FREE COMPLIANCE TOOL
FATF Grey List and Black List Checker
Quickly verify whether a country is on the FATF Blacklist, Greylist, or outside both lists. Built for compliance officers, MLROs, and risk teams.
This report reflects the FATF Blacklist and Greylist as recorded by Citadel365 on the date of generation. The information is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, or compliance advice. FATF updates its lists periodically, and users are advised to verify the current status directly at fatf-gafi.org before placing reliance on this output. Citadel365 and Vertex Compliance accept no liability for decisions made on the basis of this report. For tailored AML/CFT guidance, please contact our team.
This report reflects the FATF Blacklist and Greylist as recorded by Citadel365 on the date of generation. The information is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, or compliance advice. FATF updates its lists periodically, and users are advised to verify the current status directly at fatf-gafi.org before placing reliance on this output. Citadel365 and Vertex Compliance accept no liability for decisions made on the basis of this report. For tailored AML/CFT guidance, please contact our team.
Ready to Defeat Your AML Compliance Obstacles?
Citadel Brings Revolution with Secure Solutions to AML Compliance Problems
Using the FATF Grey List / Black List Checker
1. Type the country name
The initial step is to enter the country name in the search field; the checker instantly returns the identical results via its type-ahead search across all 195 sovereign states.
2. Select from the dropdown
Select the required country name from the suggested list or use the arrow keys to navigate and press the enter key. A confirmation prompt will appear on the screen to verify your selection.
3. Review the result
A colour-coded badge will appear on your result screen displaying the inserted country’s current FATF status, along with a clear, plain language explanation of its compliance implications and the date of the check when it was performed.
4. Print or save the report
Finally, select the print report option to get an A4-ready document that includes Citadel365 branding, the results, and the complete disclaimer, ideal for audit trails and compliance files.
What Each Status Means
The FATF Grey List/Black List Checker provides one of three possible results, each with the specific implications for your compliance obligations.
BLACK LIST
- High-risk jurisdictions- Call for Action
The FATF blacklisted countries, such as Iran, North Korea, and Myanmar, have unresolved AML/CFT deficiencies and have failed to comply with FATF requirements. As a result, they are subject to a call for action, requiring the application of countermeasures and the implementation of enhanced due diligence as applicable.
GREY LIST
- Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring
Jurisdictions under the increased monitoring are working with FATF on agreed action plans to resolve AML/CFT gaps. Currently, 22 jurisdictions, including Nepal, Kuwait, and Yemen, are grey-listed, requiring enhanced due diligence for all counterparties.
NOT LISTED
- Standard Monitoring – No FATF Listing
Countries that are not on the FATF black list or grey list are classified as not listed, and standard customer due diligence applies. However, sanction screening, PEP checks, and your own risk-based assessment remain applicable irrespective of FATF listing status.
What Are the FATF Grey List and Black List?
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), founded in 1989 and headquartered in Paris, is the global anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorism financing (CFT), and counter-proliferation financing (CPF) standard setter, which sets 40 FATF Recommendations that form a mainstay of the AML/CFT compliance framework across 200 jurisdictions worldwide.
FATF publishes two critical lists three times a year following plenary sessions in February, June, and October, guiding how regulated entities must deal with transactions and business relationships involving counterparties from specific jurisdictions.
The FATF Grey List: Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring
The FATF grey list highlights the jurisdictions with identified deficiencies in their AML/CFT framework that have made high-level political commitments to address these gaps. As per the February 2026 FATF update, 22 jurisdictions are greylisted, including Algeria, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, South Sudan, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yemen.
The FATF Blacklist: High-Risk Jurisdictions Subject to a Call for Action
The countries with more severe systemic failures in the AML/CFT framework are listed on the FATF blacklist. Three jurisdictions which are blacklisted by FATF are Iran, North Korea (DPRK), and Myanmar, and FATF calls on members to explicitly require the application of countermeasures to protect the international financial system.
Why FATF List Status Matters for UAE Regulated Entities
As per the regulatory requirements under Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2020 and the CBUAE, SCA, and VARA supervisory guidelines, monitoring FATF list status is not just a ticking box exercise; it’s a mandatory requirement for financial institutions, DNFBPs, and VASPs operating under UAE AML/CFT regulations.
Common scenarios for using this FATF grey list/black list checker:
- At the time of customer onboarding, to verify a new customer’s country, residence, or incorporation.
- During counterparty due diligence, check the country of correspondents, suppliers, or business partners.
- During transactions screening to assess the cross-border transactions before approving them.
- During periodic review, re-screen existing customers when FATF updates its lists.
- Ensuring audit and supporting regulatory reporting by documenting the country’s risk assessment in compliance records.
