Sanctions Lists Explained
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How sanctions work

Sanctions lists compared across regimes

Last checked 24 October 2026 · 10 sources

Short answer

The main sanctions lists are kept by the UN Security Council, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control, the EU, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Global Affairs Canada and the Australian Sanctions Office 1,2 3,4 5,6. Each list has its own legal basis and search tool. A name on one list does not mean it is on another. Canada says its consolidated list has no force of law and the regulations govern 5.
UN list
Consolidated List, 736 individuals and 274 entities on 15 October 2026 1
US main list
Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) 2
UK list
UK Sanctions List, the only source for UK designations since 28 January 2026 4
Canada list
Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List, updated 22 September 2026 5
Australia list
Consolidated List kept by the Australian Sanctions Office 6

Who keeps each list

The UN Consolidated List holds every individual and entity subject to Security Council measures. Each regime has its own committee 1. The UN counts 15 sanctions regimes in force and 31 created since 1966 7. In the US, OFAC keeps the SDN List and other lists with restrictions short of blocking 2,8. In the EU, the European Commission keeps a consolidated list of individuals, groups and organisations subject to EU financial sanctions 3.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office keeps the UK Sanctions List 4. Global Affairs Canada keeps the Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List 5. The Australian Sanctions Office keeps the Australian Consolidated List 6. In Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore gives effect to UN Security Council resolutions through targeted financial sanctions 9.

RegimeKeeperMain listOfficial search or download
United Nations 1Security Council committees 1Consolidated List 1search.sanctions.un.org and XML, HTML or PDF files 1
United States 2OFAC, US Treasury 2SDN List plus non-SDN lists 8Sanctions List Search and data files 8
European Union 3European Commission, DG FISMA 3Financial sanctions consolidated list 3EU Sanctions Map and consolidated list 3
United Kingdom 4Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 4UK Sanctions List 4Online search service and files in seven formats 4
Canada 5Global Affairs Canada 5Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List 5HTML, PDF and XML with a regulation filter 5
Australia 6Australian Sanctions Office 6Consolidated List 6Excel file and update mailing list 6

Legal basis and decision rules

Member states are obliged to implement the measures for each name on the UN list 1. The EU transposes UN sanctions into EU law and adopts its own autonomous sanctions 10. UK lists come from regulations made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 4. Australian listings come from the UN Security Council or from the Foreign Minister under Australia's autonomous sanctions laws 6. Canada's consolidated list covers listings under the Special Economic Measures Act and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act 5.

Legal status of the published lists

Official bodies describe the status of their published lists in different ways. Canada says its consolidated list is not a regulation and does not have force of law, and that inclusion is for administrative purposes only 5. The European Commission says an EU measure becomes applicable EU law when published in the Official Journal 3. The UK says the UK Sanctions List is now the only source for all UK designations, and the old OFSI Consolidated List is kept for reference only 4. The Australian Sanctions Office says it does not give legal advice and advises legal advice on a match 6.

Lists that are not the main asset freeze list

Some lists carry lighter or different restrictions. OFAC publishes the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List, the Foreign Sanctions Evaders List, the CAPTA List, the Non-SDN Menu-Based Sanctions List and others alongside the SDN List 8. OFAC says the SSI List is not part of the SDN List 8. Australia keeps UN-sanctioned vessels on a separate 1718 Designated Vessels List 6. Singapore applies extra terrorism measures under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act 2002 9.

Common questions

Is a person on the UN list automatically on the EU list?

The EEAS says UN Security Council sanctions are automatically transposed into EU law 10. Each EU, UK or national list should still be checked on its own tool 3,4.

Which UK list should I use after January 2026?

The UK Sanctions List. The OFSI Consolidated List closed on 28 January 2026 and remains for reference only 4.

Does the Canadian consolidated list have legal force?

No. Global Affairs Canada says it is not a regulation and does not have force of law. The regulations listing each person govern 5.

How many UN sanctions regimes are in force?

The UN Security Council lists 15 sanctions regimes and says it has created 31 since 1966 7.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@sanctionslistsexplained.com.

Sources

  1. United Nations Security Council: United Nations Security Council Consolidated List (last updated 15 October 2026)
  2. Office of Foreign Assets Control: Basic Information on OFAC and Sanctions (FAQs released 2002 to 2024)
  3. European Commission: Overview of sanctions and related resources (last updated 17 November 2025)
  4. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: The UK Sanctions List (last updated 16 October 2026)
  5. Global Affairs Canada: Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List (modified 23 September 2026)
  6. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consolidated List
  7. United Nations Security Council: Sanctions
  8. Office of Foreign Assets Control: Additional Sanctions Lists
  9. Monetary Authority of Singapore: Targeted Financial Sanctions (last updated 21 July 2026)
  10. European External Action Service: European Union sanctions (18 August 2026)

Related

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    What a listing on a UN, US, EU or UK sanctions list does, who decides it, how owned companies are treated and what routes exist to ask for removal.

  • The US OFAC SDN list explained

    What the US Specially Designated Nationals list is, the legal basis, the 50 Percent Rule, the non-SDN lists, the search tool and the OFAC removal route.

  • UN Security Council sanctions lists

    How UN Security Council sanctions lists work: the 15 regimes, the Consolidated List, the measures, how states apply them and the two UN delisting routes.

  • The EU consolidated sanctions list

    How EU sanctions listings are adopted, published, reviewed and challenged, who keeps the EU financial sanctions list and who enforces it.

  • The UK Sanctions List explained

    How the UK Sanctions List works, the legal test for designation, which UK bodies do what, OFSI figures for 2024 to 2025 and the routes to ask for removal.

  • Canada and Australia sanctions lists

    The laws behind Canadian and Australian sanctions, who keeps each consolidated list, what the lists cover and leave out, and the published penalties.