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UK Sanctions List Consolidation and OFSI List Closure

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Published January 28th, 2026
Detected March 6th, 2026
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Summary

The UK's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) Consolidated List of Asset Freeze Targets closed on January 28, 2026. All UK sanctions designations are now consolidated under the UK Sanctions List. This change aims to streamline sanctions information for regulated entities.

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What changed

The UK's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has closed its Consolidated List of Asset Freeze Targets as of January 28, 2026. All UK sanctions designations, including asset freezes, are now consolidated into a single UK Sanctions List. This consolidation is intended to simplify access to sanctions information for those subject to UK sanctions regimes.

Regulated entities, including financial institutions, importers, exporters, and public companies, must ensure they are referencing the UK Sanctions List for all designations. Failure to comply with sanctions obligations can result in significant penalties. Entities should review the guidance on managing this change to understand any operational adjustments required.

What to do next

  1. Update internal procedures to reference the UK Sanctions List exclusively for designations.
  2. Review OFSI guidance on managing the transition to the consolidated list.
  3. Ensure all relevant staff are aware of the closure of the OFSI Consolidated List and the consolidation of designations.

Penalties

Penalties for sanctions breaches can be significant, though specific amounts are not detailed in this notice.

Source document (simplified)

Collection

UK sanctions

Where to find sanctions content, including introductory guidance, statutory guidance, guidance by industry sector, sanctions lists and how to report a breach.

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation, HM Revenue & Customs and Department for Transport Show 3 more HM Treasury, Ofcom, and Department for Business and Trade Published 5 June 2025 Last updated 28 January 2026
— See all updates Get emails about this page The UK Sanctions List is now the only source for all UK sanctions designations. The OFSI Consolidated List of Asset Freeze Targets closed on Wednesday 28 January 2026 and is no longer being updated. It is available for reference purposes on its old page.

See how to manage the change for further details.

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Introductory guidance on UK sanctions

Sanctions are restrictive measures that can be put in place to fulfil a range of purposes. In the UK, these include complying with UN and other international obligations, supporting foreign policy and national security objectives, as well as maintaining international peace and security, and preventing terrorism.

Starter guide to UK sanctions
22 September 2025, Guidance

Reporting sanctions breaches

Anyone can report a suspected breach of sanctions. This online service helps you to report a suspected breach of sanctions to the correct government body.

Types of sanctions

The UK may impose the following types of sanctions measures:

The UK Sanctions List

The UK Sanctions List names the individuals, businesses, organisations and ships (‘designated persons’ and ‘specified ships’) that are the targets of certain sanctions measures, such as asset freezes and transport sanctions.

Current UK sanctions regimes

Sanctions regulations apply to:

  • any individual, business or organisation located or undertaking activities anywhere in the UK (including the territorial sea)
  • any business or organisation incorporated or constituted under the law of any part of the UK
  • any UK individual, business or organisation outside of the UK It is government policy for UK sanctions measures to be given effect in the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to make sanctions as effective as possible.

Current sanctions regimes holds the statutory guidance and the lists of designations for each regime.

The below document collections hold further guidance documents for Russia and Belarus.

Blogs, email alerts and advisories

Blogs

OFSI and OTSI maintain blogs to explain some of the more complex aspects of new legislation or specific definitions in the regulations.

OFSI Blog

OTSI Blog

Sanctions email alerts

For timely notifications about all new and updated designations, sanctions announcements, and updates on sanctions guidance, sign up to get UK sanctions email alerts.

To receive updates about export controls and trade sanctions provided by the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU), sign up to ‘Notices to Exporters’.

Advisories

OFSI publishes FAQs and advisories of particular interest to legal specialists but also covering basic financial sanctions issues.

Sector-specific guidance

These documents provide supplementary guidance for specific industry sectors, to use alongside more general guidance. Also note that firms including legal and financial services, estate agents and traders of precious metals or stones have certain reporting obligations.

Exceptions and licensing

Section 3 of each of the sanctions regulations sets out exceptions to some of the sanctions prohibitions which apply within certain defined circumstances in each regime. An exception applies automatically, and you do not need to obtain a licence under sanctions legislation. If you are unsure whether an exception applies in your circumstances, you should seek independent legal advice.

Licences are written permissions for actions that would otherwise be in breach of sanctions. These documents cover licensing processes and how to apply for sanctions licences.

Enforcement content

These documents cover how enforcement bodies assess breaches, and list the mitigations and possible penalties.

Reporting obligations

These documents cover what information you’re legally required to provide to enforcement bodies. (For transport sanctions reporting obligations, refer to section 9 of the enforcement guidance.)

Government departments and agencies responsible for sanctions

Sanctions policy and designations

FCDO is responsible for high-level policy and decisions about sanctions designations and ship specifications. For specific queries about sanctions regimes, email fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk

HM Treasury lead on designations under the UK’s domestic counter-terrorism sanctions regime.

Financial sanctions

The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementations (OFSI) is responsible for civil enforcement of financial sanctions regulations and issuing licences. For specific queries about financial sanctions, email ofsi@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Financial sanctions include restrictions on designated persons, such as freezing their financial assets, as well as wider restrictions on investment and financial services.

