How to Query and Verify Entities via the GLEIF Golden Copy Database

The Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) maintains the public Golden Copy database containing active LEI reference records.

The GLEIF Golden Copy database provides public access to verified registration data ^[1]. The data structure is split into two primary layers:

Level 1 Data ('Who is Who'): Includes the entity's official legal name, registered physical address, country of incorporation, and active or inactive status.
Level 2 Data ('Who Owns Whom'): Maps corporate relationships, identifying the direct parent and ultimate parent companies of the entity to trace systemic exposures.

Users can access this data by downloading XML-based Common Data Format (CDF) files or querying the GLEIF public JSON API directly ^[1].

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Level 2 LEI data?

Level 2 data describes corporate ownership relationships, showing who owns the legal entity and identifying parent entities.

Q: How often is the GLEIF database updated?

The GLEIF Golden Copy database is updated daily to incorporate new registrations, renewals, and corporate structure changes.

Sources & References