What is a Sanction List?

Last Updated on Aug 12, 2025, 2k Views

What is Sanction list ?

A sanctions list is an official list of individuals, companies, organizations, vessels, or countries that are subject to restrictions or prohibitions imposed by a government, international body, or regulatory authority.

These restrictions are usually put in place for reasons like:

National security (preventing threats or hostile actions)
Foreign policy (pressuring governments or regimes)
Human rights protection (punishing those involved in abuses)
Counter-terrorism (blocking funding or support to terrorist groups)
Anti–money laundering (AML) and counter–terrorist financing (CFT)

What’s in a sanctions list:

Names of sanctioned entities (people, businesses, groups)
Aliases (other names they use)
Identifiers (passport numbers, dates of birth, addresses)
Sometimes reasons for the sanction

Examples of major sanctions lists:

OFAC SDN List (U.S. Treasury – Office of Foreign Assets Control)
United Nations Consolidated List
European Union Sanctions List
UK OFSI Sanctions List

Impact:
If someone or something is on a sanctions list, financial institutions and businesses are generally prohibited from doing business with them, must freeze their assets, and report the activity to relevant authorities.