Is the FATF grey list a sanctions list?

No, the grey list is not a sanctions list. It is a risk-monitoring tool that banks and regulators may use when assessing AML/CFT risk. A listing can affect compliance costs and access to some financial services, but it does not itself impose legal sanctions.

FATF Removes Bulgaria, Congo, Ivory Coast and Monaco From Grey List, Keeps Vietnam

Q: Why does Vietnam remain on the grey list?

Vietnam remains on the grey list because the FATF has not closed its increased-monitoring file. That means the country is still expected to address remaining strategic deficiencies under its action plan. Staying on the list can lead foreign banks to apply extra checks to Vietnamese counterparties.

The Financial Action Task Force has removed Bulgaria, Congo, Ivory Coast and Monaco from its increased-monitoring list, while Vietnam remains on it, Reuters reported. The decision separates four jurisdictions from the FATF’s grey-list process but keeps Vietnam under continued scrutiny.

Disclaimer: News content is based on public news sources and provided for information only. It does not constitute investment advice.

FATF Removes Bulgaria, Congo, Ivory Coast and Monaco From Grey List, Keeps Vietnam

Reuters·10/30/2026, 18:49:54· general

Decision at the October Plenary

The Financial Action Task Force removed Bulgaria, Congo, Ivory Coast and Monaco from its so-called grey list, Reuters reported on Oct. 30, 2026. Vietnam remains on the list, meaning it stays under increased monitoring for strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing. The update followed an FATF plenary, the body’s main decision-making meeting. The four removals and Vietnam’s retention are the central outcome of the latest review.

What the Grey List Means

The FATF grey list identifies jurisdictions that have committed to resolving strategic deficiencies but are still subject to increased monitoring. It is separate from the black list, which calls for action against high-risk jurisdictions. Banks and other regulated firms often use the grey list in their risk assessments, so a listing can trigger enhanced due diligence on customers and transactions linked to the jurisdiction. Removal means the country is no longer in that increased-monitoring process, although it does not by itself eliminate all compliance checks.

The Four Removals

Bulgaria, an EU member, Congo, Ivory Coast and Monaco leave the grey list after a period of increased monitoring. Monaco is a small financial center, while Ivory Coast and Congo are African economies with cross-border financial links; Bulgaria has a banking sector tied to the wider EU market. For banks and companies dealing with these jurisdictions, removal can reduce the extra scrutiny that grey-listing typically invites, such as slower onboarding and additional documentation. The change does not mean those jurisdictions face no AML/CFT risk; it means the FATF has ended the specific grey-list monitoring arrangement.

Vietnam Stays On

Vietnam remains on the grey list, so it continues to be treated as a jurisdiction under increased monitoring. That status can affect banks and exporters handling Vietnamese counterparties, because foreign institutions may apply enhanced due diligence, request more ownership or source-of-funds information, and take longer to process transactions. Staying on the list also keeps Vietnam in the FATF’s formal follow-up process until the remaining deficiencies are addressed. The contrast with the four removals highlights that exit depends on completing the agreed action plan, not on the passage of time alone.

Why Countries Seek Removal

FATFanti-money launderinggrey listfinancial regulationVietnam

Frequently asked questions

What is the FATF grey list?▾

The grey list is the Financial Action Task Force’s public list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring. These countries have strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing and have committed to an action plan, with the FATF tracking their progress. It is distinct from the black list, which identifies high-risk jurisdictions subject to a call for action.

Which countries were removed from the grey list, and which country remained?▾

Bulgaria, Congo, Ivory Coast and Monaco were removed from the grey list, according to Reuters. Vietnam remained on the list, so it continues to be subject to increased monitoring. The update was reported on Oct. 30, 2026.

What does removal from the grey list mean in practice?▾

Removal means the FATF has ended the jurisdiction’s increased-monitoring arrangement. Banks and other regulated firms may still apply their own due diligence policies, but the grey-list designation no longer applies. For businesses, this can reduce some compliance friction, though it does not eliminate all AML/CFT checks.

Why does Vietnam remain on the grey list?▾

Key takeaways

Decision at the October Plenary

What the Grey List Means

The Four Removals

Vietnam Stays On

Why Countries Seek Removal

Common mistakes to avoid

Reacting to a single headline without reading the full context — one data point is rarely the whole story.
Treating rewritten news as a signal — it describes what happened, never what to do next.
Confusing AI-rewritten content with the original source — always verify important facts against the primary report.

FATF Removes Bulgaria, Congo, Ivory Coast and Monaco From Grey List, Keeps Vietnam

Decision at the October Plenary

What the Grey List Means

The Four Removals

Vietnam Stays On

Why Countries Seek Removal

Frequently asked questions

Key takeaways

Common mistakes to avoid

Related reading

Decision at the October Plenary

What the Grey List Means

The Four Removals

Vietnam Stays On

Why Countries Seek Removal

Frequently asked questions

Key takeaways

Common mistakes to avoid

Related reading