# GOV.UK API: Check a name against the UK Sanctions List

> Checks a name against the current UK Sanctions List and returns possible matches in the site's best-match order, with designation details. Results may include entries that only mention the name in their reasons, so check each entry before identifying anyone.

Unofficial. Not affiliated with or endorsed by GOV.UK.

- Page: https://fous.com/methods/gov.uk/check-sanctions
- Method: `gov.uk/check_sanctions`, version 1
- Website: gov.uk
- Returns: possible matches with name, type, regime, designation date, aliases, nationality, date of birth, position, reasons, sanctions imposed and list reference
- Effect: read (it gets data and changes nothing)
- Sign-in: none needed
- Cost: 1 credit per completed run (1¢ with pay as you go); failed runs are free
- Verified: Nov 2, 2026

## Inputs

| Field | Type | Required | In the run below | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `name` | string | yes | `"Oleg Deripaska"` | Name to check, for example Oleg Deripaska. |
| `type` | string | no | `"person"` | Kind of entry to check, for example person. One of "any", "person", "organisation", "ship". Default "any". |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `2` | Maximum number of possible matches to return, for example 20. Default 20. |

## Output

From a run on Oct 23, 2026, shortened. Its input:

```json
{
  "name": "Oleg Deripaska",
  "type": "person",
  "max_results": 2
}
```

Its output:

```json
{
  "matches": [
    {
      "name": "EZUBOV Pavel",
      "type": "Person",
      "aliases": [
        "EZOUBOV Pavel Alexeevich"
      ],
      "position": "Associate of Oleg Deripaska",
      "entry_link": "https://search-uk-sanctions-list.service.gov.uk/designations/RUS1333/Individual",
      "nationality": "Cyprus, Russia, Israel",
      "date_of_birth": "1975-08-12",
      "date_designated": "2022-04-13",
      "sanctions_regime": "Russia",
      "sanctions_imposed": [
        "Asset freeze",
        "Director Disqualification Sanction",
        "Travel Ban"
      ],
      "reasons_for_designation": "The Secretary of State considers that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that Pavel EZUBOV is an involved person on the basis of the following grounds: (1) Pavel EZUBOV is associated with Alexey Petrovich EZUBOV, his father, who was designated under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations …",
      "uk_sanctions_list_reference": "RUS1333"
    },
    {
      "name": "DERIPASKA Oleg Vladimirovich",
      "type": "Person",
      "aliases": [
        "DERIPASKA Oleg"
      ],
      "position": "Shareholder at EN+ GROUP",
      "entry_link": "https://search-uk-sanctions-list.service.gov.uk/designations/RUS0269/Individual",
      "nationality": "Russia",
      "date_of_birth": "1968-01-02",
      "date_designated": "2022-03-10",
      "sanctions_regime": "Russia",
      "sanctions_imposed": [
        "Asset freeze",
        "Director Disqualification Sanction",
        "Transport sanctions: see \"Other information\""
      ],
      "reasons_for_designation": "Oleg Vladimirovich DERIPASKA (hereafter DERIPASKA) is an involved person under the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 on the basis of the following grounds: (1) DERIPASKA is associated with a person who is and has been involved in destabilising Ukraine and undermining and threatening the …",
      "uk_sanctions_list_reference": "RUS0269"
    }
  ],
  "summary": "75 possible matches (showing first 2)",
  "match_found": true
}
```

## Run it

From code, with a Fous API key in `FOUS_API_KEY`; the answer's `data` holds the output:

```bash
curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"method":"gov.uk/check_sanctions","input":{"name":"Oleg Deripaska","type":"person","max_results":2}}'
```

From an AI agent connected to the Fous MCP server: its `run` with the same method and input. To connect one, give it `set up https://fous.com/SKILL.md`.

