How to check a person or company in the OFAC sanctions list?
The OFAC sanctions list, primarily known as the SDN List (Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List), is not just a collection of names and entities. It is a powerful tool of U.S. foreign policy and national security, designed to isolate individuals and organizations whose activities are deemed threatening. The functions of this list are multifaceted as it blocks access to the American financial system, prohibits any transactions involving “U.S. Persons,” and freezes all assets of sanctioned individuals located within U.S. jurisdiction.
The consequences of being included in the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List are total in nature. A company or individual is effectively cut off from global trade denominated in dollars and becomes toxic for any international partner.
Where and how can one perform a check — official website
The most reliable way to check a counterparty is to use the official search tool on the website of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. This free tool is called Sanctions List Search and can be found at sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov. It’s the primary source of sanctions list data and guarantees the most up-to-date information.
The interface of the search form is quite simple. Users are prompted to enter known data about the person or company being checked. It is important to pay attention not only to the exact match of the name but also to other identifiers provided by the system.
The official website is the best way to get a definitive answer about the status of a person directly from the regulator. You can also customize sanctions dataset tools for creating custom data sets for searching selected sanctions lists or sanctions programs.
Who is included in the SDN sanctions list?
The criteria for inclusion in the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) or blocked persons list are extensive and cover a wide range of threats. The list includes not only international terrorists and drug cartels, as it did at the dawn of its creation. Today, it can include:
- Physical and legal entities associated with the governments of countries under comprehensive embargoes (e.g., Iran, North Korea).
- Companies and entrepreneurs operating in key sectors of the economies of countries on the sectoral sanctions identification list.
- Organizations and individuals accused of spreading weapons of mass destruction, cyberattacks, human rights violations, or undermining democratic processes.
- Companies that are owned or controlled (directly or indirectly by 50% or more) by individuals already listed on the SDN list. This is the so-called “50% Rule.“
- Intermediaries who help bypass already imposed sanctions.
This list is constantly updated, reflecting the current priorities of U.S. foreign policy.
What data is needed for verification?
The more data you have for verification, the more accurate the result will be. For an effective search, it is recommended to use the following information:
- For an individual: full name, including all known aliases, date and place of birth, citizenship, passport number.
- For a legal entity: full official name, registration number, legal address, country of registration.
Suppose you are checking a counterparty named “Alexander Ivanov.” A search for this name will yield dozens, if not hundreds, of matches. These are “false positives.” To distinguish “your” Ivanov from “someone else’s,” you need to compare additional data.
If your counterparty was born in 1985 in Ryazan, and the sanctions list search includes a full namesake born in 1970 from Moscow, you can confidently conclude that this is not the same person. However, if the data partially matches, this is a serious reason for further in-depth verification.
What to do if a person is found on the list?
Detection of an exact match between your partner’s data and a record on the specially designated nationals and blocked persons list is a signal to halt all operations immediately. The consequences of continuing interaction will be swift and severe.
Any attempts to conduct a transaction with individuals or companies owned by persons on the SDN list will be blocked by banks, and assets associated with the deal may be frozen immediately. A company that ignores the results of the screening risks falling under secondary sanctions, like inclusion in the Foreign Sanctions Evaders list for aiding in circumventing restrictions.
Actions in such a situation must be unambiguous. It is necessary to immediately cease all contacts and transactions with this person or company on the sanctions lists. If, for any reason, you find your name or your company’s name on the list, contact a lawyer specializing in OFAC sanctions law immediately. Only a professional can assess the situation and develop a strategy to protect your interests.
Sanctions list screening is a mandatory part of the comprehensive legal due diligence of counterparties. This procedure is used on an ongoing basis across various industries to minimize risks. Banks and foreign financial institutions conduct OFAC due diligence when opening accounts and monitoring transactions as part of KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures.
Law firms are required to screen their clients to avoid involvement in servicing sanctioned transactions. Real estate agencies, especially those dealing with luxury properties, check buyers and sellers to prevent operations with blocked assets. The integration of sanctions screening into corporate procedures is a sign of responsible business conduct.
