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LEI format check & lookup
An LEI is exactly 20 alphanumeric characters. No spaces or separators.
Official service: search.gleif.org
Enter a 20-character LEI above to check the format.
What is a Legal Entity Identifier (LEI)?
A Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) is a 20-character alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies a legal entity participating in financial transactions. The LEI system is supervised by the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) and administered by accredited Local Operating Units (LOUs) in each jurisdiction.
LEIs are required under several major financial regulations, including MiFID II, EMIR, and SFTR, for counterparty identification in securities trading, derivatives reporting, and securities financing transactions.
- Characters 1–4: LOU prefix (identifies the issuing Local Operating Unit)
- Characters 5–18: Entity-specific alphanumeric identifier
- Characters 19–20: Two check digits (ISO 17442 algorithm)
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When an LEI is required
- MiFID II: Required for all legal entities trading financial instruments on EU markets. Applies to investment firms, fund managers, and their clients that are legal entities.
- EMIR: Required for derivatives reporting and clearing. Both counterparties to a derivative trade must have valid LEIs.
- SFTR: Required for securities financing transaction (repo, securities lending) reporting under the Securities Financing Transactions Regulation.
- Global trade finance: Used by correspondent banks for KYC and anti-money laundering identification of legal entity counterparties.
LEIs must be renewed annually. An expired LEI may not be accepted for regulatory reporting purposes. Always check the registration status on GLEIF.
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