Get an LEI/vLEI

Together, the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) and verifiable LEI (vLEI) represent a powerful union that provides a trusted global identity to organizations as well as their organizational roles.

Legal entities wishing to obtain LEI / vLEI identity credentials must supply accurate reference data to their issuing organization. Although in some cases this is even simpler. A number of LEI issuers, also referred to as a Local Operating Units (LOUs), facilitate reference data retrieval from the local registration authority. This means that the legal entity only has to provide its local identity number to start the application process.

The reference data includes:

• Business card information, e.g. the official name of a legal entity and its registered address. In the Global LEI System, this information is referred to as ‘Level 1’ data. It provides the answer to the question of ‘who is who’.
• Relationship information, which allows the identification of the direct and ultimate parents of a legal entity, if applicable. This information is referred to as ‘Level 2’ data. It answers the question of ‘who owns whom’.

The Global LEI System provides a variety of options for entities wishing to obtain their LEI and vLEI.

Obtaining an LEI is the first step.

Once an entity has been issued with an LEI, it may then apply for a vLEI.