Guidance

Financial sanctions: guidance

Information on the approach OFSI takes to financial sanctions including sector and regime specific guidance, as well as information on monetary penalties for breaches of financial sanctions.

From:
HM Treasury and Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation
Published
29 May 2013
Last updated
12 May 2023 — See all updates

Documents

Financial sanctions: general guidance

PDF, 1.4 MB, 41 pages

OFSI enforcement and monetary penalties guidance

PDF, 718 KB, 29 pages

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Russia guidance

PDF, 577 KB, 19 pages

Libya guidance

PDF, 3.67 MB, 5 pages

Guidance for the charity sector

PDF, 678 KB, 14 pages

Maritime guidance

PDF, 320 KB, 12 pages

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Guidance for the import and export sector

PDF, 980 KB, 10 pages

Ransomware and Sanctions guidance

PDF, 689 KB, 7 pages

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High Value Dealer guidance

PDF, 311 KB, 9 pages

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Travel guidance

PDF, 246 KB, 6 pages

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Russian Oil Services ban and price cap

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/russian-oil-services-ban

Details

General guidance

The general guidance document includes information regarding:

  • businesses’ obligations to financial sanctions regulations
  • OFSI’s processes for licence applications and breach reports

Monetary penalty guidance

The guidance on monetary penalties outlines OFSI’s processes for issuing monetary penalties for financial sanctions breaches, including:

  • the case assessment process
  • penalty calculation process
  • procedural rights

Please note the enforcement guidance applies to all cases where a financial sanctions breach has taken place on or after 00:00 15 June 2022.

Previous versions of the monetary penalty guidance can be found on gov.uk.

Russia guidance

Guidance for the financial and investment restrictions in Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

Libya guidance

Financial sanctions guidance for the Libya (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.

Guidance for the charity sector

The guidance for the charity sector helps clarify what activity may be permitted under an OFSI licence and how to apply. It also promotes various sources of information and advice available to charities and NGOs.

Maritime guidance

Financial sanctions guidance for entities and individuals operating within the maritime shipping sector.

Guidance for the import and export sector

The guidance for the import and export sector helps clarify how financial sanctions differ from trade sanctions, including how to apply for a licence from OFSI and DBT.

To receive notifications when guidance has been updated, subscribe to our e-alerts. Please be aware that we do not offer legal advice.

If you can’t find the information you need, OFSI’s helpline and email service may be able to help you. Contact details are available on OFSI’s homepage.

High Value Dealer guidance

Guidance on financial sanctions implementation for high value dealers, luxury goods markets and art market participants.

Travel guidance

Guidance on travel allowance for licence applications.

Published 29 May 2013
Last updated 12 May 2023 + show all updates

  1. Added Travel Guidance

  2. Added High Value Dealer Guidance

  3. Updated Russia guidance - Trust Services sanctions

  4. Updated Enforcement and Monetary Penalties guidance (O&C)

  5. Updated Charity Sector guidance (UNSC Exemption)

  6. Updated with Ransomware guidance

  7. Russia guidance Updated - Trust Services

  8. Added Russian Oil Services ban and Price Cap

  9. Added 'UK Maritime Services Prohibition and Oil Price Cap Guidance'

  10. Updated Libya guidance

  11. Russia guidance updated with questions 24 to 26

  12. August 2022 General Guidance (expansion of sanctions reporting obligations)

  13. Updated OFSI General Guidance

  14. Updated with Russia guidance, July 2022

  15. Added OFSI enforcement guidance June 2022

  16. Updated Russia guidance to extend prohibitions to non-government controlled Ukrainian territory

  17. Updated with latest version of 'Financial sanctions: general guidance'.

  18. Updated Russia guidance.

  19. Updates to 'Monetary penalties for breaches of financial sanctions: guidance' and 'Guidance for the charity sector'.

  20. Updated "Guidance for the charity sector".

  21. Updated Russia guidance

  22. Updated with April 2021 version of Monetary Penalty guidance

  23. Updated with Libya guidance

  24. Updated to reflect end of EU Exit transition period

  25. Updated with 'Maritime guidance'

  26. Updated with 'Financial sanctions: general guidance'

  27. Added Russia guidance

  28. Updated with latest version of 'Monetary penalties for breaches of financial sanctions: guidance'

  29. Updated with FAQ guidance for the import and export sector

  30. Updated sections 3.4.1 and 3.4.2 in 'Financial sanctions: general guidance'

  31. Updated to include Charity FAQ

  32. Updated quick guide to fix broken hyperlink

  33. Updated with the OFSI quick guide on key information regarding the obligations of businesses and individuals in relation to financial sanctions.

  34. Updated to improve clarity of information displayed

  35. Updated monetary penalties PDF – cover picture added

  36. Updated to bring the monetary penalties guidance document together with the general guidance.

  37. Added link to OFSI's guidance on the imposition of monetary penalties.

  38. Guidance updated to reflect the publication of new guidance on the imposition of monetary penalties

  39. New section 4.4 added making clear that OFSI expects all designated persons planning to visit the UK to possess an appropriate licence to support themselves legally while in the country.

  40. Updated guidance

  41. FAQs updated to reflect the latest notice Iran (Nuclear Proliferation): economic and financial sanctions relief under the JCPoA

  42. updated FAQs doc

  43. First published.

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