Check a Client List Against the DFAT Consolidated List

The DFAT Consolidated List is Australia's list of the individuals, entities and vessels that are subject to Australian sanctions. The Australian Sanctions Office in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) keeps it and publishes it as an Excel (XLSX) file. Here you upload your client list as a CSV or Excel file, and every name is checked against the DFAT Consolidated List and 9 more official lists in one run.

What the DFAT Consolidated List is

DFAT's Consolidated List page says that the list includes targeted financial sanctions, travel bans, arms embargos and maritime sanctions. It holds the people and entities listed by the United Nations Security Council and those listed by the Foreign Minister under Australia's autonomous sanctions laws.

For each entry the list gives names and aliases, and where known the dates of birth, places of birth, citizenships and addresses. DFAT gives the list as one XLSX file on that page. We fetch the file every day, together with the other 9 lists, and the report shows the date of the list data that it used.

How to check a whole client list

• Save your client list as a CSV or Excel (.xlsx) file with up to 2,000 rows.
• Put each person in a name column of their own: the client, the beneficial owners and the people who act for the client. Up to 5 names (people or companies) per row are screened in the same run.
• Upload the file. Every name is checked against the DFAT Consolidated List and 9 more official lists.
• Get one report as PDF, CSV and JSON. Your file and the report are deleted 24 hours after upload, so download the report to keep it.

The matching compares each name with the main name and the aliases of each list entry, and it finds names that are spelled differently. The How we screen page explains the method and its limits.

To try it with a few names first, use the free check: up to 10 names in any 24 hours, typed or from a CSV or XLSX file.

New sectors that check names from 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026 the AML/CTF Act 2006 also covers some services of, for example, accountants, lawyers, conveyancers, real estate agents and dealers in precious metals, stones and products. These new sectors are often called Tranche 2.

Before a reporting entity starts to provide a designated service, section 28 of the AML/CTF Act 2006 asks that it has "established on reasonable grounds" whether "the customer, any beneficial owner of the customer", the people for whom the customer receives the service, or the people who act for the customer, is "a person designated for targeted financial sanctions". The same paragraph also names politically exposed persons, which this check does not cover.

The Act does not name a list or a tool. AUSTRAC's guidance on targeted financial sanctions says: "You can use DFAT’s Consolidated List to search for all persons and entities designated for TFS under Australian sanctions laws. Sanctions change often, so always check for the most recently published list." It also says: "You may need to check alternative spellings and use fuzzy searching." and "It may be appropriate to screen low-risk customers against the Consolidated List as part of delayed initial CDD."

How these rules apply to your firm is a question for your own adviser. This page does not answer it.

What the report records

• the date of the list data of each list, the DFAT Consolidated List included
• the SHA-256 fingerprint of your file
• the method version of the matching
• each possible match with the name in your file, the list entry, the list and a name score

Keep the PDF with the records of your AML/CTF program. It shows which names were checked, against which lists and with list data of which date. You review each possible match and record your decision.

What this check does not do

• It is not an AML/CTF program. It does not cover customer identification, risk assessment or reports to AUSTRAC.
• It does not check politically exposed persons (PEP).
• It does not find who owns or controls a party. Put the names of the beneficial owners in your file to screen them too.
• It does not watch your clients over time. A report shows the result against the list data dated in the report. To see later changes to the lists, check the file again.
• It does not decide for you. A possible match means that a name in your file is similar to a name on a list.

For a match, DFAT's Consolidated List page says to "seek legal advice before proceeding with any dealings involving that person, entity, or vessel, or any assets owned or controlled by them."

DFAT sanctioned countries

Australian sanctions apply to some countries and to some themes, such as serious corruption and significant cyber incidents. DFAT lists them on its page of sanctions regimes. This check compares names. It does not tell you which countries are under sanctions.

Pricing

Pay once per file. There is no subscription.