How to get an LEI in France: definition, purpose and obligations
Obtaining an LEI in France allows a company, fund or any other legal entity to be uniquely identified in financial transactions. The LEI, or Legal Entity Identifier, is used by banks, financial intermediaries, markets and supervisory authorities.
For a French company, the LEI code becomes essential when it operates in financial instruments, issues securities or must be identified in regulatory reporting.
Table of contents
- How to get an LEI in France: definition, purpose and obligations
What is an LEI code?
An LEI code is an international identifier made up of 20 alphanumeric characters. It is used to uniquely identify a legal entity participating in financial transactions.
It works as an international identity card for companies, funds, associations, foundations and other structures with legal personality.
The LEI can be used to verify:
- the official name of the entity;
- its country of incorporation;
- its registration number;
- its legal address;
- its status;
- certain information relating to its group or parent companies.
For a broader overview, you can read our dedicated guide: what is an LEI code?
Why obtain an LEI in France?
Obtaining an LEI in France mainly addresses a regulatory identification requirement. Financial markets require reliable identification of legal entities carrying out transactions in financial instruments.
The LEI facilitates transparency, traceability and transaction monitoring. It enables authorities, banks and financial intermediaries to know precisely which entity is involved in a transaction.
For a French company, the LEI may be requested by:
- a bank;
- an investment services provider;
- a custodian;
- a trading venue;
- a registrar;
- a financial adviser;
- an institutional investor;
- a supervisory authority.
In practice, without an active LEI, certain transactions are impossible.
Which French entities are concerned?
The LEI does not only apply to large listed companies. Many French entities may need an LEI as soon as they operate in a financial or regulatory context.
| Type of entity | Potential need for an LEI |
|---|---|
| Commercial company | Purchase, sale or issuance of financial instruments |
| Holding company | Holding or trading financial securities |
| Investment fund | Identification in reporting and financial transactions |
| SPV or investment vehicle | Structuring, issuance of securities or private debt |
| Listed company | Market obligations and transparency |
An unlisted French company may therefore need an LEI.
This is particularly the case when it issues bonds, carries out a structured fundraising, opens a securities account or operates in financial instruments.
When is the LEI mandatory?
The LEI is generally required when a legal entity must be identified in a regulated financial transaction.
The most common situations are:
- purchase or sale of shares, bonds or other financial instruments;
- issuance of financial securities;
- access to certain trading venues;
- transactions carried out through an investment services provider;
- regulatory reporting under European regulations;
- identification of an issuer or counterparty;
- structuring of an investment vehicle.
For a company, the issue often arises when opening an account with a financial intermediary or before a securities transaction.
The principle is simple: a legal entity operating on financial markets must be identifiable in a unique and reliable way.
How to get an LEI in France
To obtain an LEI in France, the company must submit an application to an accredited LEI issuer. The issuer verifies the legal information of the entity before assigning the code.
In France, the application must be submitted to INSEE.
The process generally follows four steps:
Prepare the company information The entity’s legal data must be collected: legal name, legal form, SIREN number, address, legal representative and any group-related information.
Submit the application The application is sent to an organization authorized to issue LEIs.
Data verification The issuer checks the consistency of the information against official registers, including registration information.
LEI assignment Once the application has been approved, the LEI code is assigned and published in the international database.
For a practical overview of the process, read our guide: how to get an LEI
What information should be prepared for an LEI application?
For an LEI French company application, the requested information is generally straightforward, but it must be accurate and consistent with official registers.
The main items to prepare are:
- exact legal name;
- legal form;
- SIREN number or registration number;
- registered office address;
- country of incorporation;
- name of the legal representative;
- Kbis extract or equivalent supporting document;
- information on the direct parent company, where applicable;
- information on the ultimate parent company, where applicable.
For a French company, the Kbis extract is often the key reference document. It confirms the company’s legal existence, registration and main characteristics.
When the company belongs to a group, additional information may be required to document consolidation links.
LEI validity period and renewal
An LEI is not just a number obtained once and then left unchanged. It must be kept up to date.
In practice, the LEI must be renewed every year to confirm that the entity’s information is still accurate. If the renewal is not completed, the LEI may remain visible, but its status will no longer be up to date.
This can create difficulties with certain financial intermediaries.
It is therefore recommended to monitor:
- the LEI expiry date;
- changes in legal name;
- transfers of registered office;
- changes in legal form;
- mergers or restructurings;
- changes in parent company.
An active and properly renewed LEI reduces the risk of delays or blocks during a financial transaction.
Get support to obtain an LEI
The LEI application may seem simple, but it can become more technical when it concerns a holding company, an investment vehicle, a fund or a structure belonging to a group.
Get LEI supports companies with their financial identification procedures, including the preparation of the required information, submission of applications and follow-up of files.
Our support may include:
- document preparation;
- verification of legal information;
- application submission;
- follow-up until the code is assigned;
- assistance in case of additional requests.
To submit an application, you can access our dedicated page: LEI application
To discover all our support services, you can also view our services
FAQ
What is an LEI code?
An LEI code is a unique international identifier assigned to a legal entity. It is used to identify the entity in financial transactions and regulatory reporting.
Does a French company need an LEI?
A French company generally needs to obtain an LEI when it operates in financial instruments, issues securities or carries out transactions requiring regulatory identification.
How can a company obtain an LEI in France?
To obtain an LEI in France, the company must submit an application to an accredited LEI issuer, provide its legal information and wait for data validation.
Is the LEI only for listed companies?
No. An unlisted company, holding company, SPV or investment fund may also need an LEI.
How long is an LEI valid?
An LEI must be renewed regularly, generally every year, in order to keep the entity’s information up to date.