# OFAC API

> OFAC returns scored sanctions-list matches with identifying details, available as a workflow and API.

OFAC, also known as the Office of Foreign Assets Control, returns scored entries from SDN and non-SDN sanctions lists for a name you provide. Check sanctions accepts a person, company, vessel, or aircraft name, with optional filters for type, country, strictness, and maximum results.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/ofac
- Handle: `@ofac`
- Category: [Legal](https://fous.com/tools/category/legal)
- Source website: https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026

## Methods

### Check sanctions

Operation `check_sanctions`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Screen a name against OFAC SDN and non-SDN sanctions lists and return scored entries with identifying details. Similar names are potential matches, not confirmed identities.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `name` | string | yes | `"Mahan Air"` | Person, company, vessel or aircraft name to screen, for example Viktor Vekselberg. |
| `type` | string | no | `"company"` | Kind of name, for example company. |
| `country` | string | no | `"Iran"` | Country to filter by, for example Iran. |
| `strictness` | string | no | `"strict"` | Minimum OFAC name score: strict 100%, balanced 90%, or broad 80%; for example balanced. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `5` | Maximum number of entries to return, for example 25. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "name"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "name": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Person, company, vessel or aircraft name to screen, for example Viktor Vekselberg.",
      "examples": [
        "Mahan Air",
        "Viktor Vekselberg",
        "Randomfjdkjffkxxxccckllf"
      ]
    },
    "type": {
      "enum": [
        "any",
        "person",
        "company",
        "vessel",
        "aircraft"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "any",
      "description": "Kind of name, for example company.",
      "examples": [
        "company"
      ]
    },
    "country": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Country to filter by, for example Iran.",
      "examples": [
        "Iran"
      ]
    },
    "strictness": {
      "enum": [
        "strict",
        "balanced",
        "broad"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "balanced",
      "description": "Minimum OFAC name score: strict 100%, balanced 90%, or broad 80%; for example balanced.",
      "examples": [
        "strict",
        "broad"
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 25,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum number of entries to return, for example 25.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        5,
        3,
        2
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "name": "Mahan Air",
      "type": "company",
      "country": "Iran",
      "strictness": "strict",
      "max_results": 5
    },
    {
      "name": "Viktor Vekselberg"
    },
    {
      "name": "Randomfjdkjffkxxxccckllf",
      "strictness": "broad"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `matches` | array |  |  |
| `matches[].list` | string or null | `"SDN"` |  |
| `matches[].name` | string | `"MAHAN AIR"` |  |
| `matches[].type` | string or null | `"Company"` |  |
| `matches[].aliases` | array |  |  |
| `matches[].addresses` | array |  |  |
| `matches[].entry_link` | string | `"https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/Details.aspx?id=12927"` |  |
| `matches[].match_score` | integer | `100` | OFAC name match score in percent. |
| `matches[].nationality` | string or null |  |  |
| `matches[].ofac_entry_id` | string | `"12927"` |  |
| `matches[].program_codes` | array |  |  |
| `matches[].sanctions_programs` | array |  |  |
| `matches[].date_of_birth_or_registration` | string or null | `"1957-04-14"` |  |
| `summary` | string | `"1 possible OFAC sanctions match found, searched 2026-09-28. Verify identities before taking action."` |  |
| `match_found` | boolean | `true` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "name": "Mahan Air",
  "type": "company",
  "country": "Iran",
  "strictness": "strict",
  "max_results": 5
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "matches": [
    {
      "list": "SDN",
      "name": "MAHAN AIR",
      "type": "Company",
      "aliases": [
        "MAHAN AIR CO."
      ],
      "addresses": [
        "No. 21, Mahan Air Tower, Tehran, Tehran, 1481655761, Iran; Azadegan Street, Jenah Expressway, Beginning of Sheykh Fazlollah Exp. Way; First of Karaj High Way",
        "Mahan Air Tower, 21st Floor, Tehran, Tehran, Iran; Azadeghan Street, Karaj Highway; P.O. Box 14515-411",
        "Mahan Air Tower, Tehran, Tehran, 1481655761, Iran; Azadegan St., Karaj Highway; P.O. Box 411-14515"
      ],
      "entry_link": "https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/Details.aspx?id=12927",
      "match_score": 100,
      "nationality": null,
      "ofac_entry_id": "12927",
      "program_codes": [
        "NPWMD",
        "IFSR",
        "SDGT"
      ],
      "sanctions_programs": [
        "Non-Proliferation",
        "Iran-related",
        "Terrorism"
      ],
      "date_of_birth_or_registration": null
    }
  ],
  "summary": "1 possible OFAC sanctions match found, searched 2026-09-28. Verify identities before taking action.",
  "match_found": true
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@ofac",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "check_sanctions",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "name": "Mahan Air",
    "type": "company",
    "country": "Iran",
    "strictness": "strict",
    "max_results": 5
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@ofac\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"check_sanctions\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"name\": \"Mahan Air\",\n    \"type\": \"company\",\n    \"country\": \"Iran\",\n    \"strictness\": \"strict\",\n    \"max_results\": 5\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@ofac",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "check_sanctions",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "name": "Mahan Air",
    "type": "company",
    "country": "Iran",
    "strictness": "strict",
    "max_results": 5
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/ofac`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `check_sanctions`: Check sanctions. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-ofac https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/ofac --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## Use cases

- Screen company names for potential sanctions matches.
- Review identifying details for potential matches.
- Filter name screening by country or type.
- Compare match scores across returned entries.

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this OFAC tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a OFAC account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

### Does a name match a sanctions list?

Check sanctions returns scored entries from SDN and non-SDN lists; similar names are potential matches, not confirmed identities.

### What identifying details are returned for a match?

Check sanctions returns details such as names, aliases, addresses, nationality, sanctions programs, and match score.

### Can I screen a name with a country filter?

Yes. Check sanctions accepts an optional country filter.

## Related

- [EU Sanctions Map API](https://fous.com/tools/eu-sanctions-map.md): EU Sanctions Map returns regimes, consolidated financial listings, name matches and linked acts, plus country measures and available counts; linked acts may be later amendments.
- [UN Security Council Sanctions API](https://fous.com/tools/un-security-council-sanctions.md): Check names against the UN Security Council Consolidated List.
- [GOV.UK API](https://fous.com/tools/gov-uk.md): GOV.UK provides summarized current travel advice with linked details, published regional holidays (none for unpublished years), and possible matches on the current UK Sanctions List.
- [Federal Register API](https://fous.com/tools/federal-register.md): Search United States federal rules, proposed rules, notices, and presidential documents.
- [OSHA API](https://fous.com/tools/osha.md): Public workplace safety inspection and enforcement records.
- [PolitiFact API](https://fous.com/tools/politifact.md): Fact checks of political claims and public statements.
- [FEC API](https://fous.com/tools/fec.md): FEC provides federal campaign finance data, including candidate fundraising and spending for a two-year period and candidate totals from the latest available filings.
- [Open Food Facts API](https://fous.com/tools/open-food-facts.md): Open Food Facts provides public packaged-food information, including ingredients, allergens, nutrition, and product classifications; coverage varies, and search results favor popular products.
- [All Legal tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/legal)