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Most US organizations applying for a Legal Entity Identifier move through the process smoothly — they submit their entity details, the system cross-checks against a public registry, and the 20-character LEI code is issued without much friction.

But some applications hit a pause. The issuer asks for something extra: an LEI authorisation form.

If you've landed on that step and aren't sure what it means or why it's being asked for, this article explains it plainly.

What the LEI Authorisation Form Actually Is

The LEI authorisation form — also called a Letter of Authorization (LoA) — is a signed document that confirms two things simultaneously:

• The person submitting the LEI application is officially authorized to act on behalf of the entity

• The entity grants the LEI provider permission to handle the application and verify data on its behalf

It is not a separate registration. It is not a license or a certification of any kind. It is simply a written confirmation of authority — similar in purpose to a power of attorney or a board resolution, but specific to the LEI application process.

The form is typically provided as a template by the LEI issuer. You fill in the entity name, the authorized signatory's name and title, sign it, and return it — either as a scanned upload or via an electronic signature.

Why Some Applications Require It and Others Don't

This is the part that confuses most applicants. Not every LEI application needs one. Whether it is required depends on two factors:

1. Whether the public registry is accessible

Every LEI issuer verifies your entity's information against official public registries — such as the Secretary of State database in your state, SEC filings, or similar sources. If your entity appears clearly in one of those registries and all the data matches, the issuer can confirm authority without needing additional paperwork.

If your entity is in a registry that is not publicly accessible, or if the registry data is limited or unclear, the issuer needs another way to verify who is authorized to act on behalf of the entity. That is when the authorisation form is requested.

2. Whether signatory authority has changed

An authorisation form is also commonly required during LEI renewal when the authorized signatory has changed since the previous registration — for example, if a company's director or CEO has been replaced. The issuer needs written confirmation that the new signatory is properly empowered to act for the entity.

What Documents Are Typically Needed Alongside It

When an authorisation form is required, it usually comes alongside a small set of supporting documents. These are not arbitrary — each one serves a specific verification purpose:

Proof of the entity's legal existence
This confirms the entity is officially registered and active. Acceptable documents include a Certificate of Incorporation, Articles of Association, a Registry Extract, or an official state filing. For US entities, a Secretary of State filing or equivalent state-level document typically serves this purpose.

Legal address confirmation
The address on your application must match official records. If the registry listing is outdated or unclear, a recent official document showing the current registered address may be requested.

Authorized signatory confirmation
This verifies that the specific person signing the authorisation form does in fact hold the authority to do so. A board resolution, power of attorney, or official company document naming the signatory in their role is typically accepted.

Ownership structure information (Level 2 data)
The LEI system records not just who an entity is, but who owns it. If your entity has a direct parent or ultimate parent, you will need to provide basic ownership details. If it operates as a standalone entity with no parent, you confirm that as well. This is what the LEI system refers to as Level 2 data — "who owns whom".

A Quick Checklist for US Entities

If your LEI application has requested an authorisation form, here is what to prepare:

• Signed Letter of Authorization (template provided by your issuer)

• Certificate of Incorporation or equivalent state registration document

• Proof of current registered legal address

• Name and title of the authorized signatory, with supporting authority document

• Basic ownership structure details — parent entity if applicable, or standalone confirmation

In most cases, the issuer accepts digital copies. Physical originals are rarely required for standard US entity applications.

Where to Find the Required Documents Page

If you are unsure exactly which documents apply to your specific entity type, GLEIF-accredited providers publish clear documentation on what is needed for different scenarios. Providers like TNV LEI, a GLEIF-accredited registration agent, maintain a dedicated required documents resource where US applicants can check what applies to their situation before starting an application.

The Bigger Picture

The LEI authorisation form is not a hurdle — it is a data quality control step built into the ISO 17442 standard that governs the entire global LEI system. GLEIF, the body that oversees all LEI issuers worldwide, requires that every issuer verify the accuracy of the data they publish. The authorisation form is one of the tools that makes that verification possible when automated registry lookups are insufficient.

Understanding why it is being asked for — rather than just what it is — makes the process far less confusing. Once submitted, most applications move to issuance quickly, and the 20-character LEI code is added to the global GLEIF database, publicly searchable by any bank, regulator, or counterparty worldwide.