HomeCirculars › RBI/2010-11/320

FATF-flagged jurisdictions: Updated AML/CFT risks for MTSS agents

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/320 · issued 22 Dec 2010 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs MTSS Indian agents to apply enhanced scrutiny on cross-border remittances from Iran, North Korea, and Sao Tome & Principe due to FATF-identified AML/CFT deficiencies. Agents must assess risks from these jurisdictions before onboarding or transacting.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

Rahul, a KYC & compliance officer in Indore, receives a remittance request from a customer who claims to have sent money from Iran. Rahul assesses the risk and decides to apply enhanced due diligence, verifying the customer's identity and the source of the funds before processing the transaction. This ensures compliance with RBI guidelines and protects the bank from potential money laundering risks.

What changed

RBI updated its earlier November 2009 guidance by incorporating FATF's June 2010 statement, which explicitly names Iran (subject to countermeasures) and DPRK and Sao Tome & Principe (strategic deficiencies without committed action plans). Agents must now factor these specific jurisdictions into their AML/CFT risk assessments.

What it means for you

Indian agents under MTSS must treat remittances from Iran, DPRK, and Sao Tome & Principe as higher risk, potentially requiring enhanced due diligence or transaction restrictions. Non-compliance with these KYC/AML norms invites penal action under FEMA and PMLA. This aligns India's cross-border remittance framework with global FATF standards.

What you must do

Who it affects

Authorised Persons (Indian Agents) under Money Transfer Service Scheme, Compliance and AML teams of MTSS agents, Principal Officers of MTSS agents

❓ Common questions

Which jurisdictions are now flagged as high-risk under this circular?

Iran (subject to countermeasures), Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and Sao Tome & Principe (strategic AML/CFT deficiencies without committed action plans).

What actions must MTSS agents take for remittances from these countries?

Agents must assess and mitigate risks from these jurisdictions, potentially applying enhanced due diligence or countermeasures as per FATF guidance, and ensure compliance with PMLA and FEMA.

What are the consequences of non-compliance?

Non-compliance attracts penal provisions under FEMA, 1999 and PMLA, 2002, as amended, and related rules.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/320 A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 26 A.P. (FL Series) Circular No. 07 December  22, 2010 To, All Authorised Persons, who are Indian Agents under Money Transfer Service Scheme. Madam/ Sir Know Your Customer (KYC) norms/ Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards/ Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT)/ Obligation of Authorised Persons under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, (PMLA), 2002, as amended by Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2009 - Cross Border Inward Remittance under Money Transfer Service Scheme Attention of all Authorised Persons, who are Indian Agents under Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS) is invited to Paragraph 5.10 (b) of Annex-I, Annex to A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.18 {A.P. (FL Series) Circular No.5} dated November 27, 2009 in terms of which Authorised Persons (Indian Agents) were advised to take into account risks arising from the deficiencies in AML/CFT regime of certain jurisdictions, as identified in FATF Statement (www.fatf-gafi.org) issued from time to time, while dealing with individuals from these jurisdictions. 2. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has issued a further Statement on June 25, 2010 on the subject ( copy enclosed ). It may be observed that the statement divides the strategic AML/CFT deficient jurisdictions into two groups as under: Jurisdictions subject to FATF call on its members and other jurisdictions to apply countermeasures to protect the international financial system from the ongoing and substantial money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) risks emanating from the jurisdiction : Iran Jurisdictions with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies that have not committed to an action plan developed with the FATF to address key deficiencies as of June 2010. The FATF calls on its members to consider the risks arising from the deficiencies associated with each jurisdiction: Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Sao Tome and Principe. 3.  All Authorised Persons (Indian Agents) are accordingly advised to take into account risks arising from the deficiencies in AML/CFT regime of these countries, while entering into business relationships and transactions with persons (including legal persons and other financial institutions) from or in these countries/ jurisdictions. 4. Authorised Persons (Indian Agents) may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents concerned. 5. Please advise your Principal Officer to acknowledge receipt of this circular letter. 6. The directions contained in this Circular have been issued under Section 10(4) and Section 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and also under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, (PMLA), 2002, as amended by Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Act, 2009 and Prevention of Money-Laundering (Maintenance of Records of the Nature and Value of Transactions, the Procedure and Manner of Maintaining and Time for Furnishing Information and Verification and Maintenance of Records of the Identity of the Clients of the Banking Companies, Financial Institutions and Intermediaries) Rules, 2005 as amended from time to time. Non-compliance with the guidelines would attract penal provisions of the Acts concerned or Rules made there under. Yours faithfully, (Salim Gangadharan) Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/320 · issued 22 Dec 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Who does what — compliance checklist
🏦 Branch Manager
  • Apply enhanced due diligence or countermeasures for all inward remittances from or involving these countries.
📜 Compliance
  • Update your AML/CFT risk assessment to include Iran, DPRK, and Sao Tome & Principe as high-risk jurisdictions.
  • Brief your Principal Officer and compliance team on the updated FATF list and RBI circular.
  • Communicate the new requirements to your downstream constituents and agents handling MTSS transactions.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (Authorised Persons (Indian Agents) under Money Transfer Service Scheme, Compliance and AML teams of MTSS agents, Principal Officers of MTSS agents), your first concrete step on “FATF-flagged jurisdictions: Updated AML/CFT risks for MTSS agents” is: “Update your AML/CFT risk assessment to include Iran, DPRK, and Sao Tome & Principe as high-risk jurisdictions.” (RBI issued this 22 Dec 2010).

  1. Circular: RBI/2010-11/320 -- FATF-flagged jurisdictions: Updated AML/CFT risks for MTSS agents
  2. Issued: 22 Dec 2010
  3. Action required: Update your AML/CFT risk assessment to include Iran, DPRK, and Sao Tome & Principe as high-risk jurisdictions.
  4. Action required: Apply enhanced due diligence or countermeasures for all inward remittances from or involving these countries.
  5. Action required: Brief your Principal Officer and compliance team on the updated FATF list and RBI circular.
  6. Action required: Communicate the new requirements to your downstream constituents and agents handling MTSS transactions.
  7. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  8. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  9. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.

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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6157&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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