OFAC SDN List: records, matches and ownership limits

What an SDN record can tell you

The Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List is usually called the SDN List. It includes people, organizations, vessels, and aircraft. SanctionsKit reads it through the ofac-sdn source.

A record can contain aliases, identifiers, program labels, and remarks as well as a name. The service keeps these available details and the type of subject. That helps you compare a person with a person, or a vessel with a vessel.

Compare the identity before deciding

An exact name match is still a possible match. Check the original entry and compare reliable facts about your subject. A shared name with no other facts may need more research before you can reach a decision.

A missing fact does not prove two subjects differ. If neither record gives a full birth date, for example, record that gap instead of treating it as evidence that the names refer to different people. The review guide explains how to document the comparison.

Keep ownership review separate

An entity may be blocked under OFAC’s ownership rules even if its name is absent from the SDN List. SanctionsKit does not research ownership chains, add up ownership shares, or determine whether an unlisted company is blocked. A no-match result cannot replace that work.

Use the ownership guide for a worked explanation. The SDN source profile shows records and refresh information. Evidence keeps the time SanctionsKit retrieved a file separate from the publisher’s timestamp; neither should be used as a guessed legal effective date.

Choose a record with enough identity evidence to review

For a first SDN comparison, use an invented subject and inspect which supported facts the candidate actually contains. An identifier or alias can help resolve a name, while missing information remains a gap. The SDN directory provides published record context; the ownership guide addresses a different question that a name-list result cannot settle.