How do I check whether a business partner is a politically exposed person (PEP)?
Screen the partner’s directors and beneficial owners against a PEP dataset and official sources, because there is no single official global PEP list. A PEP is someone entrusted with a prominent public function, such as a head of state, minister, member of parliament, senior judge, senior military officer, central bank board member or senior executive of a state-owned enterprise; their family members and close associates are usually considered with them. Being a PEP is not wrongdoing: it is a reason to understand the relationship and where the money comes from.
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How to check it manually
- List the individuals to screen: directors, beneficial owners and anyone who can sign for the company.
- Search a PEP dataset, such as the OpenSanctions PEP dataset, which compiles public officials from official sources like parliament and government websites.
- For a possible match, confirm it with official sources: the national parliament’s member list, the government or ministry website, the state-owned company’s board page.
- Compare identifiers: full name, date of birth, nationality, the role and the dates in office. A common name is not enough.
- Consider family members and close associates: adverse media and the official biography often show these links.
- Record whether the person is a PEP, which role, whether it is current or former, and what you decided.
What it tells you
- Whether a director or owner holds, or held, a prominent public function that the dataset covers.
- The role and country, which tells you what extra questions to ask (for example about source of funds or conflicts of interest in public contracts).
What it doesn’t tell you
- Whether the person did anything wrong. PEP status is about exposure to risk, not evidence of misconduct.
- Every PEP: datasets are incomplete, especially for local officials, relatives and close associates.
- Ownership hidden behind nominees or other companies.
How SONAR automates it
SONAR screens every director and owner it extracts against the OpenSanctions PEP dataset. The dataset must be under 14 days old at screening time, or the report marks it as stale.
A possible match is shown with the matched name, role and source, so you can judge whether it is the same person.
SONAR is a due-diligence tool for checking vendors, partners, resellers and suppliers. It compiles public-record data. It is not a regulated AML / KYC provider, does not verify identity documents, and is not legal advice.
You can try it on 2 companies a month for free, no card needed; every report includes a receipt for each source it used.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official list of politically exposed persons?
No single official global list exists. Firms use commercial or open PEP datasets and confirm matches against official sources such as parliament and government websites.
Should I reject a partner because an owner is a PEP?
Not by itself. Many PEPs have legitimate business interests. A PEP link is a reason to ask more questions, for example about the source of funds and any role the person has in decisions that affect your business.
Do family members and close associates count?
In anti-money-laundering rules, such as the EU directives and the FATF standards, family members and known close associates of PEPs are treated with the PEP. Datasets cover them less completely than the officials themselves.
When does someone stop being a PEP?
Rules differ. Under the EU anti-money-laundering directive, firms must keep considering the risk posed by a former PEP for at least 12 months after they leave the public function.
Official sources
Run these checks on a company you’re about to sign
Registry record, owners, sanctions, PEP, ICIJ Offshore Leaks and adverse media in one report, with a receipt for every source. 2 free reports a month, no card.
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