How to Petition for Removal from the SDN List
If you believe you were listed in error, or if circumstances underlying your designation have genuinely changed, OFAC provides a formal delisting mechanism under 31 CFR § 501.807. A petitioner submits a written request to OFAC directly, providing evidence addressing the basis for the original designation and any changed circumstances. There’s no fixed statutory deadline for OFAC’s response, and the process can take months to years depending on complexity and the nature of the underlying sanctions program. Legal representation matters here — a poorly framed petition can be rejected outright, and re-petitioning without genuinely new evidence rarely succeeds.
Separately, where a transaction rather than a person needs to proceed despite a sanctions connection, OFAC’s licensing process offers another path: a General License authorizes certain categories of transactions automatically under specific sanctions programs, while a Specific License requires an individual application to OFAC for a particular transaction. This is distinct from delisting — a license permits a specific activity without removing the underlying designation.
Alternative tools: World-Check, Dow Jones, Castellum.ai
Even if a person or company is not found on the OFAC list, this does not always mean a complete absence of risks. There are hundreds of other sanctions lists worldwide (EU, United Kingdom, UN, etc.), as well as lists of politically exposed persons (PEP) and databases with negative mentions in the media.
Beyond the SDN List itself, OFAC’s search tool also covers the broader Consolidated Screening List, which aggregates the SDN List with other restricted-party lists such as the Commerce Department’s Entity List and Denied Persons List. Separately, the Sectoral Sanctions Identification (SSI) List applies more targeted restrictions — governed by specific Directives — rather than a full blocking of all transactions, which is an important distinction from full SDN designation.
Other jurisdictions maintain their own equivalent lists worth checking in parallel: the UK’s OFSI Consolidated List, the EU Consolidated List of Sanctions, and the UN Security Council Consolidated List — a clean OFAC result doesn’t guarantee a clean result elsewhere.
For comprehensive verification, there are commercial databases that aggregate information from multiple sources. The most well-known of them are:
- World-Check (from LSEG)
- Dow Jones Risk & Compliance
- Castellum.ai
These platforms support a single sanctions list search across all significant global lists, providing a more complete picture of the risks associated with a potential partner. They are the standard for large companies and financial institutions, for whom maximum depth of verification is important.
Order a consultation with an OFAC lawyer
Navigation through the maze of sanctions legislation requires specialized knowledge. Misinterpreting search results, dealing with false positives, or, even worse, detecting an actual match are situations where a mistake could cost a company its future. A professional OFAC sanctions attorney can not only conduct the review correctly but also build an internal compliance system that will protect your business from unintentional violations. If you are facing difficulties during a review or want to be confident in your counterparties, schedule a consultation with a specialist. This is an investment in the stability and security of your business.
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Contact a lawyer →FAQ
How to check if someone is on the OFAC list?
The most reliable and official way to check an individual or legal entity for inclusion in sanctions lists is to use the freesanctions list search tool on the OFAC website. For verification, visit the official website sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov. In the “Name” field, enter the name of an individual or the name of a company and click the “Search” button. The system will display a list of all matches. It is important not to jump to conclusions upon finding a similar name. Carefully compare all available data: date of birth, citizenship, and known aliases. If all key identifiers match, the likelihood that this is the sought-after sanctioned individual is very high.
What does OFAC sanction mean?
An OFAC sanction is a restrictive economic measure that the U.S. government applies to achieve national security and foreign policy objectives. For an individual or company, being included in the sanctions list, primarily in the SDN List, means actual isolation from the U.S. financial system.
How do i get off OFAC sanctions list?
Exclusion from the OFAC sanctions list, specifically from the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List, is initiated by submitting an administrative petition (request for reconsideration) directly to OFAC. The applicant must provide compelling evidence and arguments as to why their inclusion on the list is no longer justified. Grounds for exclusion may include a change in circumstances that led to the imposition of sanctions (e.g., cessation of prohibited activities), proof of mistaken identity (if a “double” was added to the list), or successful challenge of the factual basis for inclusion in the list.The process begins by sending a written request to the email address [email protected]. The petition must detail the applicant’s position and include all supporting documents. OFAC will review the submitted materials, may request additional information, and conduct its own investigation. The review period varies and can take from several months to several years, depending on the complexity of the case.
