U.S. · Sanctions
OFAC SDN search guide.
Paste one row of OFAC’s SDN.CSV to see what each column means, and turn an ID number into the variants OFAC says to search.
Row and ID
Result
OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list is published as downloadable files as well as a search tool, and the CSV version trips people up because it has no header row, uses -0- for empty values and hides aliases in a remarks column. This guide decodes a row column by column and explains the two search fields in OFAC's Sanctions List Search, which behave very differently. It screens nobody and returns no list data.
How to read an SDN.CSV row
OFAC's data specification defines the main file (SDN.CSV) with 12 columns in this order: ent_num, SDN_Name, SDN_Type, Program, Title, Call_Sign, Vess_type, Tonnage, GRT, Vess_flag, Vess_owner and Remarks. Text values are in quotation marks, values are separated by commas, and a null is written -0-. Remarks hold up to 1000 characters, and longer text goes into the spillover file SDN_COMMENTS.CSV. Addresses (ADD.CSV) and alternate names (ALT.CSV) link back to a listing through ent_num, but OFAC says these integers are assigned for linking only and are not an official reference to the entity. Weak aliases, the generic or nickname kind, are not in ALT.CSV; they sit in the remarks. The Federal Register governs if the files and the published lists differ.
In the file downloaded 2026-10-26, every one of 19,471 data rows had 12 values. 10,042 had a null SDN_Type, which is how entities appear, 7,519 were individuals, 1,568 vessels and 342 aircraft. That is a snapshot of one download, not a statement of the current list.
How the search fields work
Only the name field in Sanctions List Search uses fuzzy logic. The minimum name score slider defaults to 100, which returns only names that match the characters entered exactly; 50 returns names deemed 50 percent similar. The score is calculated with two algorithms, Jaro-Winkler for character similarity and Soundex for phonetics, applied to the whole name and to each name part, and the search returns the higher of the two results. OFAC does not recommend a threshold; each user decides under their own risk assessment. The ID field uses exact character matching, so OFAC advises searching with and without non-alphanumeric characters. The ID variants box applies that advice. Details read from OFAC's FAQs 2026-10-26.
Worked example
The sample row splits into 12 values. ent_num is 900002, SDN_Name is DOE, Jane, SDN_Type is individual, Program is SDGT, and the vessel columns are all null. The remarks split on semicolons into two parts: a date of birth and a place of birth. The row is a placeholder. For the ID AB-123 456, the tool gives two searches: AB-123 456 as written and AB123456 with letters and digits only, matching the two OFAC FAQ 253 suggests.
Mistakes people make
- Reading a high score as clearance. The score measures name similarity under OFAC's algorithm. A hit still needs the review steps in OFAC FAQ 5.
- Expecting fuzzy matching on IDs. The ID field is exact; punctuation changes the result.
- Looking for every alias in ALT.CSV. Weak aliases are in the remarks.
- Treating ent_num as an official identifier. It exists to link the files.
Who this is for, and what it does not cover
It suits bookkeepers, small-business owners and analysts who download the SDN files and want to read them correctly. It does not screen anyone, match names, fetch the current list or tell you what to do about a potential match. Sanctions compliance is a legal obligation; get qualified advice for decisions.
FAQ
What columns are in SDN.CSV?
Twelve: ent_num, SDN_Name, SDN_Type, Program, Title, Call_Sign, Vess_type, Tonnage, GRT, Vess_flag, Vess_owner and Remarks, per OFAC's data specification. There is no header row in the file.
What does -0- mean in the file?
It is OFAC's null marker. A value of -0- means the field is empty for that listing.
What does the match score in Sanctions List Search mean?
It shows how similar the name you entered is to a listed name, using a phonetic algorithm and a character-similarity algorithm. The slider defaults to 100, an exact character match, and lower values return a broader set.
What score should I use?
OFAC does not recommend one. Its FAQ says each user must set a match threshold from their own risk assessment and compliance practices.
Why does my ID search return nothing?
The ID field uses exact character matching. Search the number both with and without any dashes or spaces.
Where are aliases in the CSV files?
Strong alternate names are in ALT.CSV. Weak aliases are stored in the Remarks column of SDN.CSV, and OFAC says it does not generally expect weak aliases to be screened, though they can help confirm a hit.
Sources
Retrieved 2026-10-26. Each source was opened and read against the claim next to it.
- OFAC Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons data specification (DAT_SPEC.TXT, updated 09/25/2023): the 12 SDN.CSV columns and size limits, the -0- null marker, spillover files, the linking integers, and how weak aliases are stored.
- OFAC FAQ 248: How do I use the Minimum Name Score field and score slider bar?: 100 returns only exact character matches, lower values return a broader set.
- OFAC FAQ 247: What does the Sanctions List Search Score mean?: the score combines a phonetic algorithm and a character-similarity algorithm; the slider defaults to 100.
- OFAC FAQ 249: How is the Score calculated?: Jaro-Winkler and Soundex, two techniques, higher score returned.
- OFAC FAQ 250: Does OFAC recommend a specific match threshold score?: OFAC makes no recommendation; users set their own threshold.
- OFAC FAQ 253: ID field and non-alphanumeric characters: exact character matching, search with and without punctuation.
- OFAC FAQ 5: steps for evaluating a potential match: first step is to determine which list the hit is against.
- OFAC Sanctions List Search: the official search tool.
- OFAC Sanctions List Service: SDN lists and data files: where SDN.CSV, ADD.CSV, ALT.CSV and SDN_COMMENTS.CSV are published.
General information only
This page is general information, not legal, compliance or financial advice. Rules, formats and registries change, and your facts may differ. Confirm anything that matters with the issuing agency or a qualified professional. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
Common mix-ups
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Often assumedLeaving the score at 100 means a name is cleared, and a lower score means it is a hit.
What the source saysOFAC says 100 returns only names that exactly match the characters entered, and lowering the threshold returns a broader set. OFAC makes no threshold recommendation, so the choice is the user's own. [1]
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Often assumedFuzzy matching also covers ID numbers, so punctuation in a passport number does not matter.
What the source saysOFAC says the ID field uses exact character matching and recommends searching with and without non-alphanumeric characters to get the broadest set of results. [2]
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Often assumedThe ent_num in the SDN files is OFAC's official identifier for a listing.
What the source saysThe data specification says the integers are assigned for linking the files only and do not represent an official reference to the entity. [3]
- OFAC FAQ 248, minimum name score and slider
- OFAC FAQ 253, ID field and non-alphanumeric characters
- OFAC SDN data specification (DAT_SPEC.TXT)
Checked against these sources on .