Restricted Destination Countries

Understanding Country Classifications

Destination countries are classified into three categories based on sanctions regimes, FATF classifications, banking partner requirements, and our internal country risk assessment. Destination countries refer to where the beneficiary's bank account is located.

Restricted customer types and restricted jurisdictions may be served only after documented enhanced due diligence and written approval by the Chief Compliance Officer prior to onboarding and prior to the first payment, under ongoing enhanced monitoring.

Category 1: Supported Countries

Status: Payments supported with standard onboarding and documentation.

All countries not listed in Categories 2 or 3 below are generally supported, subject to transaction-level sanctions screening and case-by-case review for large or unusual payments.

Category 2: Restricted Countries — Enhanced Due Diligence Required

Status: Payments supported with enhanced review and Chief Compliance Officer approval where required.

Documentary evidence is normally required: commercial invoices or contracts; proof of goods or services; beneficial ownership; source of funds; and business relationship documentation. Processing may take 24–72 hours.

FATF Grey List (13 February 2026)

Algeria, Angola, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Cote d Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, South Sudan, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British).

Other Enhanced Due Diligence Jurisdictions

Offshore financial centres and internal high-risk classifications, including: Albania, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chad, China, Colombia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu.

Jurisdictions subject to targeted UN, UK, Canadian, EU or US sanctions programmes are subject to full payment-party screening on every transaction.

Category 3: Not Supported — Payments Prohibited

Status: Payments not supported. Attempted payments are automatically blocked and returned. No exceptions apply.

Comprehensively Sanctioned Countries

• Afghanistan
• Belarus
• Cuba
• Iran
• North Korea
• Russia
• Syria
• Venezuela

Occupied & Illegally Annexed Territories

• Crimea and Sevastopol
• Donetsk People's Republic (DNR)
• Luhansk People's Republic (LNR)
• Zaporizhzhia Region
• Kherson Region

Conflict Zones & Failed States

• Burundi
• Central African Republic
• Libya
• Mali
• Myanmar
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Yemen

Additional Prohibited Jurisdictions

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Congo
• Ethiopia
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Iraq
• Kosovo
• Nicaragua
• Zimbabwe

Important Notes

Real-Time Sanctions Screening

All payments are screened against UN Consolidated List, UK Sanctions List (OFSI), Canadian Consolidated Autonomous Sanctions List, US OFAC SDN and consolidated non-SDN lists, EU Consolidated List. Payments matching any sanctioned individual or entity are automatically blocked, regardless of destination country.

Circumvention

Attempting to circumvent Category 3 restrictions through intermediary accounts or shell companies is a serious compliance violation and may result in immediate account closure and reporting to authorities.

Receiving Payments (Inbound)

These classifications apply primarily to outgoing payments (payouts). For incoming payments, contact your account manager or compliance@unicorncurrencies.com.

Policy Updates

Sanctions lists are incorporated dynamically and screened at onboarding and on an ongoing basis. FATF classifications are reviewed at each FATF plenary (February, June and October). This policy is reviewed at least annually and immediately upon material changes in sanctions regimes, FATF classifications or the firm’s risk assessment. The Chief Compliance Officer owns this document and approves all changes.

Key Questions