How to transfer an LEI number?
If your company’s LEI number is currently managed by another service provider, you can transfer it to LEI Universal. No new LEI number is issued during a transfer — only the service provider changes, that is, the provider through which the LEI number will be managed and renewed from then on.
The transfer is free of charge. If the LEI number is due for renewal soon or has already lapsed, it can be transferred and renewed at the same time.
What does transferring an LEI number mean?
The LEI system is coordinated by the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF), an international foundation. GLEIF itself does not issue LEI numbers to companies. They are issued and managed by accredited LEI issuers, known as LOUs.
Every LEI number in the GLEIF system is managed by a specific LEI issuer. That issuer is responsible for checking and updating the data linked to the number and for submitting it to the GLEIF database.
Transferring an LEI number means that the management of an existing number moves from one service provider to another. A company cannot change the data in the GLEIF database itself — this is done through an LEI issuer or a Registration Agent.
LEI Universal is a Registration Agent that manages the LEI transfer process together with an accredited LEI issuer.
When is it worth considering an LEI transfer?
It is worth considering an LEI transfer in cases such as the following:
- the renewal price is unreasonably high;
- there are extra charges that were not clearly stated at the outset;
- the renewal process is slow or complicated;
- there is no local customer support;
- the company wants a multi-year package in which the service provider takes care of the annual renewal;
- the LEI number has lapsed and you want to renew it through a different service provider.
Choosing a different service provider does not affect how the LEI number is used with a bank, a stockbroker or in other financial transactions. What matters is that the LEI number is valid and linked to the correct legal entity.
How does an LEI transfer work?
An LEI number can be transferred in a few steps:
- Choose a package and enter your LEI number in the application form. The system retrieves the company’s details from the GLEIF database.
- Check the selected package. You can choose a 1, 3 or 5-year period.
- Check the company details and submit the application.
- Sign the Letter of Authorisation (LoA). A Letter of Authorisation is required for the transfer. With it, the company confirms that it authorises LEI Universal to manage its LEI number.
- Pay for the order. Once payment has been received, the transfer of the LEI number from the current service provider begins. When the transfer is complete, you will receive a confirmation by email.
Which documents are needed for a transfer?
In most cases, a signed Letter of Authorisation is all that is needed to transfer an LEI number. You can sign it on our website straight after submitting the application.
Other documents are requested only in exceptional cases — for example, if the register data does not show that the applicant is entitled to submit the application on behalf of the company.
How long does a transfer take?
Transferring an LEI number usually takes up to 7 business days. The actual time depends mainly on how quickly the current service provider confirms the transfer.
Transfers are often completed sooner. However, the process may take longer if the current service provider asks the company for additional confirmation or if the data needs further checking.
Does the LEI number or company data change?
The LEI number does not change during a transfer. The same 20-character number remains linked to the company after the change of service provider.
The company’s LEI record in the GLEIF database is also retained. If the transfer is carried out together with a renewal and the company’s register data has changed in the meantime, it is corrected during the renewal.
Can a lapsed LEI number be transferred?
Yes. A lapsed LEI number can be transferred and renewed at the same time.
If the LEI status is LAPSED, there is no need to apply for a new number. The existing number is transferred, the company’s details are checked again, and after renewal the number is valid once more.
What happens if the current service provider does not respond?
LEI transfers follow a standard procedure. Accredited LEI issuers are required to process transfer requests and to follow GLEIF’s rules. If the current service provider does not respond to the transfer request, we contact them ourselves.
Frequently asked questions
Is transferring an LEI number free of charge?
Yes. Transferring an LEI number to LEI Universal is free of charge. If the LEI number also needs to be renewed, you pay only for the renewal package you choose.
Is a new LEI number issued during a transfer?
No. No new LEI number is issued. The existing LEI number stays the same.
How long does a transfer take?
A transfer usually takes up to 7 business days. The timing depends mainly on when the current service provider confirms the transfer.
Can a lapsed LEI number be transferred?
Yes. A lapsed LEI number can be transferred and renewed with a single application.
Does the company need to contact the current service provider itself?
No. A signed Letter of Authorisation (LoA) is required, but we use it to initiate the transfer ourselves. The current service provider may ask the company to confirm the transfer.
Does my LEI number or its data change during a transfer?
The LEI number stays the same. If a renewal is carried out together with the transfer, any confirmed changes to the company’s reference data are recorded in the GLEIF database. Only the service provider that manages the LEI number changes.
