Restricted Destination Countries

Understanding Country Classifications

At Unicorn Currencies, we work with a network of FCA-authorized payment partners and licensed financial institutions to deliver cross-border payment services. We classify destination countries into three categories based on regulatory requirements, sanctions regimes, banking partner restrictions, and risk assessments across our partner network.

This page outlines which countries our partner network can support for payments and the requirements for each category. Destination countries refer to the country where the beneficiary's bank account is located (i.e., where the payment is going).

Category 1: Supported Countries

Status: Payments Supported

Our payment partner network supports these countries with standard onboarding and transaction documentation. Additional documents may be required on a case-by-case basis depending on transaction size, business sector, or beneficial ownership structure.

All Countries Not Listed in Categories 2 or 3

This includes, but is not limited to:

• North America: Canada, United States
• Europe: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Portugal, Ireland, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Greece
• Asia-Pacific: Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
• Middle East: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Israel, Turkey
• Africa: South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Botswana, Mauritius, Rwanda, Namibia, Zambia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia
• Latin America: Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Panama (with EDD)

This list is representative and not exhaustive. If your destination country is not specifically listed in Categories 2 or 3 below, it is generally supported.

Category 2: Restricted Countries — Enhanced Due Diligence Required

Status: Payments Supported with Enhanced Review

Our payment partner network supports these countries, but all transactions will be subject to enhanced due diligence (EDD). Documentary evidence is normally required: detailed commercial invoices or contracts; proof of goods or services being provided; beneficial ownership documentation; source of funds verification; business relationship documentation. Payments to these countries may experience longer processing times (24–72 hours) due to additional compliance reviews.

FATF Grey List Countries (Enhanced Monitoring)

Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Croatia (enhanced monitoring), Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Malta, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam. (Syria and Yemen are generally prohibited — see Category 3.)

Offshore Financial Centers & Tax Havens

Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg (selective EDD), Marshall Islands, Mauritius (selective EDD), Monaco, Seychelles, Vanuatu.

Additional EDD Jurisdictions

Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Egypt (selective EDD), Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco (selective EDD), Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine (excluding occupied territories — see Category 3), Uzbekistan.

Category 3: Not Supported — Payments Prohibited

Status: Payments Not Supported

Our payment partner network does not support payments to these countries and territories. Attempted payments will be automatically blocked and returned to your wallet or account balance. These restrictions are due to: comprehensive international sanctions (OFAC, OFSI, EU, UN); occupied or illegally annexed territories; active conflict zones with no banking infrastructure; banking and payment partner restrictions across our network; FATF blacklist designation.

Comprehensively Sanctioned Countries

• Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, North Korea (DPRK), Russia, Syria, Venezuela

Occupied & Illegally Annexed Territories

• Crimea (Ukraine), Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), Luhansk People's Republic (LNR), Zaporizhzhia Region (occupied areas), Kherson Region (occupied areas)

Active Conflict Zones & Failed States

• Burundi, Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, Myanmar (Burma), Somalia, Sudan, Yemen

Additional Prohibited Jurisdictions

• Bosnia and Herzegovina (banking partner restrictions), Ethiopia (conflict-related restrictions), Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq (most transactions prohibited; limited exceptions for certain sectors), Kosovo (banking partner restrictions), Nicaragua, Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe

Important Notes

Banking Partner Requirements

Our ability to process payments to certain countries is determined not only by regulatory sanctions but also by the policies of our banking partners and payment service providers. These restrictions may change based on evolving risk assessments and partner requirements.

Transaction-Specific Reviews

Even for Category 1 (Supported) countries, certain transactions may trigger enhanced review based on: transaction size (typically payments over £50,000 / $65,000 / €60,000); beneficiary sector (high-risk industries); payment purpose (e.g., real estate, investment, loans); frequency and pattern of transactions; source of funds.

Real-Time Sanctions Screening

All payments are screened in real-time against OFAC SDN List, UK HM Treasury Sanctions List, EU Consolidated Sanctions List, UN Security Council Consolidated List, and Canadian Sanctions List. Payments matching any sanctioned individual or entity will be automatically blocked, regardless of destination country.

Receiving Payments (Inbound)

The country classifications on this page apply primarily to outgoing payments (payouts). For incoming payments (collections), please see our separate Incoming Payments Policy or contact your account manager.

What If My Destination Country Is Restricted or Not Supported?

Category 2 Countries (Enhanced Due Diligence)

You can still process payments, but please be prepared to provide: (1) Detailed documentation of the business relationship; (2) Commercial invoices or contracts; (3) Proof of goods/services being delivered; (4) Beneficial ownership information for the recipient; (5) Source of funds verification. Processing times may be 24–72 hours instead of same-day.

Category 3 Countries (Not Supported)

We cannot process payments to these jurisdictions. Alternative options may include: using a third-country intermediary (subject to compliance review); exploring other payment corridors or providers; waiting for changes in sanctions status (we will notify you if restrictions are lifted). Important: Attempting to circumvent these restrictions through intermediary accounts or shell companies is a serious compliance violation and may result in immediate account closure and reporting to law enforcement.

Key Questions