This page provides links to sanctions-related resources from the United Kingdom’s principal regulatory bodies, covering financial sanctions, trade sanctions, and strategic export controls. The UK framework is administered across three bodies: the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), part of HM Treasury, for financial sanctions; the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI), part of the Department for Business and Trade, for trade sanctions; and the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU), also part of the Department for Business and Trade, for strategic export controls and licensing. Retrieved: July 3, 2026.

Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI)

OFSI helps ensure that UK financial sanctions are properly understood, implemented, and enforced. It maintains the UK consolidated list of designated persons, issues and administers general licences, processes individual licence applications, publishes compliance guidance across sectors and geographies, and takes civil enforcement action including the imposition of monetary penalties. OFSI is part of HM Treasury.

Designated Persons Lists and Screening Tools

• Financial Sanctions: Consolidated List of Targets – The definitive UK list of all individuals, entities and ships subject to UK financial sanctions. Published and updated by OFSI in XML, PDF and CSV formats following each designation or amendment. The primary screening reference for UK financial sanctions compliance.

Legislation and Regulations

• Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (SAMLA) – The primary UK sanctions legislation, providing the legal basis for all UK autonomous sanctions introduced since Brexit. Gives ministers powers to impose, vary and revoke sanctions through statutory instruments.
• UK Sanctions Regimes – Collection – The complete collection of all UK sanctions regimes in force under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, with links to each regime’s statutory instruments, consolidated guidance, and designated persons lists. Regimes include Russia, Iran, DPRK, Belarus, Afghanistan, Myanmar, China, Syria, Yemen, and many others.

Sanctions Programs and Regimes

• Russia Sanctions Regime: Industry and Specialist Guidance – Statutory guidance and additional industry guidance on the UK’s Russia sanctions: sanctioned persons, banks, goods and services, and the Oil Price Cap and related services.
• Russia Sanctions: Guidance – The primary statutory guidance document for Russia sanctions compliance covering all aspects of the regime including financial sanctions, trade measures, and the oil price cap.
• Iran Sanctions – UK guidance on financial and trade sanctions against Iran, including designation criteria, exceptions, and licensing information.
• North Korea (DPRK) Sanctions – UK guidance on financial and trade sanctions against North Korea, implementing and supplementing UN Security Council sanctions.
• Myanmar Sanctions – UK guidance on sanctions imposed in response to the military coup of February 2021, including asset freeze and travel ban designations.

Compliance Guidance – General

• Starter Guide to UK Sanctions – Introductory plain-language guide for those new to UK sanctions, covering what sanctions are, who is affected, key obligations, and how to use the consolidated list. Updated March 2026.
• UK Financial Sanctions Guidance – OFSI’s central guidance hub providing access to all guidance documents, webinars, and resources to help businesses and individuals understand and comply with UK financial sanctions.
• Financial Sanctions General Guidance – OFSI’s primary compliance guidance document covering the key legal obligations arising from UK financial sanctions, including asset freezes, the prohibition on making funds available, and the treatment of ownership and control. Updated May 2026.
• Financial Sanctions Enforcement and Monetary Penalties Guidance – OFSI’s guidance on how it exercises its civil enforcement powers. Revised by OFSI on 9 February 2026 to introduce a four-level case seriousness model, an Early Account Scheme, a formal Settlement Scheme, a combined voluntary disclosure and co-operation discount, and fixed penalties for information, reporting and licensing offences. (This document replaces OFSI’s earlier “Monetary penalties for breaches of financial sanctions” guidance.)

Compliance Guidance – By Sector or Industry

• Sanctions Compliance in the Art Market Participants and High Value Goods Sector: Threat Assessment – OFSI threat assessment published May 2026 for art market participants and high value dealers, covering sanctions evasion risks specific to the sector.
• Financial Sanctions: Russia Oil Services Ban – OFSI guidance on the prohibition on providing financial services in support of the Russian oil industry, including scope, exceptions, and licensing considerations.
• Financial Sanctions FAQs for UK Financial Service Providers – Sector-specific FAQ for banks, insurers, and other financial institutions on applying UK financial sanctions in practice, including account management, payments, and customer screening.
• OFSI Guidance for the Legal Sector – Guidance on financial sanctions obligations for solicitors, barristers, and other legal professionals, including the treatment of client funds and legal professional privilege.
• OFSI Guidance for the Accountancy Sector – Guidance on financial sanctions obligations for accountants and audit firms.
• OFSI Guidance for the Insurance Sector – Guidance on financial sanctions obligations for insurers, covering premium payments, claims, and reinsurance.
• Oil Price Cap Guidance for the Maritime Sector – OFSI guidance on the G7 oil price cap on Russian-origin oil, including the price cap mechanism, the prohibition on providing services above the cap, and the attestation process for shipping, insurance, and commodity traders.
• Financial Sanctions Guidance for the Real Estate Sector – Guidance for estate agents, solicitors, and others involved in property transactions on financial sanctions obligations and customer screening.
• FCA: Sanctions Systems and Controls in Our Firms – Our Findings – Financial Conduct Authority report published 28 May 2026, drawing on assessments of over 150 supervised firms since 2022. Sets out examples of good and poor practice across governance, screening, alert management, asset freezing and breach reporting for both financial and trade sanctions. Published alongside a new FCA-OTSI memorandum of understanding.

