What is a Legal Entity Identifier (LEI)?

A Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) is a unique 20-character alphanumeric code used to identify legal entities in financial transactions worldwide. It acts as a global reference ID for your organization, created to improve transparency and risk management in the financial system. Each LEI is associated with reference data about the entity – such as its official name, registered address, and ownership structure – essentially answering the questions of “who is who” and “who owns whom.” In other words, an LEI makes it easy for regulators and counterparties to uniquely recognize a company or organization across the globe.

Who issues LEI codes?

LEIs are issued and maintained by GLEIF-accredited organizations called Local Operating Units (LOUs). Any LEI issued by an accredited LOU is globally valid and listed in the public GLEIF database.

How long is an LEI valid?

An LEI is valid for one year at a time. Renew annually to keep the record active and compliant. Multi-year options are available to handle renewal automatically each year.

How is the LEI structured?

The 20-character LEI consists of: 4 characters LOU prefix, 2 reserved zeros, 12 entity-specific characters, and 2 check digits.

What is the LEI full form in banking?

LEI full form is Legal Entity Identifier. In banking it identifies legal entities in payments, reporting, and onboarding. Read the [LEI full form in banking](/learn/lei-full-form) guide.

LEI lookup for UK companies

13/10/2024 • 4 min read

Whether you are onboarding a counterparty, preparing regulatory reports, or checking your own LEI status, there are several easy ways to look up LEIs for UK entities.

Where to search

**GLEIF search** – The global authority publishes every LEI record. Enter a company name, LEI code, or registration number at gleif.org.
**GlobalLEI lookup** – Use our UK-focused search tool to filter by Companies House number, LEI status, or renewal date.
**Companies House** – LEI fields are increasingly available in the secondary data for listed entities; cross-reference to confirm issuer details.

What information you’ll see

Legal entity name and registered address.
Registration authority/ID (e.g., Companies House number).
Current LEI status (Issued, Lapsed, Pending Transfer, etc.).
Managing LOU (the issuer that maintains the record).
Direct and ultimate parent relationships (where applicable).

Tips for due diligence

**Check status** – A “Lapsed” LEI may block payments or trading activities; ensure it’s “Issued” before processing.
**Verify parents** – Parent data reveals corporate ownership structures; useful for KYC and credit analysis.
**Monitor renewal dates** – Note the next renewal deadline so you can prompt clients or internal teams ahead of time.

Automating LEI checks

Subscribe to GLEIF concatenated files or API updates.
Use GlobalLEI’s portfolio tools to track UK entity changes and renewal reminders.
Integrate LEI validation into onboarding workflows to flag missing or inactive codes.

If you need help locating an LEI, confirming a status change, or onboarding multiple UK entities, reach out to the GlobalLEI support team—we can run bulk lookups and keep your records synchronized.