- As a part of enterprise-wide risk assessment, while mapping exposure to high-risk jurisdictions across the business.
Who Should Use This FATF Checker?
The FATF grey list/black list checker is designed for any professional who needs to check the countries’ risk status without hassle and document the results.
FIs, DNFBPs and VASPs
FIs, DNFBPs and VASPs with UAE registration and AML/CFT obligations, helping them to check risk faster, consistently, and ensure audit-readiness.
MLRO and Compliance Officers
Perform country checks, helping at key compliance stages, including customer onboarding, periodic review, or when investigating a transaction.
Finance and Treasury Teams
Enabling cross-border transaction risk assessment before approval and verifying the FATF status of a correspondent bank’s country, a supplier’s jurisdiction, or a beneficiary’s residence.
Internal Auditors and Risk Teams
Provides a printable, well-documented, and time-stamped output for EWRA preparation, regulatory audits, or supervisory examination.
How the Data Is Maintained
The Citadel365 FATF black list/grey list checker, overseen by Vertex Compliance, is kept up to date in line with the FATF official releases.
FATF convenes three Plenary meetings each year in February, June, and October. After every FATF Plenary, the FATF checker is updated within 24-48 hours of the official release on the fatf-gafi.org.
The latest update is based on the February 2026 Plenary, during which Kuwait and Papua New Guinea were added to the grey list, and the black list remains unchanged.
Frequently Asked Questions
The FATF grey list/black list checker is a free compliance tool by Citadel365, which enables verifying the country’s status on the FATF black list, grey list, or not listed countries out of any of the world’s 195 sovereign states. By simply typing the country name and selecting it, the checker will provide a clear, printable output with compliance implications.
The key difference between the two is that the FATF blacklist catches the countries that require a call for action, due to their severe unresolved AML/CFT gaps, requiring FATF members to apply countermeasures.
Whereas the FATF grey lists identify jurisdictions that are under increased monitoring, as they have acknowledged their gaps and committed to a structured action plan, they require EDD for all counterparties from these jurisdictions.
The FATF grey list and black list updates are published three times a year in February, June, and October, following the plenary session, which was recently updated on February 13, 2026, where Kuwait and Papua New Guinea were added to the grey list. After each Plenary, the regulated entities should review their customer risk assessment.
The three countries that are currently on the FATF blacklist are Iran, North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea), and Myanmar, as last updated in February 2026. The list has remained the same since October 2022, when Myanmar was last added.
Following the February 2026, FATF Plenary, total of 22 countries are currently on the FATF grey list, including Algeria, Angola, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), and Yemen. Kuwait and Papua New Guinea were recently added to the list during this update.
The FATF refers to the grey list as jurisdictions under increased monitoring. When a country is placed in this category, it means it has strategic deficiencies in its AML/CFT framework, along with a formal, high-level political commitment to address those gaps through an agreed action plan. The countries are removed once FATF verifies that the required reforms have been implemented effectively, usually after a site-verification visit.
Countries subject to a call for action are FATF’s official designation for black listed countries, for countries like Iran and North Korea, the countermeasures are required, including concrete restrictions on financial dealings and reporting obligations.
No, a not-listed result means that the enhanced due diligence is solely not required due to the FATF jurisdiction status. However, the firms must continue to apply a risk-based approach, conduct risk-based customer due diligence, screen against the sanctions list and identify PEPs. A country’s absence from the FATF lists does not eliminate risk; it may still pose high risks based on your internal assessment.
Yes, the checker is absolutely free to use and requires no registration or login. One can run multiple checks and generate a printable branded compliance report for each output. To explore more about AML/CFT screening and automated FATF monitoring, visit Citadel365.com.
FATF listing affects the UAE-regulated entities, as under UAE AML/CFT regulations, including Cabinet Decision No. 74 of 2020 and MoET, MoJ, DFSA, FSRA, CBUAE, CMA, and VARA supervisory guidelines, the entities are required to factor country risk into their customer risk assessments. If the jurisdiction is on the FATF grey list, enhanced due diligence measures must be applied, such as verifying the source of funds, increasing transaction monitoring, and obtaining senior management approval. The countries that are black listed by FATF are expected to implement the appropriate countermeasures.
Failure in considering the FATF listing status may lead to regulatory findings, enforcement actions, or deficiencies in goAML reporting.
Yes, the printable report consists of the country name, FATF list status, compliance implication, date of check, and disclaimer. It is ideal for audit and compliance records as proof of your country risk verification step. However, it reflects point-in-time results and should be refreshed after each FATF Plenary. The report does not provide legal or regulatory advice.
Need automated FATF monitoring for your compliance programme?
Citadel365 automates AML/CFT screening, TFS checks, and country risk tracking for UAE-regulated entities.