Compliance Guidance – By Geography or Program

• Russia Sanctions: Oil Price Cap – OFSI guidance specifically on the oil price cap coalition mechanism and its implementation under UK Russia sanctions regulations.
• Ownership and Control Guidance for Financial Sanctions – OFSI guidance on how to assess whether a person or entity is owned or controlled by a designated person for the purposes of UK financial sanctions, including the 50% rule and chain of ownership analysis.

Licensing – General Licences and Authorizations

• OFSI General Licences – Collection – The complete and regularly updated collection of all OFSI general licences across all UK sanctions regimes. General licences permit categories of activity that would otherwise be prohibited by financial sanctions without requiring an individual licence application. Includes general licences for wind-down periods, basic needs, legal fees, and regime-specific authorizations.

Licensing – Application Procedures and Forms

• How to Apply for a Financial Sanctions Licence – OFSI guidance on applying for an individual licence to carry out activity otherwise prohibited by financial sanctions: licence categories, application process, assessment criteria, and expected timeframes.

Frequently Asked Questions

• UK Financial Sanctions FAQs – OFSI’s comprehensive FAQ document covering common questions on financial sanctions obligations, designated persons, ownership and control, licensing, and breach reporting. Updated May 2026.

Enforcement Actions and Penalties

• Financial Sanctions Enforcement: Decisions and Monetary Penalties Imposed – The complete collection of all OFSI enforcement actions, including every monetary penalty decision and enforcement case outcome. Updated as new penalties are imposed.
• Largest Penalty for Financial Sanctions Breaches Since 2022 (Sabre Global Technologies, June 2026) – OFSI press release on a GBP 1,000,920.59 penalty against Sabre Global Technologies Limited for breaches of the Russia regime. OFSI assessed the case as its most serious category and states it is the first penalty issued for a circumvention offence; OFSI found that continued provision of a digital distribution service to a designated carrier constituted making an economic resource available.
• Monetary Penalty: Deutsche Bank AG London Branch (April 2026) – OFSI penalty notice imposing a GBP 165,000 penalty (reduced from GBP 300,000 for voluntary disclosure and settlement) for two 2022 payments to an entity OFSI assessed to be owned by a designated person. OFSI states the case underlines the importance of effective controls where ownership and control structures determine whether restrictions apply; the second case resolved under the settlement process. Imposed 30 April 2026.
• Penalty Issued for Breach of Russia Sanctions (July 2025) – OFSI press release on a civil monetary penalty issued for breach of Russia sanctions.
• Penalty Issued Against Subsidiary of Major Law Firm for Russia Sanctions Breaches (March 2025) – OFSI press release on a monetary penalty imposed against a law firm subsidiary for multiple Russia sanctions breaches.

Reporting and Voluntary Disclosure

• Report a Financial Sanctions Breach – OFSI guidance on what to do if you suspect a breach of UK financial sanctions, including the mandatory reporting obligations for relevant firms and how to submit a voluntary disclosure.
• Sign Up for UK Sanctions Email Alerts – OFSI and OTSI joint email alert subscription service providing notifications of new UK sanctions designations, general licences, guidance updates, and enforcement decisions.

Annual Reports and Statistics

• OFSI Annual Review 2024 to 2025: Effective Sanctions – OFSI’s annual review covering its enforcement activities, licensing decisions, outreach, and strategic priorities for 2024–25. Published April 2026.
• OFSI Annual Review 2023 to 2024: Engage, Enhance, Enforce – OFSI’s annual review for 2023–24, covering enforcement actions, licensing volumes, outreach activities, and the expansion of its capabilities.

Blogs and News Feeds

• OFSI Blog – OFSI’s official blog, providing updates on licensing policy, compliance guidance, enforcement trends, and new resources for practitioners.
• OFSI LinkedIn – OFSI’s LinkedIn page providing updates on new publications, enforcement actions, and compliance events.

