FATF grey/blacklist
FATF grey/black list
The FATF grey and black lists — registers of countries with shortcomings in fighting money laundering: grey means enhanced monitoring, black means high risk.
- What it is
- The FATF grey and black lists — lists of countries with deficiencies in combating money laundering
- The grey list
- Jurisdictions under increased monitoring
- The black list
- High-risk jurisdictions
- Effect
- More attention to clients and money from these countries
- How to use it
- Take a client’s link with such jurisdictions into account
In plain words
The FATF grey and black lists are lists of countries (jurisdictions) that the FATF assesses as having deficiencies in their systems for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Unlike sanctions lists, they concern not specific people but states and their control regimes. They are a kind of “rating” of a country’s compliance with global standards.
The “grey list” (officially, jurisdictions under increased monitoring) includes countries that have committed to remedying identified deficiencies and are under observation. The “black list” (high-risk jurisdictions subject to a call for countermeasures) is a far more serious category for countries with significant gaps. The lists are reviewed periodically: countries are added and removed.
There is no direct link here with the client’s personal good standing, but the effect is tangible: a link with a jurisdiction on the grey or black list (citizenship, the origin of money, companies, banks) increases compliance’s attention and requires a more thorough explanation. It is not a verdict but a signal to prepare more thoroughly. We take jurisdictions’ status into account when preparing the file, so that such a link does not become an unexpected obstacle.
Where the FATF lists matter
What matters about the FATF lists
- Assessing countries, not people
- Deficiencies in AML systems
- FATF standards
- Increased monitoring
- Commitments to remedy
- Under observation
- High risk
- A call for countermeasures
- Significant gaps
- A link raises attention
- Not a verdict
- Prepare more thoroughly
How to take a jurisdiction’s status into account
- 01Assess links with jurisdictions
- 02Check their status on the lists
- 03Strengthen the explanation of the source
- 04Prepare a transparent file
- 05A successful check
What you need to know
- The FATF lists assess countries, not specific people
- The grey list is increased monitoring of jurisdictions
- The black list is high-risk jurisdictions
- The lists are reviewed periodically
- A link with such a country raises compliance’s attention
Common mistakes
- Confusing the FATF country lists with sanctions against people
- Ignoring your jurisdiction’s status
- Not strengthening the explanation when linked to a high-risk country
- Treating a country’s listing as a personal “stigma”
- Relying on an outdated version of the lists
What this means for a BRIDGES client
We take jurisdictions’ status on the FATF lists into account when preparing your file. If there is a link with a grey- or black-listed country — through citizenship, money or business — we strengthen the explanation and documents so that it does not become an obstacle. The lists are updated, and we rely on the current picture.
Frequently asked questions
01 /What are the FATF grey and black lists?
Lists of countries the FATF assesses as having deficiencies in combating money laundering. Grey means increased monitoring; black, high-risk jurisdictions.
02 /Are these lists of people?
No. Unlike sanctions, they assess states and their control systems, not specific persons. It is an assessment of a country’s compliance with standards.
03 /How does it affect the client?
A link with a listed jurisdiction (citizenship, money, business) raises compliance’s attention and requires a more thorough explanation. It is not a verdict but a signal to prepare more thoroughly.
04 /How does the grey list differ from the black?
Grey means countries under increased monitoring that have committed to remedying deficiencies. Black means high-risk jurisdictions with significant gaps, subject to a call for countermeasures.
05 /Do the lists change?
Yes, the FATF reviews them periodically: countries are added and removed. That is why it is important to rely on the current version, not an outdated one.
06 /What should you do if linked to such a country?
Prepare more thoroughly: strengthen the explanation of the source of funds and the transparency of the file. We take jurisdictions’ status into account and help remove questions in advance.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
A link with a high-risk jurisdiction?
We will take the country’s FATF status into account and strengthen the file — so that such a link does not become an obstacle to an account or a passport.