The FinCrime Wire · Reference

FATF grey list 2026: the current list and what to watch in October

By the LearnAML Editorial Board · Last updated 17 October 2026 · Next update: 30 October 2026, after the FATF plenary

The FATF grey list currently names 22 jurisdictions and the black list names three. This page shows both lists, what changed at the last plenary in June 2026 and what to watch at the next one in Paris on 26–30 October 2026. We update it on the day the FATF publishes its new lists.

What is the FATF grey list?

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global standard setter for anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT). Its grey list, officially “jurisdictions under increased monitoring”, names countries that have agreed to fix strategic weaknesses in their AML/CFT regimes within set deadlines. Its black list, officially “high-risk jurisdictions subject to a call for action”, names countries with serious deficiencies where the FATF asks others to apply enhanced due diligence or countermeasures.

Neither list is a sanctions list. Listing does not ban business with a country, but banks, payment firms and other obliged entities treat it as a high-risk factor, and many regulators require extra checks. The FATF updates both lists three times a year, at its plenaries in February, June and October.

Current grey list (as of 19 June 2026)

The “committed” column shows the date of each jurisdiction’s high-level political commitment to its action plan, as given in the FATF statement.

Current black list (as of 19 June 2026)

What changed in June 2026

• Added: Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iraq.
• Removed: Algeria and Namibia, after on-site visits confirmed they had completed their action plans.
• Black list: no change.

What to watch at the October 2026 plenary

1. Possible removals. In June the FATF found that Bulgaria, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Monaco had substantially completed their action plans and warranted on-site visits. A jurisdiction usually leaves the list once an on-site visit confirms the reforms, so any of them could be removed in October; none is certain.
2. Myanmar. The FATF set October 2026 as the point at which it would consider moving from enhanced due diligence to countermeasures if Myanmar makes no further progress.
3. Expired deadlines. Vietnam, Cameroon, Haiti and South Sudan have passed all their action plan deadlines. Watch the wording of their statements for stronger language.
4. New listings. Jurisdictions with recent weak mutual evaluations can be added after an observation period. The FATF does not announce candidates in advance.

Pakistan, the Gulf and Türkiye

• Not listed: Pakistan (removed October 2022), the UAE (removed February 2024) and Türkiye (removed June 2024). See our Pakistan, UAE and Saudi Arabia AML/CFT guides.
• Listed in the region: Kuwait (since February 2026), Iraq (June 2026), Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. Gulf and Levant correspondent, remittance and trade-finance relationships with these jurisdictions need risk-based enhanced checks.

What compliance teams should do after each plenary

1. Update your high-risk country list within days, adding and removing jurisdictions in screening, onboarding and transaction-monitoring rules.
2. Apply the black list strictly: countermeasures for DPRK and Iran, enhanced due diligence for Myanmar.
3. Treat the grey list as a risk factor, not a ban: apply enhanced due diligence where your risk assessment and local rules require it, and record the decision.
4. Check your regulator’s notice. Many supervisors, including the SBP, CBUAE and SAMA, issue circulars after each plenary that set the local requirement.
5. Review existing customers with links to newly listed jurisdictions, and recalibrate where a country has been removed.

Frequently asked questions

How often is the FATF grey list updated?

Three times a year, at the FATF plenaries in February, June and October. The next update is due at the end of the 26–30 October 2026 plenary.

Is Pakistan on the FATF grey list?

No. Pakistan was removed in October 2022 and was not on the list as of June 2026. Reports of a push to relist it have not been confirmed by the FATF.

Is the UAE on the FATF grey list?

No. The UAE was removed in February 2024.

What is the difference between the grey list and the black list?

Grey-listed jurisdictions are working with the FATF to fix deficiencies under an agreed action plan. Black-listed jurisdictions have serious deficiencies, and the FATF calls on others to apply enhanced due diligence or countermeasures.

Does the grey list ban business with a country?

No. It is a risk indicator. Institutions apply risk-based checks, and local rules may require enhanced due diligence.

Learn more on LearnAML

• Every Monday: the FinCrime Wire weekly brief, including plenary outcomes.
• High-risk customers and countries: CDD & EDD in Practice.
• New to AML? Start with the free AML Foundations & Core Concepts course.

Sources

1. FATF, Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring, 19 June 2026
2. FATF, High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action, 19 June 2026
3. FATF, Outcomes FATF Plenary, 17–19 June 2026
4. FATF, Calendar of Events
5. New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs, Jurisdictions under increased monitoring, June 2026
6. AML UAE, UAE removed from the FATF Grey List, 26 February 2024
7. AML UAE, FATF Grey List June 2024: Jamaica and Türkiye removed

Compiled from official FATF publications; reviewed by the LearnAML Editorial Board. General information, not legal advice. Last updated 17 October 2026.