SanctionsSearch API Documentation

We provide REST APIs, so the process of checking for sanctioned individuals, organisations and vessels can be automated.

Authentication

POST /api/token/

Obtain access and refresh tokens.

Request Body

{
    "username": "your_email",
    "password": "your_password"
}

Response

{
    "access": "access_token",
    "refresh": "refresh_token"
}

Python Example

import requests

url = "https://www.sanctionssearch-web.com/api/token/"

payload = {
    "username": "your_email",
    "password": "your_password"
}

response = requests.post(url, json=payload)

print(response.status_code)
print(response.json())

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POST /api/token/refresh/

Refresh access token.

Request Body

{
    "refresh": "your_refresh_token"
}

Python Example

import requests

url = "https://www.sanctionssearch-web.com/api/token/refresh/"

payload = {
    "refresh": "your_refresh_token"
}

response = requests.post(url, json=payload)

print(response.status_code)
print(response.json())

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Sanctions lists and search

GET /api/sanctions_lists/

Returns currently available sanctions lists. No parameters and no authorization are required to call this endpoint.

Python Example

import requests

url = "https://www.sanctionssearch-web.com/api/sanctions_lists/"

response = requests.get(url)

print(response.status_code)
print(response.json())

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POST /api/search/

Search across sanctions lists.

Request Body Parameters:
"algorithm" (string, optional) - Specifies the search algorithm to be used.
Accepted values:

• "algorithm1" - Exact phrase match
  Returns results only when the full search phrase appears exactly (in the same order) within the entity name.
  Example:
  • Company name: "noble shipping company limited"
  • Search: "shipping company noble" - no match ❌ (words order not the same as in the company name)
  • Search: "noble shipping company" - match ✅ (this phrase in the company name)
  • Search: "noble" - match ✅ (this phrase in the company name)
• "algorithm2" (default) - All-words match (order-independent)
  Returns results when all words in the search phrase are present in the entity name, regardless of order.
  Example:
  • Company name: "trust noble shipping company limited"
  • Search: "shipping company frog" - no match ❌ (not all words are in the company name)
  • Search: "shipping company noble" - match ✅ (all words are in the company name)
  • Search: "shipping trust" - match ✅ (all words are in the company name)

"list_id_commaseparated" (string, required) - Comma-separated list of sanctions list IDs to search within.
These IDs can be retrieved from the /api/sanctions_lists/ endpoint.

"search_str" (string, required) - The search phrase (case-insensitive).
Supported inputs include:

• Entity or individual names (full or partial)
• Identification numbers
• Vessel IMO numbers
• Vessel call signs

Examples:

• "petrochemicals"
• "proton petrochemicals shipping limited"
• "proton"
• "7406784"
• "cl2059"

Headers

{
    "X-Authorization": "Bearer your_access_token"
}

Request Body

{
    "algorithm": "algorithm2",
    "list_id_commaseparated": "1,2,3,4",
    "search_str": "samma shipping"
}

Python Example

import requests

url = "https://www.sanctionssearch-web.com/api/search/"

headers = {
    "X-Authorization": "Bearer your_access_token"
}

payload = {
    "algorithm": "algorithm2",
    "list_id_commaseparated": "1,2,3,4",
    "search_str": "samma shipping"
}

response = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=headers)

print(response.status_code)
print(response.json())

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GET /api/entity/<entity_id>/

Retrieve detailed information about a specific entity.

Path Parameter: "entity_id" - can be obtained from /api/search/ endpoint.

Headers

{
    "X-Authorization": "Bearer your_access_token"
}

Path Parameter

entity_id: integer

Python Example

import requests

entity_id = 123
url = f"https://www.sanctionssearch-web.com/api/entity/{entity_id}/"

headers = {
    "X-Authorization": "Bearer your_access_token"
}

response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)

print(response.status_code)
print(response.json())

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