The countries we can't touch

swype

COMPLIANCE • PARTNERS & MERCHANTS

Restricted & sanctioned countries policy

Swype maintains a list of restricted jurisdictions in line with international sanctions regimes. This article explains the scope, the rationale, and what it means for your integration.

AUDIENCE

Partners & Merchants

SCOPE

Sanctions & trade controls

LAST REVIEWED

June 2026

Summary: Swype cannot onboard, process transactions for, or settle funds involving entities, cardholders, or end users located in or ordinarily resident in the jurisdictions listed below. This applies regardless of where your platform itself is incorporated.

①

Why this policy exists

As a card issuing and payments platform, Swype operates under international sanctions frameworks, including those administered by OFAC (U.S. Treasury), the EU, and the UK. Onboarding or processing transactions connected to a restricted jurisdiction can expose Swype, our issuing partners, and your business to regulatory penalties — independent of intent. This list reflects our current risk posture and is reviewed on an ongoing basis as sanctions regimes evolve.

②

Fully restricted jurisdictions

Swype does not onboard merchants, partners, or cardholders connected to the following countries or territories under any circumstance:

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Cuba

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Iran

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North Korea

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Ukraine — Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions specifically

③

Comprehensive sectoral restrictions

The following jurisdiction is subject to expansive sectoral and trade restrictions across multiple regulatory regimes. Onboarding requires heightened due diligence and is evaluated case-by-case where permitted at all:

●

Russia

④

Elevated-risk jurisdictions

These jurisdictions carry elevated sanctions, AML, or geopolitical risk. Onboarding partners, merchants, or end users connected to these regions is restricted by default and subject to enhanced compliance review:

● Afghanistan

● Balkans (Western)

● Belarus

● Burma (Myanmar)

● Central African Republic

● Democratic Republic of the Congo

● Ethiopia

● Hong Kong

● Iraq

● Lebanon

● Libya

● Mali

● Nicaragua

● Somalia

● South Sudan

● Sudan

● Venezuela

● Yemen

⑤

What this means for your integration

As a Swype partner or merchant, you're responsible for screening end users against this list during onboarding and on an ongoing basis. Specifically:

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Do not onboard cardholders with a registered address, IP geolocation, or stated residency in a fully restricted jurisdiction

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Flag any onboarding application connected to an elevated-risk jurisdiction for manual compliance review before activation

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Report any existing cardholder who relocates to a restricted jurisdiction

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Do not attempt to circumvent geofencing or KYC checks on behalf of an end user located in a restricted jurisdiction

Important

This list is reviewed regularly and may change without prior notice as sanctions regimes are updated by OFAC, the EU, the UK, and other relevant bodies. Partners are responsible for checking this article periodically rather than relying on a cached copy.

Need a compliance review for a specific case?

Our compliance team can review borderline onboarding cases involving elevated-risk jurisdictions.

Contact Compliance →