OFSI is also responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the Oil Price Cap on Russian oil. See the ‘Trade sanctions’ section. The National Crime Agency (NCA) is responsible for investigating and prosecuting criminal breaches of financial sanctions.

Director disqualification sanctions

The Insolvency Service is responsible for investigating and prosecuting individuals who are suspected of breaching director disqualification sanctions and also issues licences.

Trade sanctions

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) leads on trade sanctions.

Trade sanctions can include prohibitions on:

  • the import, export, transfer, movement, making available or acquisition of goods and technology
  • the provision or procurement of services related to goods and technology
  • the provision or procurement of certain other non-financial services The Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) is responsible for issuing licences for the provision of sanctioned standalone services, including professional and business services; and detecting and responding to suspected breaches. OTSI is also responsible for civil enforcement of certain trade sanctions including services and the movement of goods involving UK companies and persons which do not cross the UK border.

For specific queries about trade services sanctions within OTSI ’s remit, use the OTSI enquiry form.

HMRC is responsible for the criminal enforcement of all trade sanctions measures, and enforces trade sanctions on goods crossing the border in line with its role as the UK’s customs body. Report breaches of export controls and trade sanctions to HMRC.

Ofcom is responsible for monitoring compliance with trade sanctions in relation to internet services, and for assessing suspected breaches. Ofcom has published guidance on how to complain to UK internet providers about possible sanctioned content.

OFSI is responsible for civil enforcement and for issuing licences relating to Oil Price Cap, including the supply or delivery by ship of oil and oil products (and related services and brokerage) from Russia to and between third countries. For specific queries, email oilpricecap.ofsi@hmtreasury.gov.uk

DBT’s Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) administers the UK’s system of export controls and is responsible for licensing the export of goods, software and technology from the UK, including issuing licences for the export of goods and the provision of ancillary services to sanctioned destinations. For specific queries, email exportcontrol.help@businessandtrade.gov.uk

DBT’s Import Controls and Sanctions team implements trade sanctions relating to imports. For information on import controls and prohibitions, see Notices to importers. For specific queries, email importsanctions@businessandtrade.gov.uk

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has published guidance on complying with technology transfer sanctions.

Transport sanctions

The Department for Transport is responsible for the implementation and civil enforcement of sanctions in the aviation and shipping sectors.

Transport sanctions impose restrictions on the ownership, registration, movement and use of ships and aircraft in certain countries. The restrictions are different for and within each regime.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) is responsible for investigating and prosecuting criminal breaches of transport sanctions

For specific queries, email transportsanctions@dft.gov.uk

Immigration sanctions

The Home Office implements and enforces immigration sanctions, also known as travel bans. Those subject to travel bans will be refused leave to enter or remain in the UK. Any applications they make for a visa to travel to the UK, including for transit purposes, will be refused. Any foreign national who is subject to a travel ban, and who is currently in the UK, will have their permission to stay in the UK cancelled and steps will be taken to remove them from the UK.

For specific queries, contact the Home Office.

Cross-government review of sanctions implementation and enforcement

The review focuses on how to improve information sharing across government and strengthen sanctions enforcement.

Updates to this page

Published 5 June 2025 Last updated 28 January 2026 show all updates
1.
28 January 2026

Updated to reflect the closure of the OFSI Consolidated List on 28 January 2026. The UK Sanctions List is now the only source for all UK sanctions designations.
2.
2 December 2025

Added 'Supporting Syria’s future: guidance for businesses and NGOs' to the sector specific guidance section.
3.
13 October 2025

Updated page to say that the OFSI Consolidated List of Asset Freeze Targets is closing and from 28 January 2026 the UK Sanctions List will be the only source for all UK sanctions designations.
4.
23 September 2025

Added links to the 'Starter guide to UK sanctions' and the 'How to report a suspected breach of sanctions' service.
5.
14 August 2025

Added 'Sanctions compliance in the cryptoassets sector: threat assessment'.
6.
20 June 2025

Added 4 threat assessment reports for financial, legal, property and high value dealer sectors, produced by Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation during 2025.
7.
5 June 2025

First published.
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Source

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OTSI All Publications gov.uk/search/all.atom?organisations%5B%5D=office-of-trade-sanctions-implementation&order=updated-newest
Trade & Export
Analysis generated by AI. Source diff and links are from the original.

Classification

Agency
Various
Published
January 28th, 2026
Compliance deadline
January 28th, 2026 (45 days ago)
Instrument
Notice
Legal weight
Binding
Stage
Final
Change scope
Substantive

Who this affects

Applies to
Importers and exporters Financial advisers Fund managers Public companies Insurers Banks Broker-dealers
Geographic scope
National (UK)

Taxonomy

Primary area
Sanctions
Operational domain
Compliance
Topics
Financial Crime International Trade

Browse Categories

Federal Courts 26 State Courts 91 Securities Regulation 6 Financial Regulation 43 Consumer Protection 5 Drug Safety 45 Data Protection 21 Competition 2 Attorneys General 3 Insurance Regulation 5 Trade & Export 36 Legislation 42 Energy Regulation 13 Environment 3 Labor & Employment 2 Tax 1

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