## Ask your agent

- Is there anyone called Viktor Medvedchuk on the UK sanctions list?
- Check whether the name Aleksandr Lukashenko appears as a ship or organisation entry in the UK Sanctions List, showing up to 10 matches
- Search the gov.uk sanctions list for individuals named Mohammed Al-Bashir and return their designation dates and aliases
- Look up any person entries matching Kim Jong Un in the current UK sanctions designations
- Find UK sanctioned organisations with names similar to Wagner Group, limit results to 5

## Input schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "name"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "name": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Name to check, for example Oleg Deripaska."
    },
    "type": {
      "enum": [
        "any",
        "person",
        "organisation",
        "ship"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "any",
      "description": "Kind of entry to check, for example person."
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 20,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum number of possible matches to return, for example 20.",
      "x-fous-developer": true
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false
}
```

## Output schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "match_found",
    "summary",
    "matches"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "matches": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "name",
          "type",
          "sanctions_regime",
          "date_designated",
          "aliases",
          "nationality",
          "date_of_birth",
          "position",
          "reasons_for_designation",
          "sanctions_imposed",
          "entry_link",
          "uk_sanctions_list_reference"
        ],
        "properties": {
          "name": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "type": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Person, Organisation or Ship."
          },
          "aliases": {
            "type": "array",
            "items": {
              "type": "string"
            }
          },
          "position": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ]
          },
          "entry_link": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "nationality": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ]
          },
          "date_of_birth": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ],
            "format": "date"
          },
          "date_designated": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ],
            "format": "date"
          },
          "sanctions_regime": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ]
          },
          "sanctions_imposed": {
            "type": "array",
            "items": {
              "type": "string"
            }
          },
          "reasons_for_designation": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ]
          },
          "uk_sanctions_list_reference": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ],
            "x-fous-developer": true
          }
        },
        "additionalProperties": false
      }
    },
    "summary": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "match_found": {
      "type": "boolean",
      "description": "Whether the search found any possible matches."
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false
}
```

## See more

- [GOV.UK API: Get travel advice](https://fous.com/methods/gov.uk/get-travel-advice.md): Returns current UK government (FCDO) travel warnings, entry requirements for British passport holders, safety, health and emergency information for a country. Summaries are shortened; follow the link for full details.
- [GOV.UK API: List bank holidays](https://fous.com/methods/gov.uk/list-bank-holidays.md): Lists GOV.UK bank holidays for a UK region and year, including substitute days and notes, plus the next upcoming holiday. Years GOV.UK does not publish return an empty list and the published years.
- [EU Sanctions Map API: Check name against EU sanctions](https://fous.com/methods/sanctionsmap.eu/check-sanctions.md): Checks a person or organisation name against the EU consolidated financial sanctions list (asset freezes) on the EU Sanctions Map, returning likely matches with their regime, aliases, listing details and linked legal act. Name similarity is a screening aid, not identity confirmation.
- [United Nations API: Check sanctions](https://fous.com/methods/scsanctions.un.org/check-sanctions.md): Checks a person or organisation name against the current UN Security Council Consolidated List and returns ranked possible matches.
- [Treasury OFAC API: Check sanctions](https://fous.com/methods/sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/check-sanctions.md): Screens a name against the OFAC SDN and non-SDN sanctions lists. Returns scored entries with identifying details. Similar names are potential matches, not confirmed identities.
- [legislation.gov.uk API: Search UK legislation](https://fous.com/methods/legislation.gov.uk/search-legislation.md): Search UK legislation by topic or title, with optional type and year filters. Closest title matches appear first; broader text matches fill remaining places.
- [EU Sanctions Map API: Get country sanctions](https://fous.com/methods/sanctionsmap.eu/get-country-sanctions.md): Lists EU Sanctions Map regimes concerning a country, with measures, EUR-Lex legal acts, amendment dates and listed person and entity counts.
- [Companies House API: Search companies](https://fous.com/methods/find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search-companies.md): Searches the UK Companies House register by company name and returns each company's status, type, incorporation date and registered office address, in result order.
- [All GOV.UK methods](https://fous.com/methods/gov.uk.md)