with your accountant e with the official source — both things, because interpretations diverge.
Note: This article is informative and does not replace accounting or legal advice. For the formal classification of your company, consult SICAE and your chartered accountant.
DataRoad provides IT consultancy for businesses e managed IT services in Portugal. If you are structuring your company's IT department and want to understand which solutions make sense before investing, we can speak with you with no obligation.
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