Politically Exposed Persons
Our friendly team of experts are on hand to help you choose the correct vetting service and answer any questions you may have.
Our Politically Exposed Persons service includes:
- Identity verification of name, date of birth & address
- Verification of Right to Work in the UK
- Politically Exposed Persons’ Check
- Global sanctions check
What is a Politically Exposed Persons check?
Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) carry a naturally higher risk of involvement in corruption, bribery and financial crime due to their public roles and influence. PEP screening helps businesses identify these individuals early, manage potential risks, and stay compliant with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) regulations.
A PEPE check helps determine whether an individual holds (or has recently held) a prominent public position, such as a senior governance role, parliamentary position, judicial appointment or leadership role within a political party. Immediate family members and close associates of PEPs often fall under the same category due to their potential exposure to financial crime risk.
PEP screening is important because it helps organisations identify individuals who may present a higher risk of involvement in bribery, corruption, or money laundering. Screening ensures compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) regulations, many of which require enhanced due diligence when dealing with politically exposed individuals. By catching potential risks early, businesses can avoid financial loss, regulatory penalties and reputational damage, leading to safer and more transparent customer relationships.
Common roles for PEP screening
- Banking & financial services
- Fintech & digital payments
- Insurance
- Legal services
- Real estate
- Gambling & gaming
- Crypto & virtual asset providers
- Luxury goods dealers
- Accounting & audit firms
- Any organisation performing due diligence, onboarding customers/managing financial transactions can benefit from PEP checks.
Secure your workforce with PEP screening
PEP screening is important because it helps organisations identify individuals who may present a higher risk of involvement in bribery, corruption, or money laundering. Our team can guide you through the process, answer any questions and help you choose the correct level of screening for your roles.
Our Politically Exposed Persons screening
At Security and Vetting Solutions, we streamline the entire PEP screening process with fast, accurate checks aligned to AML standards and regulatory expectations. Our vetting officers provide clear, evidence-based reporting, enabling your organisation to take proportionate action and maintain full audit-readiness.
PEP screening typically identifies:
- Individuals in high-profile public roles (current or former)
- Immediate family members of PEPs
- Close associates or business partners
- Individuals appearing on global watchlists or sanctions registers
- Adverse media linking a candidate to risk-related behaviour
Whether you are conducting onboarding, financial due diligence or periodic reviews, understanding a person’s PEP status is essential for protecting your organisation and ensuring regulatory compliance.
What our experts say about this service
“At SVS, we help organisations reduce exposure to bribery, corruption and financial crime by delivering accurate, reliable PEP screening. Our expert team supports onboarding and due-diligence processes with fast, compliant screening that highlights potential risks from the outset.”
Joby, General Manager
Begin your Politically Exposed Persons Check today
Ready to secure your hiring process? Whether you need comprehensive criminal history searches, employment verification or tailored screening solutions, our expert team is here to help you make informed decisions with confidence. Fill out the form below s and one of our dedicated compliance specialists will reach out with a personalised solution.
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Our Politically Exposed Persons Vetting Process
Step 1
Submit candidate details & required documentation
Provide the candidate’s details and initial documents, including identity evidence, Right to Work, address history and employment history. Your dedicated vetting officer will confirm what is needed and ensure everything is captured from the start.
Step 2
Full Politically Exposed Persons screening completed by SVS
We complete identity verification, verification of Right to Work in the UK, global sanctions and Politically Exposed Person Check.
Step 3
Results, certificate & audit-ready evidence pack
Once screening is complete, you will receive a certificate of screening, written confirmation of compliance and a full pack containing all documents required for audits, inspections, accreditations or insurer validation. For urgent operational needs, we can also support Limited Screening to allow conditional employment.
What our clients say
Why choose SVS Security & Vetting Solutions?
Industry Expertise
With deep knowledge of regulated industry screening, we tailor our processes to meet the unique compliance standards of each sector, ensuring every check is completed efficiently, accurately, and in line with relevant regulations.
Secure Data-Handling
All data is managed in strict accordance with our retention and deletion protocols, keeping every stage fully compliant and secure.
Trusted Accreditations
Trusted Accreditations
Politically Exposed Persons Check FAQs
What is the difference between a PEP and a sanctioned individual?
A PEP is someone in a high-profile public role who may pose an elevated risk due to their influence, whereas a sanctioned individual is someone who has been formally restricted by a government or international body for involvement in illegal or unethical activity. Not all PEPs are sanctioned, and not all sanctioned individuals are PEPs, but both categories require careful screening as part of a thorough compliance process.
Are family members and close associates included in PEP checks?
Yes. Regulations often require businesses to identify not only the PEP themselves but also their immediate family members and close associates, such as spouses, children, business partners, or individuals connected through shared interests, because these relationships can also present elevated financial crime risks.
What happens if someone is identified as a PEP?
Being identified as a PEP does not automatically prevent someone from being hired. Instead, it triggers enhanced due diligence, which may include gathering additional information, monitoring transactions more closely, or applying stricter approval procedures. The aim is to understand and appropriately manage the level of risk, not to exclude individuals solely based on their public position.
Does PEP screening require customer consent?
In most jurisdictions, PEP checks can be carried out as part of standard due diligence without explicit customer consent, provided the screening forms part of your organisation’s legitimate regulatory or risk-management processes. However, transparency with customers about your compliance obligations is considered best practice.
Looking for Digital Identity Verification?
Digital Identity Verification fee from £6.50 per check (ex VAT)
Our fast, secure ID, address and Right to Work confirmation is completed directly by the candidate, reducing delays and protecting against fraudulent documentation.





















