Who can apply for an LEI?

The following legal entities can apply for an LEI:

• Registered companies* and registered subsidiaries*
• Non-profit organizations
• Sole proprietors (who have a separate identity in the business register)
• International branches (the main branch must already have an LEI)**
• Funds and trusts

*Normally, a commercial registry will grant Good Standing status to a company if it maintains accurate information in the registry and meets all annual reporting requirements.

To receive a Legal Entity Identifier, the legal entity does not necessarily have to have Good Standing status, but it must be ACTIVE. This means that legal entities that have been deleted, merged, withdrawn or removed from the register cannot obtain or renew an Identifier number.

** A branch in a different jurisdiction/state, but still in the same country as the main office, is not eligible as currently only one LEI can be issued per country.