Organizational Identity
LEI & vLEI
The Legal Entity Identifier (LEI)
The birthplace of global organizational identity
The Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) is the starting point for achieving a globally connected network of verifiable, interoperable business identity and information. It is a unique 20-character alphanumeric code that enables anyone, anywhere in the world, to access clear, unique identification data about a legal entity.
Every LEI is unique and can represent only one entity.
Each entity’s LEI code connects to verified reference information from authoritative local sources, including the entity’s ownership structure, which is accessible in the Global LEI Index.
In this way, the LEI answers the questions of 'who is who’ and ‘who owns whom’.
The LEI adheres to four necessary principles of ISO 17442:
- A global standard
- A single unique identifier assigned to each legal entity
- Supported by high-quality data
- A public good, available free of charge to all users
Legal entities worldwide recognize, agree with, and trust in the LEI’s legitimacy because it is based on the global ISO 17442 standard, and because it is administered by GLEIF, a supranational, not-for-profit foundation, backed by the G20 and the Financial Stability Board, and overseen by the Regulatory Oversight Committee (ROC).
Keen to get an LEI? See our list of Accredited LEI Issuers , also referred to as a Local Operating Unit (LOU).
2009
Speech by JC Trichet CESR calling for international public reference data infrastructure
2010
Publication of Dodd-Frank Act, leading the development and launch of the Global LEI System
US Treasury speaks to EU Commission, opens door for LEI dossier going to FSB
2012
ISO 17442, Part 1 Published
G20 endorses LEI Charter, establishing the ROC and the Global LEI System
Implementation of European Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR)
2013
First Meeting of the Regulatory Oversight Committee (ROC)
CFTC Rule demands LEI – first “CICI”, then “pre-LEIs”.
2014
Global LEI Foundation established under Swiss law
Office set up in Frankfurt
2015
Publication of first concatenated LEI data – Level 1 Data to answer the question of ‘who is who’
Accreditation of first LEI Issuers
2017
FSB takes the lead to prepare a recommendation for a LEI governance framework
Global LEI
Index reaches
1 million records
2020
Founded GLEIF Americas
Decision to develop a digital “verifiable” LEI using verifiable credentials
The People’s Bank of China publishes the 5-Year Roadmap for LEI adoption
FSB cross-border payments roadmap publication
First Validation Agent starts operations
2021
Established Japan Office
Mandate from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to use the LEI in cross-border transactions
2022
GLEIF and Trust Over IP Foundation Publish Ecosystem Governance Framework for Digitally Verifiable LEI
Established Singapore branch
vLEI Demo application “GLEIF Annual Report 2021”
GLEIF Rebrand to reflect the evolution to a new strategic direction: Driving voluntary adoption for the LEI across sectors
Qualification of first vLEI Issuer
Global LEI
Index reaches
2 million records
Decision to establish country representation in India
Implementing new ROC policies (Legal Entity Events, Fund Relationships & Government Entities) outlining new LEI data formats, creating more transparency in the global marketplace
2023
Mandate from South Korea’s Financial Services Commission on using LEI in investment account registration for foreign corporate entities
Decision to establish country representation in China
The journey to one global identity behind every business
A decade of excellence. A history of the Global LEI System
Explore the Timeline Relevant Files for Download
Download as PDF: The Legal Entity Identifier - Questions and Answers