How can I send money to someone in a country with sanctions?

Unfortunately, world politics can stand in the way of being able to help your friends and family in sanctioned countries.

Sanctions take into consideration the political climate of a country, its human rights record and the people and organisations within it that the Australian government wants to avoid financially supporting.

Australia currently has economic sanctions on countries like Iran, North Korea and Syria. While you may discover options to get around these sanctions to support friends and family, the government often considers these to be illegal.

What are the sanctioned countries by Australia?

There are over a dozen countries that Australia has sanctions against, which you can read more about on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's website (DFAT), but only 5 that you are not allowed to send money to from Australia.

• Iran. Australia first sanctioned Iran after the Iranian Revolution in 1979, further expanding economic sanctions when Iran refused to give up its uranium enrichment program for nuclear weapons. Some of these sanctions were dropped in 2015, but many remain.
• North Korea. Australia has no diplomatic relations with North Korea due to its lack of democracy, freedom and basic human rights.
• Syria. Australia placed economic sanctions on the country as civil war swept throughout the nation and President Assad was accused of supporting terrorist groups and violating the basic human rights of Syrians.
• Sudan. The UN Security Council placed sanctions on Sudan due to the humanitarian crisis and human rights violations, and Australia follows these sanctions. While you can't send money to Sudan, you're still able to send money to South Sudan.
• Russia. In light of their invasion of Ukraine, Australia imposed autonomous sanctions against Russia. Russian banks are cut off from SWIFT, making it difficult to transfer money into the country.

Sending money to sanctioned countries

There are ways that people have chosen to get around these economic sanctions. But we stress that doing so is illegal and exposes you to severe legal and financial penalties.

According to DFAT, it is prohibited to "directly or indirectly make an asset available to (or for the benefit of) a designated person".

If you hold a bank account in another country as a resident of that nation, research the rules in place for sending money to a sanctioned nation from that account. If you choose to route your money through a country that doesn’t have sanctions against your intended destination – via the UK, for example – you could be charged by Australia with money laundering.

Potential consequences of sending money to a sanctioned country

Australian sanction laws establish serious criminal offences for contravening a sanctions measure or a condition of a sanctions permit, and these offences are punishable for individuals by:

• up to 10 years in prison, and/or
• a fine the greater of 2500 penalty units ($825,000 as of 7 November 2024)
• or 3 times the value of the transactions.

If you're in doubt as to whether you can send money to a sanctioned country, always assume that transferring funds from Australia to a sanctioned nation is illegal unless a lawyer tells you otherwise.

Compare money transfer services here and see supported countries

Frequently asked questions

• Can I send money to a sanctioned country online?

  Some money transfer websites offer the option to send money to sanctioned countries. However, Australia considers transferring funds to sanctioned countries online or through a third party illegal.

• What countries are prohibited by ANZ for sending money?

  Except in limited and pre-approved circumstances does not enter, or remain involved in, transactions that have any connection directly or indirectly with Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, or the Ukrainian Territories of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk, including any transactions initiated from these jurisdictions.

Written by

Adrienne Fuller

Head of publishing and editorial

Adrienne Fuller is the former head of publishing at Finder US. With a decade of experience creating guides in finance and education, she aims to deliver the accurate and transparent information she wishes she had when she made some of life's important financial decisions. For the past 3 years she has been the publisher of money transfers, helping readers save when they send money all over the globe. She has a BA from Colorado College and loves to hike with her two Catahoula dogs around her home in San Diego. See full bio