LEI for a limited partnership (LP)

Data as of 13 November 2026 Source: GLEIF

A limited partnership needs an LEI when it invests or enters into derivatives as a partnership. That is common, because the limited partnership is the standard vehicle for private equity, venture capital and property funds.

2,395 UK limited partnerships hold an LEI and 51% of them are active.

  • 2,395Entities with an LEI
  • 51%Active LEIs
  • 121New in the last 12 months
  • 1.0%Share of the country’s LEIs

When an LEI is required

Banks, prime brokers and fund administrators ask for the partnership’s LEI before they open trading or custody accounts, and counterparties need it to report derivatives. The general partner usually has an LEI of its own as well, because it is a separate legal entity.

A Scottish limited partnership has legal personality and an English one does not, but for LEI purposes both are eligible and both are identified by their own LEI.

Legal basis

  • Under UK MiFIR, an investment firm cannot execute a trade in shares, bonds, ETFs or other reportable instruments for a client that is eligible for an LEI and does not have one. The FCA names companies, charities and trusts among the clients this covers. FCA: UK MiFIR legal entity identifiers
  • The rule itself is short: a firm shall not provide a service that triggers a transaction report before it has the client’s LEI. RTS 22, Article 13(2), as kept in UK law
  • Under UK EMIR, both sides of a derivative contract are reported, so every UK counterparty to a derivative needs an LEI. FCA: UK EMIR reporting obligation
  • A private individual investing in their own name does not need an LEI and is identified by a national identifier instead. RTS 22, Article 6, as kept in UK law

What the application needs

Register
Companies House
Registration number
The partnership number, which starts with LP (England and Wales), SL (Scotland) or NL (Northern Ireland)
Who can apply
The general partner, or anyone it authorises with a signed letter of authorisation
Fund structures
If the partnership is an investment fund, the application also records its manager and any umbrella or master fund

How to apply

  1. Enter the name or registration number in the application form. Where the register is connected, the details are filled in for you.
  2. Check the name, registration number and address, and state whether a parent company consolidates the entity.
  3. Confirm that you may act for the entity, then pay. If a signed authorisation is needed, you sign it online.
  4. The details are checked against the register. Once they are confirmed, the LEI is issued and sent to you by email.

An entity can only have one LEI. Check whether it already has one

Apply for an LEI

In numbers

  • Active 1,223 (51%)
  • Lapsed 932 (39%)
  • Other 240 (10%)

First LEI registrations per year

YearLEIs
2015216
2016113
2017410
2018249
2019177
202092
2021143
2022136
2023134
2024103
2025120
2026*107

* 2026 is counted up to 13 November 2026.

Registers these entities are recorded in

Registration authorityLEIs
Companies Register (Companies House), England and Wales1,552
Companies Register (Companies House), Scotland802
Companies Register (Companies House), Northern Ireland12
Financial Services Register (Financial Conduct Authority)11
HM Revenue & Customs2
Other registers1
No register recorded15

UK LEI statistics

Frequently asked questions

Does the general partner need a separate LEI?

If the general partner is a company or LLP that trades or signs derivatives in its own name, yes. The partnership’s LEI covers only the partnership.

Do the limited partners need LEIs?

Not because of the partnership. An investor that is itself a legal entity needs an LEI for its own trading.

Is a limited partnership the same as an LLP?

No. An LLP is a body corporate registered with an OC, SO or NC number. A limited partnership has a general partner with unlimited liability and is registered under an LP, SL or NL number.

Sources

Other entity types