Who issues LEIs
LEIs are issued by accredited organizations known as Local Operating Units (LOUs) operating within the Global LEI System. LOUs collect reference data and publish it into the global LEI dataset.
Why renewal exists
- LEI reference data is maintained and refreshed through periodic renewal.
- Some compliance checks require an LEI to be ‘active’ (not lapsed).
- Entity changes (name, address, legal form) are reflected through updates.
Common status terms
- Issued: LEI created and published.
- Lapsed: renewal not completed within the renewal cycle; code exists but may not meet ‘active’ requirements.
- Retired: LEI no longer in use for the entity (e.g., entity ceased); historical reference remains.
What to record in compliance processes
- LEI value, query date/time, and status returned by the data source used.
- Entity name and jurisdiction returned.
- Link to onboarding/transaction record.
Related pages
LEI verification overview | When to use VAT vs EORI vs LEI
