LEI code registration in India is usually done through Legal Entity Identifier India Ltd (LEIL), the only issuer the Reserve Bank of India recognises under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, and costs ₹4,130 for a new one-year LEI (₹3,500 plus 18% GST) on LEIL's current fee table. RBI makes the Legal Entity Identifier, a 20-character alphanumeric code, compulsory for non-individual borrowers with bank exposure of ₹5 crore or more, and for RTGS, NEFT and cross-border transactions of ₹50 crore or more. The code is valid for one year from issue or last renewal.
Who needs an LEI code in India?
An entity needs an LEI when a regulator's rule catches it. The biggest group is non-individual borrowers with aggregate exposure of ₹5 crore or more: under RBI's circular of 21 April 2022, lenders must not sanction new exposure to them, or renew or enhance existing exposure, unless they have an LEI.
| Who | Threshold or scope | In force from |
|---|---|---|
| Non-individual borrowers of banks, NBFCs and other lenders | Aggregate exposure of ₹5 crore or more | Phased, final phase by 30 April 2025 |
| Remitters and beneficiaries in RTGS and NEFT (non-individuals) | Each transaction of ₹50 crore or more | 1 April 2021 |
| Resident non-individuals in cross-border transactions | Capital or current account transactions of ₹50 crore or more under FEMA | 1 October 2022 |
| Issuers of listed non-convertible securities, securitised debt instruments and security receipts (SEBI) | All such issuers | 1 September 2023 |
Exposure is measured as the higher of the sanctioned limit and the outstanding amount, across fund-based and non-fund-based credit and investment exposure. Departments and agencies of the Central and State Governments are exempt from the borrower rule; public sector undertakings are not. LEIL also lists RBI mandates for OTC derivative and non-derivative market participants, and SEBI's for foreign portfolio investors.
Once an entity has an LEI, RBI's cross-border circular says it must be reported in all of that entity's cross-border transactions, whatever their size. If you are planning a large foreign investment, the FDI Route Checker covers the approval side.
Can a proprietorship, partnership or trust get an LEI?
Yes. LEIL's application accepts sole proprietorships, partnership firms, LLPs, one person companies, trusts and societies, co-operative societies and funds, as well as companies. An Indian branch of a foreign company can also obtain its own LEI. GLEIF's answer for individuals acting in a business capacity is "in principle, no", subject to conditions its Regulatory Oversight Committee set in 2015, so a proprietor should confirm eligibility with LEIL first.
The legal form you choose decides the registration authority LEIL checks you against. Companies give their CIN from the MCA, and SEBI- or PFRDA-registered entities give that registration number. Where none applies, as for most partnership firms and proprietorships, the entity is identified by its PAN, with the Income Tax Department as the registration authority. You can confirm a company's CIN with the CIN and LLPIN lookup.
What are the LEI code fees in India?
LEIL charges ₹3,500 plus GST (₹4,130) for a new LEI for one year and ₹2,800 plus GST (₹3,304) for a one-year renewal, according to its user guides dated 13 October 2026. You can pay for up to five years at once at a lower yearly rate, and SEZ units registered as such with GSTN pay without GST.
| Contract period | New LEI, with GST | Renewal, with GST |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | ₹4,130 | ₹3,304 |
| 2 years | ₹7,257 | ₹6,431 |
| 3 years | ₹10,207 | ₹9,381 |
| 4 years | ₹13,039 | ₹12,213 |
| 5 years | ₹15,694 | ₹14,868 |
Example. Bluepeak Logistics LLP (a made-up firm) needs an LEI for a ₹6 crore working capital line. Paying LEIL for five years upfront costs ₹15,694. Taking a one-year LEI and renewing it yearly for four more years costs ₹4,130 plus 4 × ₹3,304, which is ₹17,346. The five-year plan saves ₹1,652.
Documents and information LEIL asks for
The exact document list depends on your legal form, and the LEIL portal generates it once you pick one. Every application needs the entity's PAN, its registration authority ID, its legal and head office addresses, contact details verified by OTP, details of any direct and ultimate parent, and proof that the person applying is authorised.
- Authorisation. The applicant must be named in a letter of authority or board resolution. LEIL rejects applications submitted by an unauthorised person.
- Legal name. Enter it in English exactly as the registration authority records it, as ISO 17442 requires.
- Parents. A direct parent is the lowest entity that prepares consolidated financial statements including yours; the ultimate parent is the highest. The test is accounting consolidation, not a bare shareholding.
- Files. Upload PDFs only, up to 10 MB each and 40 MB in total.
How to apply for an LEI code online
The application is made on LEIL's portal under Our Services, Apply for New LEI. You fill in entity details, contacts, addresses and parent data, upload documents, choose a contract period, submit and pay by card or net banking. LEIL validates the data before the code is issued.
- Accept LEIL's rules for LOU services, choose your legal form and download the document list.
- Select the registration authority type, enter your CIN, PAN or other ID and fetch the details.
- Pick the authorised representative and enter PAN details.
- Add the authorised official's and an alternate contact, then verify the communication email and mobile with OTPs.
- Enter the legal and headquarters addresses and the parent information.
- Upload the documents now, or tick "Skip for now" and upload later through Track Status.
- Choose the number of years, enter your GSTIN, select the invoice category (B2B, or SEZWOP for an SEZ unit with its declaration) and submit.
- Note the temporary reference ID and pay now, or later through the emailed link.
RBI's 2017 circular lets an entity take its LEI from any issuer accredited by GLEIF; LEIL is GLEIF's accredited issuer in India. LEIL's user guide does not state a processing time, so apply well before a bank deadline or a large payment.
Renewal, lapsed status and changes
An LEI stays active only if it is renewed: LEIL's FAQ says that if it is not renewed by the renewal date, its status becomes lapsed, which affects any transaction that needs an active LEI. RBI also tells banks to ensure that borrowers renew their codes in line with GLEIF guidelines.
Renew on LEIL under Renew LEI by entering your LEI or PAN; the form pre-fills, and you confirm or update the addresses, parent data and shareholding. A lapsed LEI, or one with incomplete parent reporting, is labelled unconforming under the Regulatory Oversight Committee's conformity flag, which global data users can see. Changes such as a new address go through Modify LEI, and LEIL's portal also handles port-in and port-out requests.
Common mistakes in LEI applications
Most rejections and delays trace back to identity data that does not match official records: a legal name that differs from the MCA or PAN record, an application filed by someone not named in the board resolution, or parent details entered by shareholding instead of by consolidation.
- Letting the LEI lapse shortly before a large RTGS payment or a loan renewal.
- Paying GST as an SEZ unit instead of choosing SEZWOP with the declaration.
- Forgetting to update the LEI after a change of name, a registered office change or a change in ownership.
For companies, the same records feed your annual ROC compliance, so keep them consistent.
How Ofin handles LEI registration
Ofin's LEI service, from ₹3,499, covers application preparation and filing with LEIL, document verification and validation support, and help by phone, chat and email. LEIL's own fee is paid to LEIL. Our CAs, CSs and legal professionals draft the authorisation, check your legal name and parent data against official records, and track renewals.
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