Business Identity
LEI Registration, Renewal & Transfer
An LEI is a 20-character code, defined by ISO 17442, that identifies a legal entity - company, fund, partnership or trust - in financial transactions and regulatory reporting. It is not your company registration number, and no government registry issues it. Accredited LEI issuers do.
Most companies meet the LEI when someone else demands it: a broker opening a corporate account, a bank onboarding you, or a reporting rule that names your trades. Whether it applies to you depends on the activity and the jurisdiction, so treat this page as background and confirm the actual requirement with the party asking for it.
LEI check
Does my company need an LEI?
A short guide - general information only, not confirmation of a regulatory requirement.
Question 1 of 4
No personal information is collected by this questionnaire.
Who gets asked for one
Companies opening a corporate brokerage or investment account, trading financial instruments, or caught by transaction-reporting rules. Confirm the specific requirement with your broker, bank or regulator before you pay for anything.
What you'll need to hand
Legal name, registered address, company registration number and, where it applies, parent or ultimate-parent ownership details. The exact fields vary by issuer and jurisdiction.
Renewal, and what lapsing costs you
LEIs are normally renewed once a year. A lapsed record still exists but shows as not current in the GLEIF register, and some counterparties will not accept it until you renew.
Three different jobs
Registration, renewal or transfer?
New registration
For an entity that has never held an LEI. Expect to supply legal name, registered address, registration number and ownership details.
Renewal
Keeps a current LEI current, normally once a year. It is done with the issuer that manages your record - your managing LOU.
Transfer
Moves a current LEI to a different issuer, usually over price or service. The code stays the same; only who maintains it changes.
If you're unsure which one you need, check the record first with LEI lookup.
Request
Tell us what you need
Registration, renewal and transfer all happen with an independent LEI issuer, not with StandardsDesk. Price and turnaround are theirs to set.
Need an LEI?
Tell us what you need and where the company is registered. We'll review the request and email you with the available next step. Submitting this form does not place an order.
Not sure you need one?
A short questionnaire, and an honest answer if the answer is no.
Check an existing LEI
Search the public GLEIF register by code or company name.
Market charts
Charts for indices, commodities, rates and currencies.
All services
LEI, ISO certification and cross-border compliance referrals.
FAQ
LEI questions we get most
What exactly is an LEI?
A 20-character code, defined by ISO 17442, that identifies a legal entity in financial transactions and regulatory reporting. It is issued by an accredited LEI issuer (a Local Operating Unit) and published in the global GLEIF register, so anyone can look it up.
Does my company definitely need an LEI?
That depends on what you trade and who is asking. Companies trading financial instruments, opening corporate brokerage or investment accounts, or caught by transaction-reporting rules are usually the ones asked for one. We can't confirm a legal requirement for your situation - ask your broker, bank or regulator, or run the short questionnaire for general guidance.
How much does an LEI cost and how long does it take?
The independent LEI issuer sets both, and both vary by provider and jurisdiction. Check the price and stated turnaround on the partner's registration page before you apply - we don't set them and won't quote them for you.
What's the difference between registration, renewal and transfer?
Registration creates a new LEI for an entity that has never had one. Renewal keeps an existing LEI current, normally once a year; skip it and the record lapses. Transfer moves a current LEI to a different issuer, usually for price or service reasons. The code itself stays the same.
What happens if my LEI lapses?
The code still exists, but the GLEIF register shows it as not current. Some counterparties refuse a lapsed LEI for reporting or onboarding, which tends to surface at the worst moment. Renewing with an LEI issuer fixes it, for a fee they set.
What information will I need to provide?
Usually the entity's full legal name, registered address and company registration number, plus direct or ultimate parent ownership details depending on the issuer and jurisdiction. The partner form lists the exact fields.