MiFID II
New legislation means you need to confirm your nationality
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New legislation means you need to confirm your nationality
On 3 January 2018 new legislation (MiFID II) came into effect. As a result, we need you to confirm your nationality if you want to trade shares (and other stock market-listed securities).
Clients who are solely UK nationals just need to confirm their nationality and, if we don’t already have it, provide their National Insurance Number.
Clients who are non-UK or dual nationals need to confirm their nationality/nationalities and provide their relevant National Client Identifiers.
Companies, trusts and charities will need to provide their Legal Entity Identifier - see below for more information.
What does it mean for me?
The new rules (Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) require Financial Services companies like Hargreaves Lansdown to collect additional information about our clients. Specifically, we require your nationality and National Client Identifier (e.g. National Insurance Number if a UK national) if you want to buy or sell shares, ETFs/ETCs, investment trusts, bonds and a number of other listed securities. This information is then shared with the Financial Conduct Authority each time you trade.
For companies, trusts and charities, we will require your Legal Entity Identifier (LEI).
If you only hold funds (unit trusts/OEICs), or an Active Savings Account, you do not have to take any action, but we recommend you provide this information to ensure our full range of dealing services remain open to you.
What do I need to do?
We’ve made it really easy for you to provide your details. Simply select the type of account you hold below to check what you’ll need to provide, then click on the ‘Provide your details now’ button to get started. We’ll then take you through the necessary steps.
If you complete the process online and we already have your National Insurance Number on record you will not be asked to provide this again, you will only need to provide your nationality.
Get started
ISAs, Junior ISAs, SIPPs, Junior SIPPs and Fund and Share Accounts
Please provide your nationality and National Client Identifier (NCI). For UK nationals, the National Client Identifier is your National Insurance Number.
If you are a UK national but don’t have a National Insurance Number, you will still need to log in and provide your nationality. Please refer to the FAQ below for further information.
If you are a non-UK national or have multiple nationalities you will be advised what to provide once you have logged in and selected your country of nationality, but it’s usually either your passport number or national/personal identity number.
Accounts that have representatives associated with them (e.g. power of attorney) will need to specify who the main decision maker is on the account. You will then need to provide the nationality and National Client Identifier of the main account holder and the main decision maker. If this is the same person, you’ll only need to enter the details once.
Clients with Junior ISAs and Junior SIPPs will need to provide details of both the child and registered contact.
FAQs
The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) is new legislation that came into effect on 3 January 2018.
The rules require Financial Services Companies like Hargreaves Lansdown to collect additional information about our clients. Specifically, we require the nationality and National Client Identifier (e.g. National Insurance Number if a UK national) of all clients who want to buy or sell shares, ETFs/ETCs, investment trusts, bonds and a number of other stock market-listed securities.
If you want to trade shares or other listed securities, or think you may want to trade them in future, please provide us with your nationality and National Client Identifier (e.g. National Insurance Number if a UK national).
It will only take a moment to provide your details.
You will not be able to buy and sell shares, ETFs/ETCs, investment trusts or bonds and a number of other listed securities. You also may not be able to take part in some corporate actions for investments of this type that you already hold.
No, you won’t be forced to sell, but you will not be able to sell your shares, or buy more, until the information has been provided.
No, you do not need to take any action unless you plan to transfer your unit trust/OEIC holdings to another HL account. Please remember that should you wish to buy or sell shares in future you will not be able to do so until you have provided the required information.
If you are solely a UK national and have not been assigned a National Insurance Number, you can trade shares but the legislation requires us to submit a shortened form (concatenation) of your forename, surname and date of birth as your personal identifier e.g. 19500630MICHASMITH. This will be done automatically for you when you complete the above details.
If you are not a UK national or the UK is not the reportable nationality for you, your ability to provide a National Client Identifier may influence your ability to trade. For some nationalities, the legislation mandates a National Client Identifier to be provided to enable trading in shares and doesn’t allow us to provide a concatenation on your behalf. If you don’t have the mandatory National Client Identifier, we recommend you contact the relevant Consulate or Embassy for assistance.
The rules require us to share your nationality and National Client Identifier along with your first name, surname and date of birth with the Financial Conduct Authority for every share (or other listed security) trade you place.