OFAC Licensing Division

The OFAC Licensing Division is the office within the Treasury Department that reviews applications for specific licenses — individual authorizations for transactions that would otherwise be prohibited under sanctions regulations. The division also issues general licenses (published authorizations that apply to categories of transactions).

Application process

License applications are submitted through OFAC's online portal. They must include: a detailed description of the proposed transaction, the parties involved, the legal basis for the application, and supporting documentation. Processing times range from weeks for straightforward cases to months for complex or novel requests.