If you have been asked for an LEI by a bank, a trading platform, or as part of a regulatory filing and you are not sure what the process involves, this should help.
A Legal Entity Identifier is a 20-character alphanumeric code that identifies your organisation in global financial markets. It is governed by GLEIF — the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation — and issued under the ISO 17442 standard. Every LEI issuer in the world is GLEIF-accredited, which means the code you receive is globally recognised regardless of which provider you use.
What you need before you start
The process is entirely online. Before you begin, have the following ready:
What happens during verification
This is the part most guides skip. Once you submit your details, the issuer cross-references your information against the official Companies House registry. If your data matches cleanly, the LEI code is issued and published directly to the public GLEIF database — where any bank, regulator, or counterparty can look it up.
If there is a discrepancy — for example, your registered address has recently changed and Companies House has not updated yet — the issuer may request a supporting document such as a Letter of Authority or proof of address before proceeding.
What you get at the end
A 20-character LEI code, published to the global GLEIF database. It carries two layers of data: Level 1 — who your organisation is — and Level 2 — who owns it. Both are publicly visible.
The code is valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually. A lapsed LEI is flagged as inactive in the GLEIF database, which can block trades and delay onboarding, so it is worth tracking the renewal date from day one.
Where to go
For anyone who wants to see the full step-by-step flow before committing, TNV LEI is a GLEIF-accredited provider with a clear overview of how to apply for an LEI online specifically for UK entities — covering new registration, renewal, and transfer in one place.
Hope that helps anyone navigating this for the first time.
A Legal Entity Identifier is a 20-character alphanumeric code that identifies your organisation in global financial markets. It is governed by GLEIF — the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation — and issued under the ISO 17442 standard. Every LEI issuer in the world is GLEIF-accredited, which means the code you receive is globally recognised regardless of which provider you use.
What you need before you start
The process is entirely online. Before you begin, have the following ready:
- Your organisation's legal name exactly as it appears at Companies House
- Your Companies House registration number
- Your registered address
- Ownership structure details — whether your entity has a parent company or operates as standalone
What happens during verification
This is the part most guides skip. Once you submit your details, the issuer cross-references your information against the official Companies House registry. If your data matches cleanly, the LEI code is issued and published directly to the public GLEIF database — where any bank, regulator, or counterparty can look it up.
If there is a discrepancy — for example, your registered address has recently changed and Companies House has not updated yet — the issuer may request a supporting document such as a Letter of Authority or proof of address before proceeding.
What you get at the end
A 20-character LEI code, published to the global GLEIF database. It carries two layers of data: Level 1 — who your organisation is — and Level 2 — who owns it. Both are publicly visible.
The code is valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually. A lapsed LEI is flagged as inactive in the GLEIF database, which can block trades and delay onboarding, so it is worth tracking the renewal date from day one.
Where to go
For anyone who wants to see the full step-by-step flow before committing, TNV LEI is a GLEIF-accredited provider with a clear overview of how to apply for an LEI online specifically for UK entities — covering new registration, renewal, and transfer in one place.
Hope that helps anyone navigating this for the first time.