LEI Validator
ValidatorValidate LEI (Legal Entity Identifier) codes. Checks the 20-character format and recomputes the ISO 7064 MOD 97-10 check digits. Runs entirely in your browser.
About this tool
About LEI Validator
An LEI (Legal Entity Identifier) is a 20-character alphanumeric code, defined by ISO 17442, that uniquely identifies a legal entity participating in financial transactions worldwide. It's structured as a 4-character prefix identifying the Local Operating Unit (LOU) that issued the code, 2 reserved characters (currently always "00"), a 12-character entity-specific identifier, and 2 check digits. This validator confirms the format and recomputes the check digits to verify the code is internally consistent.
The validator strips whitespace, verifies the 20-character format (18 alphanumeric characters followed by 2 digits), expands every letter to its two-digit value (A=10..Z=35), and applies the ISO 7064 MOD 97-10 algorithm — appending "00" as a placeholder to the first 18 characters, treating the result as a large integer, and computing the check digits as 98 minus the remainder mod 97 — then compares against the last 2 characters of the LEI.
Use this to verify an LEI pasted from a counterparty's KYC documentation, a regulatory filing, a trade repository record, or a GLEIF search result before using it in a financial system, to debug why an LEI is being rejected by a validation layer, or to sanity-check an LEI before submitting it in a MiFID II, EMIR, or Dodd-Frank reporting field.
Instant, fully client-side validation with no data ever leaving your browser. Note this checks structural validity only — it does not confirm the LEI is actually registered and active, which requires a lookup against the GLEIF Global LEI Index.
Key Features
- Full 20-character format validation
- Decodes the LOU prefix, reserved characters, and entity-specific segment
- Recomputes and compares the ISO 7064 MOD 97-10 check digits
- BigInt-based computation for exact precision on 36+ digit numbers
- Verified against real GLEIF-published LEIs
- 100% browser-based, no data ever transmitted
FAQ
LEI Validator — Frequently Asked Questions
What is an LEI (Legal Entity Identifier)?
An LEI is a 20-character alphanumeric code, defined by the ISO 17442 standard, that uniquely identifies a legal entity — a company, fund, trust, or other organization — participating in financial transactions anywhere in the world. It's issued by accredited Local Operating Units (LOUs) under the oversight of the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF).
How is the LEI check digit calculated?
Take the first 18 characters (LOU prefix + reserved characters + entity-specific segment), append "00" as placeholder check digits, expand every letter to its two-digit value (A=10 through Z=35), interpret the result as a large integer, and compute 98 minus that number's remainder when divided by 97. The result, zero-padded to 2 digits, is the check digit pair. A full valid LEI, expanded the same way, always leaves a remainder of exactly 1 when divided by 97 — this is the ISO 7064 MOD 97-10 algorithm, the same family of check digit used by IBAN.
Why does my LEI fail validation?
The most common cause is a single mistyped or transposed character. Also confirm the code is exactly 20 characters with no spaces or dashes, and that it hasn't been confused with a similar-looking identifier like an ISIN or a national company registration number.
What are the first 4 characters of an LEI?
The first 4 characters identify the Local Operating Unit (LOU) — the accredited organization that issued the LEI, such as Bloomberg, London Stock Exchange Group, or GLEIF itself. Different issuers use different prefixes, so this segment does not tell you anything about the entity itself, only who registered it.
Does a valid LEI mean the entity is active?
No. This validator only confirms the code is structurally well-formed and its check digits are correct — that's necessary but not sufficient. LEI registrations must be renewed annually and can lapse to "inactive" or be merged/retired. To confirm an LEI is currently active and see the entity's registered name and address, look it up in the GLEIF Global LEI Index.
Tips
- Strip spaces and dashes before validating — some data feeds and PDFs format LEIs with separators that aren't part of the official code
- If the check digit fails, try re-copying the LEI from its original source — the most common error is a single transposed character
- A structurally valid LEI is not necessarily an active, registered one — cross-check against the GLEIF Global LEI Index for the authoritative status
- This validator never sends your LEI anywhere — the check digits are recomputed entirely in your browser
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