The Principality has officially been removed from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to strengthen financial transparency and combat money laundering.
Monaco has officially been removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list on Friday, October 30, 2026, bringing an end to more than two years of increased international monitoring.
The decision follows a series of reforms introduced by the Principality to strengthen its framework against money laundering and terrorist financing, addressing deficiencies identified by the international watchdog in June 2024.
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In its official announcement, the FATF welcomed Monaco’s significant progress in improving its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing system.
The organisation highlighted several improvements, including stronger international cooperation in tracing criminal assets, tougher sanctions for financial compliance breaches, increased resources for financial intelligence and judicial authorities, and greater efforts to seize assets suspected of originating from criminal activities.
The decision follows the FATF’s preliminary assessment in June 2026 that Monaco had substantially completed its action plan, paving the way for its removal from increased monitoring.
For the Principality, the announcement represents an important development for its international reputation, particularly given the significance of banking, finance, real estate and international investment to its economy.
Monaco joins Bulgaria, Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which have also been removed from the FATF grey list following improvements to their respective financial oversight systems.
However, one important distinction remains. Monaco is still included on the European Union’s separate list of high-risk third countries. Its removal from that list requires a formal decision by the European Commission and is not automatic following the FATF announcement.
The FATF has also emphasised that Monaco must continue working with MONEYVAL, the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering monitoring body, to maintain the improvements achieved.
While the decision ends a significant chapter of international scrutiny, the Principality’s financial institutions and regulated professionals remain subject to their existing anti-money laundering obligations.
The October 30 announcement nevertheless marks a significant step in Monaco’s efforts to reinforce its standing within the international financial system.
