Get an LEI Code

An LEI (Legal Entity Identifier) is a unique 20-character code that identifies companies, funds, trusts and other organisations taking part in financial transactions. It follows the international ISO 17442 standard, so your organisation is recognised in the same way anywhere in the world.

A company needs an LEI if it takes part in financial transactions, such as buying or selling shares, bonds and similar. In the EU, this requirement comes from financial market regulations, and banks or financial service providers usually inform their clients when an LEI is needed. Each company can have only one LEI, and the code stays the same throughout the company’s existence.

Yes. An LEI is valid for 12 months and then needs to be renewed. Renewal confirms that your company’s details in the global LEI database are still correct and up to date. You can choose a longer plan, up to 5 years, to avoid repeating the procedure annually.

If an LEI code isn’t renewed on time, its status changes from “Issued” to “Lapsed” in GLEIF Global LEI Index, a public, global database where every LEI is listed. A lapsed LEI is no longer valid for regulatory purposes, which can mean your bank or broker suspends your ability to carry out transactions. The good news is that a lapsed LEI isn’t lost: you simply renew it, the code stays the same, and its status changes back to active.

Anyone can look up an LEI for free in the Global LEI Index at search.gleif.org. The record shows the code’s status, the company’s legal address, its parent companies and the next renewal date. It’s a quick way to check when your own LEI is due for renewal or to verify a business partner.