Yes. The official sanctions lists are free to search without an account: the EU Sanctions Map, the US Treasury’s sanctions search and the UK sanctions list search all work in a browser. The catch is that each one covers a single list and matches names only, so none of them tells you whether a hit is really the supplier in front of you. To screen a company against the UN, EU and US lists in one go, together with its registry status and VAT number, search the company free on CheckBiz — the full report costs €1.99, paid as a guest.
This guide is one step in How to verify a company in Europe before you pay it — the four checks to make in the official registers before you pay a new supplier.
- Where can you search sanctions lists for free?
- Why is a name search on its own not enough?
- Which lists does CheckBiz screen against?
- How do you check a supplier in one search?
- FAQ
Where can you search sanctions lists for free?
Each authority publishes its own list, and each has a public search that needs no login:
| List | Published by | Free search, no account |
|---|---|---|
| EU financial sanctions | European Commission | EU Sanctions Map and the consolidated list on data.europa.eu |
| UN Security Council consolidated list | United Nations | UN consolidated list |
| Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list | US Treasury, OFAC | Sanctions List Search |
| UK sanctions list | UK government | Search the UK sanctions list |
For a business in the EU, the EU list is the one that applies directly. Banks and payment providers often screen against the UN and US lists as well, so a listing there can still stop a payment.
Why is a name search on its own not enough?
A sanctions list matches names, not companies. Three things go wrong in practice:
- Lookalike names. A search returns every entry that shares words with your supplier’s name. A hit is a reason to look closer, not proof of a listing.
- The wrong name. The trading name on the invoice may differ from the name in the business register. Screen the registered name, and check that it belongs to the company you are paying.
- The owners. EU asset freezes also reach companies owned or controlled by a listed person. A clean result for the company name cannot show that.
A sanctions search tells you whether a name is on a list. It doesn’t tell you who you’re dealing with.
Which lists does CheckBiz screen against?
A CheckBiz report screens the company against the UN consolidated list, the EU financial sanctions list and the US OFAC SDN list. The lists are refreshed daily; in September 2026 they held more than 27,000 listed persons and entities between them. The UK sanctions list is not part of the screening today, so use the UK government’s search for a UK supplier.
Results are split in two. A match is only marked as confirmed when the name genuinely matches; lookalikes are listed separately as worth a closer look. A possible match never turns the report’s verdict red on its own.
CheckBiz is a business check for your own decision. It is not AML or KYC compliance software.
How do you check a supplier in one search?
- Search the company by name — free.
- Open the free public profile to make sure you have the right company.
- Buy the full report for €1.99 to see identity, active status, VAT registration and sanctions screening together, plus ownership and financials where the national register publishes them.
No account and no subscription. The report link is emailed to you and stays active for 30 days. See what each of the 14 countries covers, how it works and pricing.
FAQ
Is it free to check a company against sanctions lists?
Yes. The EU, UN, US and UK lists can all be searched free and without an account. Each search covers one list and matches names only.
Does CheckBiz screen against the UK sanctions list?
Not at the moment. The report covers the UN, EU and US OFAC lists. For a UK supplier, also search the UK sanctions list.
What does a possible match mean?
The name looks similar to a listed name but does not genuinely match. Check the listing’s details, such as country and registration number, before you decide.
Do I need an account to buy a report?
No. You pay €1.99 as a guest, and the report link is emailed to you.
Is a clean sanctions result enough to pay a new supplier?
No. Also check that the company is active in the business register, that its VAT number is valid, and that the bank account is in its name. See what an EU VAT number check proves, and what it doesn’t.
Paying a supplier you haven’t worked with before? Search the company free on CheckBiz and see whether it is real, active, VAT-registered and clear of sanctions lists before the money leaves your account.
Read also
- What an EU VAT number check proves, and what it doesn’t
- Supplier scam red flags you can check in the company register before you pay
This content was generated with artificial intelligence.
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