Libya sanctions: guidance
Statutory guidance for the Libya sanctions regime, plus a summary of its purposes, scope and prohibitions.
Documents
Details
The Libya (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, and certain other regulations, are in force to implement certain UN obligations and to meet the UK’s policy objectives.
This summary gives a quick overview of the sanctions in place under the regime. It is not comprehensive and is not a replacement for the statutory guidance or the regulations themselves.
Summary
Regime is limited in scope to:
- sanctions targeting designated persons and specified ships
- asset freeze sanctions in respect of 2 named entities
- sanctions in respect of:
- military goods and technology
- internal repression goods and technology
- goods which could be used for migrant smuggling and human trafficking
- enabling or facilitating the conduct of armed hostilities in Libya
- transport sanctions
Designated persons and UN-specified ships
The UK Sanctions List tells you who is designated under the regime and which sanctions have been applied to them. A designated person can be an individual, a business or an organisation.
The statutory guidance lists in detail the sanctions that can apply in respect of designated persons, including:
- an asset freeze on their funds and other assets
- making available funds or economic resources to them or for their benefit
- director disqualification)
- immigration sanction (travel ban)
The regulations impose a partial asset freeze in respect of the 2 named Libyan entities:
- the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA), and
- the Libya Africa Investment Portfolio (LAIP)
Under this regime, ships that are specified by the UN can also be subject to sanctions.
Sanctioned goods and services
You must not export or otherwise supply or transfer to or for use in Libya or to a person connected with Libya certain goods in these categories (this is not an exhaustive list):
- military, security and para-military goods, software and technology and arms, ammunition and related material
- internal repression goods and technology
- goods which could be used for migrant smuggling and human trafficking
Related financial services, brokering services and technical assistance may also be subject to sanctions.
You must not provide technical assistance, armed personnel, financial services or funds or associated brokering services, where such provision enables or facilitates the conduct of armed hostilities in Libya
Transport sanctions
You must not cause or permit a UN-designated ship to transport Libyan oil or have Libyan oil loaded onto the ship or have it discharged from the ship.
You must not provide bunkering or ship supply services in relation to UN-designated ships.
Updates to this page
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Added summary of the regime's purposes, scope and prohibitions. Updated transport sanctions section for better clarity and usability, with no material changes to text.
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Page has been updated for better clarity and usability. No material changes to text.
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Addition to Section 3.1 on Exceptions reflecting the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Treasury Debt) Regulations 2025.
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Page navigation has been updated for better usability. No material changes to text.
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These changes reflect the Sanctions (EU Exit) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Regulations 2024 and taken together make a range of technical changes with the purpose of improving OFSI’s ability to gather intelligence on industry’s compliance with financial sanctions, strengthen OFSI’s enforcement powers, enable OFSI to conduct its licensing responsibilities more efficiently, and clarify financial sanctions legislation where there is existing uncertainty.
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References to 'Import Case Management System' updated to 'Apply for an import licence' to reflect new service name. Email address and links also updated.
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Updated to reflect provisions of UN Humanitarian Exception SI
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First published.