What is an LEI and why do I need one?

A Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) is a unique 20-character code used to identify legal entities participating in financial transactions. It's required under regulations like MiFID II, EMIR, and SFTR. If your business trades securities, derivatives, or interacts with financial institutions, you will likely need an active LEI.

How do I search for an LEI?

Use the search bar above. Enter either the company name or the LEI code. The tool returns the official record, including LEI status (active, lapsed), next renewal date, legal name and registration details, parent entity information (where available), and a direct link to the official GLEIF record. Results are pulled from the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) database.

How do I check if an LEI is active or expired?

Search the entity or LEI code. The result will show the current registration status: Issued/Active – valid and up to date; Lapsed – renewal overdue; Retired/Merged – no longer in use. You'll also see the next renewal date, which indicates when the LEI must be renewed to remain active.

Can I find a company using just its name?

Yes. Enter the legal entity name into the search. The tool will return matching entities along with their LEI codes. If the name is common, use filters like country or check the company number to confirm the correct match.

Where does the data come from?

All results are sourced from the GLEIF Global LEI Index, the official global database for LEIs. The data is updated regularly to reflect changes in status, ownership, and registration details.

What information is included in an LEI record?

A standard LEI record includes: legal entity name, registered address, country of formation, registration authority and company number, LEI issuance and renewal dates, status (active, lapsed, etc.), and parent company relationships (Level 2 data, if reported).

How often should an LEI be renewed?

LEIs must be renewed annually. If not renewed, the status becomes lapsed, which can prevent transactions or regulatory reporting.

What is LEI Level 2 data?

Level 2 data shows who owns whom. It identifies the direct and ultimate parent entities of a company. Not all LEIs include this information, as it depends on whether the entity has reported it.

Is this an official LEI database?

This tool is not the issuing authority, but it connects directly to the official GLEIF dataset. Every result includes a link to the original GLEIF record for verification.

Can I register or renew an LEI here?

LEI Search is a lookup tool. To register or renew an LEI, you can proceed through LEI Worldwide, an official GLEIF Registration Agent. The process typically takes a few minutes.

Why can't I find an LEI for a company?

Possible reasons: the company has never registered for an LEI, the name entered doesn't match the legal name, or the entity is not required to have an LEI. Try searching with the exact registered name or company number.

Is the tool free to use?

Yes. LEI Search is free and available without login. It's designed to give quick access to verified LEI data without friction.

How accurate is the data?

The data reflects the latest available records from GLEIF. However, updates depend on when entities renew or update their information. Always refer to the official GLEIF link provided for final verification.

Can I integrate this search into my own platform?

Yes. An API is available for financial institutions and platforms that want to embed LEI search and application functionality directly into their systems.

What is an LEI and why do I need one?

A Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) is a unique 20-character code used to identify legal entities participating in financial transactions. It's required under regulations like MiFID II, EMIR, and SFTR. If your business trades securities, derivatives, or interacts with financial institutions, you will likely need an active LEI.

How do I search for an LEI?

Use the search bar above. Enter either the company name or the LEI code. The tool returns the official record, including LEI status (active, lapsed), next renewal date, legal name and registration details, parent entity information (where available), and a direct link to the official GLEIF record. Results are pulled from the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) database.

How do I check if an LEI is active or expired?

Search the entity or LEI code. The result will show the current registration status: Issued/Active – valid and up to date; Lapsed – renewal overdue; Retired/Merged – no longer in use. You'll also see the next renewal date, which indicates when the LEI must be renewed to remain active.

Can I find a company using just its name?

Yes. Enter the legal entity name into the search. The tool will return matching entities along with their LEI codes. If the name is common, use filters like country or check the company number to confirm the correct match.

Where does the data come from?

All results are sourced from the GLEIF Global LEI Index, the official global database for LEIs. The data is updated regularly to reflect changes in status, ownership, and registration details.

What information is included in an LEI record?

A standard LEI record includes: legal entity name, registered address, country of formation, registration authority and company number, LEI issuance and renewal dates, status (active, lapsed, etc.), and parent company relationships (Level 2 data, if reported).

How often should an LEI be renewed?

LEIs must be renewed annually. If not renewed, the status becomes lapsed, which can prevent transactions or regulatory reporting.

