How to Register an LEI Number

Who Needs to Complete LEI Registration?

Any legally registered organization that participates in financial transactions, regulatory reporting, or certain cross-border activities may be required to obtain an LEI.

Entities that may need to register an LEI include:

• companies, corporations, and corporate groups;
• financial institutions, banks, and credit unions;
• investment funds, hedge funds, and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs);
• trusts, Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), and foundations;
• public-sector bodies and government entities;
• sole traders and partnerships in certain jurisdictions;
• Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs);
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) third-party service providers subject to applicable financial-sector requirements.

Whether an LEI is mandatory depends on the entity's activities, jurisdiction, and the regulations that apply to it.

When Is LEI Registration Required?

LEIs are required under a growing number of regulatory frameworks around the world.

Some common examples include:

Once an LEI is issued, it is published in the Global LEI Index and can be referenced by financial institutions, regulators, counterparties, and other organizations worldwide.

What Information Is Required for LEI Registration?

To register an LEI, you normally need to provide basic information about the legal entity.

This may include:

• Legal name: the entity's official registered name;
• Registered address: the address listed in the official business registry;
• Country of incorporation or establishment;
• Registration authority: the official registry responsible for the entity;
• Company registration number: the entity's identifier within that registry;
• Entity structure: information about direct or ultimate parent relationships, where applicable;
• Authorization to apply: confirmation that the applicant is authorized to request an LEI for the entity.

Where entity information is available from an official public business registry, much of the validation process can be completed using registry data.

Documents That May Be Required

For many organizations listed in publicly accessible national business registries, additional documentation may not be necessary.

However, if the entity cannot be verified using publicly available registry information, supporting documents may be requested.

Depending on the entity type, these can include:

• certificate of incorporation or registration;
• official registry extract;
• certified company search;
• trust deed;
• fund prospectus or constitutional document;
• other official documentation confirming the entity's legal status.

How to Complete LEI Registration: Step by Step

The LEI registration process is generally straightforward.

1. Start Your LEI Application

Place an order and begin the registration process through GetLEI.

2. Provide Your Entity Information

Enter the required legal-entity information, including the legal name, registered address, company registration number, and registration authority.

Where possible, entity information can be matched against official business-registry records.

3. Confirm the Entity Structure

If the organization belongs to a corporate group, you may need to provide information about its direct and ultimate parent entities.

4. Confirm Your Right to Apply

The applicant must be authorized to register the LEI on behalf of the legal entity.

Additional verification may be required in some cases.

5. Entity Information Is Validated

The LEI issuer verifies the submitted information using official registry sources and, where necessary, supporting documentation.

6. Receive the LEI

Once validation is complete, the entity receives its unique 20-character LEI.

The LEI is then published in the GLEIF database.

7. Renew the LEI Annually

An LEI record must be renewed regularly to keep its reference data current and its registration status active.

What Happens After LEI Registration?

Once the LEI has been issued:

• the organization receives its unique 20-character LEI;
• the LEI is published in the Global LEI Index;
• the record becomes publicly searchable through LEI databases;
• the LEI can be used for applicable regulatory reporting, financial transactions, payments, and Know Your Business (KYB) processes;
• the LEI should be renewed as required to keep the record active and up to date.

You can use the GetLEI Lookup Tool to check whether an organization already has an LEI and review publicly available LEI reference data. Or you can check information directly in the GLEIF database.

How Long Does LEI Registration Take?

The time required to register an LEI depends mainly on how easily the entity information can be verified.

Three factors can affect processing time:

• Data accuracy: entities listed in accessible official registries can often be validated more quickly;
• Entity complexity: unusual legal structures or complex parent relationships may require additional review;
• Documentation: if supporting documents are required, registration may take longer.

Straightforward applications with easily verifiable entity information can often be processed quickly, while applications requiring manual review may take longer.

LEI Registration for Multiple Entities

Organizations managing several companies, subsidiaries, funds, or other legal entities may need to register and maintain multiple LEIs.

A centralized LEI-management process can help organizations:

• register multiple LEIs;
• manage renewal dates across an LEI portfolio;
• maintain consistent entity information;
• reduce repetitive administrative work;
• simplify LEI management for subsidiaries or client entities.

Bulk LEI services are particularly relevant for banks, corporate service providers, fund administrators, multinational groups, and compliance teams managing LEIs at scale.

LEI Registration on Behalf of Clients

An LEI application does not always need to be submitted directly by the legal entity itself.

Authorized third parties can often register and maintain LEIs on behalf of their clients.

This can include:

• corporate service providers;
• asset and wealth managers;
• law firms;
• accountants;
• fund administrators;
• financial institutions.

The applicant must be able to demonstrate the appropriate authority to act on behalf of the entity where verification is required.

For organizations managing LEIs for multiple clients, centralized registration and renewal services can simplify portfolio administration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is LEI Registration?

LEI registration is the process of applying for a Legal Entity Identifier (LEI), a unique 20-character identifier used to identify legal entities participating in financial transactions.

The LEI is issued through a GLEIF-accredited LEI issuer and published in the Global LEI Index.

Who Needs to Complete LEI Registration?

Organizations involved in regulated financial activities may be required to obtain an LEI depending on their jurisdiction and the regulations that apply to them.

Requirements can apply under frameworks such as MiFID II, EMIR, DORA, MiCA, and other financial-market regulations.

How Long Does LEI Registration Take?

The registration time depends on the entity and the availability of verifiable registry data.

Entities whose information can be confirmed automatically through an official public registry can usually be processed faster. Complex entities or applications requiring additional documentation may take longer.

How Much Does LEI Registration Cost?

LEI registration fees depend on the provider and registration period.

Organizations may be able to select annual or multi-year registration options. Current registration options and pricing are available through GetLEI.

What Documents Are Needed for LEI Registration?

Many entities listed in publicly accessible official business registries may not need to provide additional documentation.

If the entity cannot be verified using public registry data, documents such as a certificate of incorporation, registry extract, trust deed, or other constitutional document may be required.

Can Someone Else Complete LEI Registration on My Behalf?

Yes. An authorized third party, such as an accountant, lawyer, asset manager, corporate service provider, or other representative, can apply for an LEI on behalf of an organization.

The applicant's authority to act for the entity may need to be verified during the registration process.

What Happens If an LEI Is Not Renewed?

If an LEI is not renewed as required, its registration status may change to LAPSED in the Global LEI Index.

The LEI itself remains assigned to the entity, but a lapsed status indicates that its reference data has not been kept current through the required renewal process.

This can create problems where an active LEI is required for regulatory reporting, payments, or other business processes.

What Is the Format of an LEI Number?

An LEI is a 20-character alphanumeric code structured according to the ISO 17442 standard.

Every LEI is globally unique and linked to publicly available reference data about the legal entity.

You can search for an existing LEI or legal entity using the GetLEI LEI Lookup or GLEIF database.

How to Register an LEI?

Organizations that need a new Legal Entity Identifier can start the registration process through GetLEI.

LEIs registered through GetLEI are issued through RapidLEI, a GLEIF-accredited LEI issuer.