What are sanctions and do they apply to me?
Australian sanction laws implement United Nations
Security Council (UNSC) sanctions regimes and
Australian autonomous sanctions regimes.
Contravening an Australian sanction law may be a
serious criminal offence. Penalties include up to ten
years in prison and substantial fines. Australian
sanction laws apply broadly, including to activities in
Australia, and to activities by Australian citizens and
Australian-registered bodies corporate overseas.
Australian exporters should visit the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website
for more information.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs or the Minister’s
delegate may be able to grant a permit authorising an
activity that would otherwise contravene an Australian
sanction law. Different sanctions regimes impose
different criteria which must be satisfied before the
Minister or the Minister’s delegate may grant a
sanctions permit. The Minister or the Minister’s
delegate may attach conditions to a sanctions permit.
You can submit a formal application for a sanctions
permit by registering as a user of the
Online Sanctions Administration System (OSAS)
.
The sanctions regimes of some countries including Australia may have an
extra-territorial reach. Therefore, companies and individuals should keep
up to date with the latest changes in sanctions regimes impacting the
countries in which they operate and seek appropriate legal advice.
For information on doing business in overseas markets, visit Austrade's export market profiles.