What documents are needed for an LEI application?
Most UK companies do not need to upload separate documents when applying for an LEI number. The main details are checked against Companies House. If the registry information is sufficient and the applicant’s authority is clear, the application can usually be processed without supporting documents.
If additional evidence is required, we will contact you and explain exactly what to provide.
When might supporting documents be needed?
A document may be required when:
- the applicant is not authorised to represent the organisation;
- the organisation has a parent company that consolidates its financial results;
- the applicant is an investment or pension fund;
- the organisation is registered outside the UK and its details cannot be confirmed from an accessible official register.
If the Companies House record is current and the application is submitted by an authorised person, separate documents are usually not needed.
When is a letter of authorisation required?
If the applicant is not listed as a director or otherwise authorised to represent the organisation, a signed letter of authorisation may be required. It should be signed by a director or another person whose authority can be verified.
The letter confirms that the applicant may apply for, renew or manage the organisation’s LEI number.
What may be required for a parent company?
If the organisation has a direct or ultimate parent that consolidates its financial results, the relevant parent details must be included in the application.
A consolidated annual report or another suitable document may be needed to confirm the parent-subsidiary relationship. The report requested through our application form must have been issued within the last two years.
If there is no consolidating parent for LEI purposes, the appropriate reporting exception is selected and no parent-company document is required.
What may be required for a fund?
Investment and pension fund details are checked against the FCA register and other official sources. If the register does not provide enough information to confirm the legal structure, we may request a prospectus, fund rules or another official document.
The LEI record may also include relationships involving a fund manager, umbrella fund or sub-fund.
What documents are needed for an LEI transfer?
Transferring an LEI number to our management requires a signed Letter of Authorisation (LoA). It confirms that the organisation permits us to manage and, where requested, renew the existing LEI number.
You do not need to draft the letter yourself. A pre-filled LoA can be signed online after the transfer application is submitted. The LEI number and the legal entity it identifies do not change during the transfer.
Read more about transferring an LEI number.
Frequently asked questions
When are additional documents required?
Additional documents may be needed if the applicant does not have registered signing authority, parent-company details need to be verified, or the organisation cannot be fully verified from the relevant register. If anything is needed, we will contact you.
Is a letter of authorisation required for a transfer?
Yes. A signed Letter of Authorisation (LoA) is required to transfer an LEI number. It can be signed online after submitting the application.
Can supporting documents be submitted after the application?
Yes. If the review shows that a document is needed, we will contact you and the document can be provided afterwards.