Background and Policy

• OFSI Strategy: 2026 to 2029 – OFSI’s three-year strategic plan setting out its priorities for ensuring UK financial sanctions remain effective, resilient and impactful. Published April 2026.
• Sanctions Enforcement: Cross-Government Approach (March 2026) – Policy paper setting out the UK government’s coordinated approach to sanctions enforcement across OFSI, OTSI, HMRC, and other agencies. Published May 2026.
• The U.S. and UK Economic Sanctions Authorities: A Comparative Overview – Joint OFSI and OFAC guidance published 23 June 2026 under the OFAC-OFSI Enhanced Partnership, comparing key aspects of the UK and US sanctions regimes: terminology, sanctions lists, licensing, recordkeeping and reporting, enforcement, and the treatment of ownership and control. A comparative reference rather than new legal obligation; it notes that trade measures administered by OTSI fall outside the partnership scope.

Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI)

OTSI was launched in October 2024 as part of the Department for Business and Trade to strengthen the UK’s implementation and enforcement of trade sanctions. It has civil enforcement powers over trade sanctions breaches, issues trade sanctions licences, and publishes compliance guidance for businesses. OTSI is distinct from ECJU: OTSI focuses on trade sanctions prohibitions (goods and services subject to sanctions by destination or end-user), while ECJU focuses on strategic export controls (goods on the UK military and dual-use control lists regardless of destination).

Trade Sanctions and Export Controls

• OTSI – Organisation Homepage – OTSI’s central homepage on GOV.UK: what OTSI does, key links to licensing, breach reporting, civil enforcement guidance, and recent publications.
• Sanctions End-Use Controls: Guidance for Businesses – Guidance on sanctions end-use controls as they apply to UK businesses, setting out when export transactions require additional scrutiny based on end-use risk. Published May 2026.

Compliance Guidance – General

• Starter Guide to UK Sanctions – Joint OFSI/OTSI introductory guide covering both financial and trade sanctions obligations for those new to the UK sanctions framework.

Licensing – General Trade Licences and Authorizations

• General Trade Licence: Maritime Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas – A general trade licence permitting certain maritime transportation activities involving LNG that would otherwise be prohibited under UK trade sanctions. Updated May 2026.

Licensing – Application Procedures and Forms

• Apply for a Licence to Carry Out Sanctioned Trade Through OTSI – OTSI’s online licence application process for trade sanctions licences. OTSI expanded its licensing remit in 2026 and now issues licences directly in addition to those issued through OFSI. Check this page to determine whether your activity requires an OTSI or OFSI licence. Published May 2026.

Enforcement Actions and Penalties

• Trade Sanctions Civil Enforcement – Collection – OTSI’s collection of civil enforcement guidance, enforcement decisions, and published outcomes for trade sanctions breaches.

Reporting and Voluntary Disclosure

• Report a Suspected Breach of Trade Sanctions – OTSI guidance on reporting obligations and the process for submitting a report of a suspected trade sanctions breach, including voluntary disclosure.

Annual Reports and Statistics

• One Year of the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) – OTSI’s first annual report covering its activities from October 2024 to October 2025: investigations opened, licences issued, outreach activities, and forward priorities. Published December 2025.

Blogs and News Feeds

• OTSI Blog – OTSI’s official blog, covering enforcement priorities, guidance updates, licensing policy, and compliance resources for trade sanctions practitioners.
• Expanding OTSI’s Licensing Remit (April 2026) – OTSI blog post explaining the expansion of OTSI’s direct licensing function and what this means for businesses seeking trade sanctions licences.

Background and Policy

• Sanctions Enforcement: Cross-Government Approach (March 2026) – Joint OFSI/OTSI/HMRC policy paper on the UK’s coordinated cross-government approach to sanctions enforcement.
• New Civil Enforcement Powers on Trade Sanctions – Policy paper setting out the new civil enforcement powers granted to OTSI on trade sanctions, including the penalty framework and investigation process. Published September 2024.

Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU)

The ECJU administers the UK’s system of strategic export controls and licensing for military and dual-use items. It publishes and maintains the UK strategic export control lists, administers the SPIRE online export licensing system, issues open general export licences (OGELs), and publishes notices to exporters and compliance guidance. ECJU is part of the Department for Business and Trade. Note: ECJU export controls apply based on what the goods are (i.e., whether they appear on the UK control lists), while OTSI trade sanctions apply based on where goods are going or who is receiving them. Both frameworks may apply simultaneously to a single transaction.

