OFAC Search

Running a name against OFAC's list sounds simple. It isn't. The SDN list has over 13,000 entries, many with transliterated names, aliases, and entity variations that don't surface in a basic keyword search. OFAC's free search tool on treasury.gov uses exact and fuzzy matching but doesn't account for spelling variations across languages, name-order differences in non-Western naming conventions, or common aliases that appear only in OFAC's supporting documentation. A match requires review against the underlying SDN entry — including the entity's identifying information, geographic indicators, and associated vessels or aircraft. We cover OFAC search methodology, the 50% rule for entities owned by SDNs, and how to document a no-match determination that holds up in an OFAC inquiry.

Articles

Sanctions Lists: Types, Agencies, and What Exporters MissTypes of sanctions, denied party, and watchlist programs across U.S. agencies and overseas regimes: what each list restricts, how many apply globally, and where screening scope breaks.Apr 18, 2026
OFAC Sanctions List Sanctions Screening Entity List OFAC Search Trade Compliance
How Governments Build Sanctions Lists: Designation ExplainedHow OFAC, BIS, and allied authorities designate parties: legal basis, evidence standards, list updates without notice, list differences, and why screening cadence drives exposure.Apr 17, 2026
OFAC Sanctions List Sanctions Screening OFAC Search Global Compliance Regulatory Compliance
Restricted Party Screening: How It Differs from Denied Party ChecksCompare restricted party screening with denied party checks: 12+ federal lists, BIS and OFAC rules, affiliates screening, and when a license path still exists.Mar 29, 2026
Sanctions Screening Entity List OFAC Search Trade Compliance Global Compliance
OFAC SDN List: How to Search, Read Results, and Resolve MatchesOFAC search uses Jaro-Winkler and Soundex. Learn what the score means, how to run searches that work, and how to resolve potential matches. Plus limits of the free tool.Mar 19, 2026
OFAC SDN List OFAC Sanctions List OFAC Search Sanctions Screening Trade Compliance
OFAC Compliance: Requirements Non-US Companies Get WrongOFAC collected over $265 million in penalties from non-U.S. companies in 2025. Thai plastics, German suppliers—same mistake: assuming OFAC only applies to American firms. It doesn't. Learn the 50…Mar 7, 2026
OFAC Search OFAC Sanctions List OFAC SDN List Sanctions Screening Regulatory Compliance