Run a Search in Single Screening

Applies to: New Portal (2026)
Looking for the previous portal version? Link here

This guide walks you through performing a single screening search in the sanctions.io Screening Portal, from entering a name to reviewing your results.

What is Single Screening?

Single Screening lets you instantly check any individual or entity against global sanctions lists, PEP databases, crime watchlists, and high-risk jurisdiction lists — all from the sanctions.io Screening Portal. No file uploads, no technical setup. Just enter a name and get results in seconds.

It's the go-to option when you need to quickly check a specific person or organization. For example, during customer onboarding, a transaction review, or an ad-hoc compliance check.

How to run a single screening

Sign in at sanctions.io.
In the left sidebar, click Single Screening.
On the Screen a name page, enter a name in the search bar.
Click Search. Your results, if any, will appear below in the Matches section.

Refine Your Search

The following parameters are available to refine your search:

Watchlist — choose one or more Collections or individual watchlists to screen against.
Confidence score — sets the minimum match score required for a result to appear; we recommend starting at the default, 88%. (See Screening Parameters for more detail.)
Entity type — filter to Individual, Organization, or both.
Country — narrow results to a specific country or countries.
Date of birth — narrow results by adding an individual date of birth (YYYY-MM-DD).

Identifier Parameter

Add an identifier — like a passport number, national ID, or company tax ID — alongside a name for extra confirmation.

Accepted identifiers include: passport number, national ID, tax ID, email address, company domain, SWIFT code, IMO number (vessel), aircraft registration number, and wallet address.

sanctions.io searches the name and identifier separately, but simultaneously, then factors the identifier into your overall result as supporting evidence.

Note: A high confidence score for an identifier match means the identifier was found in a sanctions record; it does not always mean the name is a match. Strong identifiers (like a passport number) add real confidence; weak or generic ones can add false positives instead.

Select the Collections or Watchlists

Click the Watchlist field to open the Data Source selector.

Use the Search bar to find a specific list by name, or browse using the tabs across the top:

Collections — bundled groups of related lists (see Option 1 below)
International, Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia Oceania, and other regional tabs — individual watchlists grouped by region

Check the box next to each list or Collection you want to include. Your selections are tracked in real time next to the Apply button (e.g., "Apply (4)"). Click Apply to confirm your selection and return to the search screen, or Reset to clear all selections.

Note: If no list is selected, the Sanctions Lists collection is selected by default. You can add more Collections or switch to individual lists at any time by reopening the Data Source selector.

Option 1: Use a Collection

Click the Collections tab to see bundled groups covering broad areas of coverage. Each one is a single checkbox; no need to pick individual lists one by one.

The following Collections are available:

Sanctions Lists — Screens against major global sanctions regimes, including OFAC (USA), UN, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and more.
PEP Lists — Politically Exposed Persons and their close associates (RCAs)
Crime Lists — INTERPOL Red Notices, Europol, and FBI Most Wanted
High-Risk Jurisdictions — FATF high-risk lists, OFAC country programs, FinCEN advisories, and EU tax blacklists
Adverse Media — news-based screening from highly trusted global sources

Each collection maps to a specific set of watchlists. You can see exactly which lists are included by checking the Screening Collection column on our Watchlist Coverage page.

Note: Availability of each Collection depends on your subscription plan. If a Collection is not visible or cannot be selected, please contact help@sanctions.io to confirm your plan coverage.

Option 2: Select Individual Watchlists

Click a regional tab (International, Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia Oceania, etc.) to browse and check individual lists from that region. Each list shows its country/region code (e.g., BE, EU, FR) alongside its name.

You can combine Collections and individual lists in the same search — mix and match across tabs before clicking Apply. The Apply button shows a running total of everything selected so far (e.g., "Apply (4)").

To learn more about the sanctions lists, PEP databases, crime watchlists, and high-risk jurisdiction lists available in sanctions.io, visit Watchlist Coverage section.

Manage Search Configuration

Click the ⋮ menu next to the Search button to save or restore your search settings:

Save your config — saves your current Watchlist, Confidence score, Entity type, and Country selections as a reusable configuration, so you don't have to re-select the same options every time you run a screening.
Restore your config — clears your current settings and returns all parameters to their default values.

Tip: This is especially useful if you screen against a fixed, defined set of compliance requirements for a given use case — save it once, then restore it whenever you need to run that same type of screening again.

Reviewing Your Results

Once your screening runs, your matches appear in a results table below the search bar. See Viewing Screening Results & Match Details for how to read and display each match detail.

To save or share your results, see Download the Screening Report.

We're here to help!

If you have any questions or require further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to our support team:

Chat: Available directly in the Help Center page
Email: help@sanctions.io