Designated Persons Lists and Screening Tools

• Consolidated List of Strategic Military and Dual-Use Items That Require Export Authorisation – The UK’s authoritative control list of all military and dual-use goods, software and technology requiring an export licence. Updated December 2025 to reflect changes to the Wassenaar Arrangement and other multilateral regime decisions.
• Check If an Item Is Controlled (ECJU Goods Checker) – ECJU’s online tool for determining whether a specific item has a control rating and identifying which open general export licences may be available to cover its export.
• UK Strategic Export Control Lists: Guidance – ECJU guidance on understanding and navigating the consolidated list of strategic military and dual-use items, including how to identify the correct control entry for a product.

Legislation and Regulations

• Export Control Order 2008 – The primary UK statutory instrument governing strategic export controls, defining controlled goods, licensing requirements, and the scope of export control law.

Trade Sanctions and Export Controls

• Export Controls: Military Goods, Software and Technology – ECJU guide to licensing requirements and restrictions for the export of controlled military goods, software and technology, including trade controls, sanctions overlaps, and end-user requirements.
• Export Controls: Dual-Use Items, Software and Technology, Goods for Torture and Radioactive Sources – ECJU guide to licensing procedure and restrictions for dual-use exports, including classification guidance, available licence types, and the catch-all controls. Updated July 2025.
• Look Up Considerations for Trade Licences Under the Russia Sanctions – ECJU tool for looking up the specific trade licensing considerations that apply to goods under Russia sanctions, covering both ECJU export controls and Russia trade sanctions prohibitions.
• Look Up Considerations for Trade Licences Under the Belarus Sanctions – ECJU interactive tool for Belarus sanctions trade licensing considerations. Published March 2026.

Dual-Use Goods Controls

• Dual-Use Export Controls: Licensing Procedure and Restrictions – Comprehensive ECJU guidance on dual-use controls including the catch-all control (which can apply to unlisted goods where there is knowledge or suspicion of WMD end-use), transit and transhipment controls, and brokering provisions.

Licensing – Open General Export Licences (OGELs)

• Open General Export Licences (OGELs) – Collection – The complete collection of all UK OGELs, which permit certain exports of controlled goods to specified destinations without requiring an individual licence application. Exporters must register before using most OGELs and comply with the conditions attached.

Licensing – Application Procedures and Forms

• Applying for Export Licences Using SPIRE – How to use the SPIRE online export licensing system to apply for individual export licences (SIELs, OIELs, SITCLs), transhipment licences, and trade control licences. Updated July 2025.
• Export Goods from the UK: Step by Step – GOV.UK step-by-step guide for exporters covering customs requirements, export licensing, and documentation from start to finish.
• End-User and Stockist Undertaking (EUSU) Form – Standard end-user undertaking form required by ECJU for many individual licence applications, in which the overseas recipient confirms the intended end-use and undertakes not to re-export without permission.

Compliance Guidance – General

• Training on Export Control Compliance – ECJU’s bulletin on available courses, seminars, workshops and webinars for exporters seeking to understand their obligations under UK export control legislation. Updated February 2026.
• Red Flags: Export Controls Compliance Indicators – ECJU guidance on red flag indicators that may suggest a proposed export is for a prohibited end-use or end-user, triggering a duty to refuse or seek further clarification before proceeding.

Enforcement Actions and Penalties

• Notices to Exporters – Collection – ECJU’s official notices to the exporting community covering changes to export control policy, licensing requirements, enforcement actions, and administrative updates.
• Notice to Exporters 2026/03: Director Jailed for Illegal Export – ECJU enforcement notice on the conviction and imprisonment of a company director for the illegal export of controlled goods without a licence. Published February 2026.

Annual Reports and Statistics

• UK Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2024 – ECJU’s comprehensive annual report on the UK’s strategic export control system, covering licence volumes, approval and refusal rates, appeals, enforcement actions, and compliance with multilateral regime commitments. Published July 2025.
• Strategic Export Controls: Licensing Statistics – Q4 2025 (October to December 2025) – Official quarterly statistics on ECJU export licence applications, approvals, refusals, and values by country and goods category. This release also carries the first-published 2025 annual figures. Published February 2026.
• Strategic Export Controls: Licensing Statistics – Q3 2025 (July to September 2025) – Official quarterly statistics for Q3 2025. Published January 2026.
• Export Control Licensing Management Information for Israel – Transparency data on ECJU export licence applications, approvals and refusals specifically for Israel, published in response to parliamentary and public interest. Updated August 2025.

Background and Policy

• About ECJU – Overview of ECJU’s role, responsibilities, and how it administers the UK’s strategic export control system.

Retrieved: July 3, 2026