What is LEI Level 2 data?

Level 2 data shows who owns whom. It identifies the direct and ultimate parent entities of a company. Not all LEIs include this information, as it depends on whether the entity has reported it.

Is this an official LEI database?

This tool is not the issuing authority, but it connects directly to the official GLEIF dataset. Every result includes a link to the original GLEIF record for verification.

Can I register or renew an LEI here?

LEI Search is a lookup tool. To register or renew an LEI, you can proceed through LEI Worldwide, an official GLEIF Registration Agent. The process typically takes a few minutes.

Why can't I find an LEI for a company?

Possible reasons: the company has never registered for an LEI, the name entered doesn't match the legal name, or the entity is not required to have an LEI. Try searching with the exact registered name or company number.

Is the tool free to use?

Yes. LEI Search is free and available without login. It's designed to give quick access to verified LEI data without friction.

How accurate is the data?

The data reflects the latest available records from GLEIF. However, updates depend on when entities renew or update their information. Always refer to the official GLEIF link provided for final verification.

Can I integrate this search into my own platform?

Yes. An API is available for financial institutions and platforms that want to embed LEI search and application functionality directly into their systems.

What is a registration authority code?

A registration authority (RA) code identifies the official business register where a legal entity is incorporated. GLEIF publishes an RA code and the entity's local registration number on every LEI record, which is how an LEI can be tied back to a national register.

Which registers does LEI Search query directly?

LEI Search runs live connectors against 13 registers that publish a free, machine-readable API, including Companies House, Ireland's CRO, France, Norway, Finland, Czechia, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Brazil and Singapore. Every other register is linked so you can verify the entity at source.

Why do some registers only have a link?

Many national registers publish no free API, require a paid subscription, or are behind a session-based search form. In those cases we show the entity's local registration number and send you to the official register so you can look it up in one step.

Company Registry Directory: Official Registers by Country

Every LEI record published by GLEIF carries a registration authority code identifying the official company register behind the entity. This directory lists all 1,068 of those registers across 222 countries and territories, and shows how LEI Search connects to each one on an LEI detail page.

Live API connectors

168

Direct or prefilled search links

1,068

Registers referenced

Showing 1,068 of 1,068 registers.

Afghanistan (AF)

Afghanistan Central Business Registry (Ministry of Commerce and Industries)

RA000001

Company Registry Directory

Afghanistan (AF)

Albania (AL)

Algeria (DZ)

Andorra (AD)

Angola (AO)

Anguilla (AI)

Antigua and Barbuda (AG)

Argentina (AR)

Armenia (AM)

Aruba (AW)

Australia (AU)

Austria (AT)

Azerbaijan (AZ)

Bahamas (BS)

Bahrain (BH)

Bangladesh (BD)

Barbados (BB)

Belarus (BY)

Belgium (BE)

Belize (BZ)

Benin (BJ)

Bermuda (BM)

Bhutan (BT)

Bolivia (Plurinational State of) (BO)

Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (BQ)

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA)

Botswana (BW)

Brazil (BR)

Brunei Darussalam (BN)

Bulgaria (BG)

Burkina Faso (BF)

Burundi (BI)

Cabo Verde (CV)

Cambodia (KH)

Cameroon (CM)

Canada (CA)

Cayman Islands (KY)

Central African Republic (CF)

Chad (TD)

Chile (CL)

China (CN)

Colombia (CO)

Comoros (KM)

Congo (CG)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the (CD)

Cook Islands (CK)

Costa Rica (CR)

Côte d'Ivoire (CI)

Croatia (HR)

Cuba (CU)

Curaçao (CW)

Cyprus (CY)

Czechia (CZ)

Denmark (DK)

Djibouti (DJ)

Dominica (DM)

Dominican Republic (DO)

Ecuador (EC)

Egypt (EG)

El Salvador (SV)

Estonia (EE)

Eswatini (SZ)

Ethiopia (ET)

Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (FK)

Faroe Islands (FO)

Fiji (FJ)

Finland (FI)

France (FR)

Gabon (GA)

Gambia (GM)

Georgia (GE)

Germany (DE)

Ghana (GH)

Gibraltar (GI)

Greece (GR)

Greenland (GL)

Grenada (GD)

Guam (GU)

Guatemala (GT)