Question 1

Is a PEP a sanction?

Accepted Answer

No. A Politically Exposed Person (PEP) designation flags the need for enhanced due diligence under FATF Recommendations 12 and 22 — it is not a sanction. Sanctions and PEP status are tracked separately on amisanctioned. When a person is both, both flags are shown clearly distinguished.

Question 2

What counts as a PEP?

Accepted Answer

FATF defines a PEP as an individual who holds or has held a prominent public function. amisanctioned tracks five FATF-aligned categories: heads of state, heads of government, finance ministers, justice ministers, and ambassadors. 18,000+ PEPs across 282 countries are listed.

Question 3

What due diligence is required for PEPs?

Accepted Answer

FATF Recommendation 12 requires regulated entities to obtain senior management approval before establishing or continuing a relationship with a foreign PEP, take reasonable measures to identify the source of wealth and source of funds, and conduct enhanced ongoing monitoring. Recommendation 22 extends similar requirements to designated non-financial businesses and professions.

Question 4

Where does amisanctioned source PEP data?

Accepted Answer

PEP records are sourced from Wikidata's public-office records, with category, country, and role normalised to FATF categories. The dataset is independent of any sanctions list.

Question 5

Is the PEP search free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. 25 free PEP searches per IP per day. Free tier customers and anonymous visitors can both search. Pro and Business tiers unlock watchlist alerts, daily digest emails, and CSV exports.

Politically Exposed Persons

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