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IBAN format of Libya: 25 characters, starts with LY

An IBAN of Libya is 25 characters long and begins with LY. Here is what each part means, a made-up example, and how to check one.

Made-up example (not a real account)

LY37 1234 5678 9012 3456 7890 1

  • LYCountry
  • 37Check digits
  • 123Bank code
  • 456Branch code
  • 789012345678901Account number
Length
25 characters
Starts with
LY
After the check digits
3 digits, then 3 digits, then 15 digits
Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)
No
Layout code in the registry
LY2!n3!n3!n15!n

Part by part

PositionPartMade ofIn the example
1 to 2Country code2 capital letters: LYLY
3 to 4IBAN check digits2 digits37
5 to 7Bank code3 digits123
8 to 10Branch code3 digits456
11 to 25Account number15 digits789012345678901

The parts with a name here are: Bank code, branch code, account number. The bank decides the bank code and the account number; you never have to work them out yourself. The layout code LY2!n3!n3!n15!n is how the registry writes this: a number, then n for digits, a for capital letters or c for letters or digits.

How to check an IBAN of Libya

  1. Count the characters without spaces. There must be exactly 25.
  2. The first two must be LY, and the next two must be digits.
  3. After those four, the rest must follow the layout: 3 digits, then 3 digits, then 15 digits.
  4. Run the check-digit test. The IBAN checker does all four steps for you and shows which one fails.

Writing it down

On paper, an IBAN is written in groups of four characters with spaces, as in the example above, so that it is easier to read and compare. In online banking and in files it is entered without spaces. Both forms are the same IBAN. Letters are always capitals.

How it compares

At 25 characters, it sits between the shortest IBAN in the registry (Norway, 15 characters) and the longest (Russia, 33 characters). The same length is used by Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, each with its own layout. After the country code it has digits only.

Common questions

How many characters does an IBAN of Libya have?

An IBAN of Libya always has 25 characters: the letters LY, two check digits and 21 more characters for the bank and the account.

What does an IBAN of Libya start with?

It starts with LY, the country code, followed by two check digits.

Is Libya in SEPA?

No. Libya uses IBAN but is not part of the Single Euro Payments Area.

Layout checked in November 2026 against the SWIFT IBAN Registry data. The example is made up. For a payment, use only the IBAN given by the account holder or the bank, and check with the bank if in doubt.

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