What is a PEP in Australia: domestic, foreign, international organisation

People search “what is a PEP Australia” when a suburban practice is told a client’s parent sits on a foreign board and nobody knows which PEP category that is. Checked against AUSTRAC’s politically exposed persons page on 4 October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. This page does not reproduce that guidance. What changes after a PEP is confirmed is enhanced customer due diligence. Name screening more broadly is sanctions screening. The sector map is /tranche-2.

Three places a prominent function can sit

Domestic covers prominent public functions in Australia. Foreign covers prominent public functions in another country. International organisation covers a prominent function in an organisation of that kind, not a large private company with offices in several countries.

The examples of offices live on AUSTRAC’s page. A blog that reprints them goes stale the day the guidance moves. Family members and close associates are part of the conversation because influence is not limited to the office-holder.

• Domestic is Australian public prominence. A local profile is not automatically in the group. The guidance and the program decide, not a suburb’s rumour.
• Foreign follows the other country. A client’s parent in a prominent overseas role can put the file into the foreign group. Ask before you assume.
• International organisation is not a multinational. The function is in an international organisation. A global brand is a different fact.
• Associates are on the page too. The program says how far family and close associates go. Do not stop at the person who holds the title.

Category first, then the program’s response

Where the PEP definition page stops

This page is the three categories. It is not the enhanced due diligence that may follow a confirmed PEP, and it is not sanctions screening. Those are enhanced customer due diligence and sanctions screening.

What the client pays

On FreeAML the firm suite is A$0. The firm emails the client a link. Verification is client-pays. On the public list a personal KYC check is A$20 and a company or trust KYB check is A$40. Use KYB when the customer is a company or a trust. A PEP discussion is not included in the firm suite, and a personal KYC result is not a PEP ruling. Confirm the live amounts on FreeAML pricing. FreeAML does not decide that a customer is a politically exposed person, or refuse the matter.

Frequently Asked Questions