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58. Is OFAC likely to approve my license application? How long will it take?
OFAC reviews each specific license application on a case-by-case basis, generally in the order in which they are received. The review process for each license application may vary, which will affect the length of the review. For example, in some instances, OFAC may require additional information from the applicant, and in others, OFAC may need to consult with other U.S. government agencies. Additionally, an increase in the volume of licensing applications may lead to longer wait times. Following the license application guidelines on the OFAC Specific Licenses and Interpretive Guidance page on OFAC's website, including OFAC's Best Practices for License Applicants, and providing all required information, can help accelerate the review process.
Applicants can check their application's progress from the OFAC Specific Licenses and Interpretive Guidance page on OFAC's website by selecting "View Application Status" and entering the case identification ("Case ID") number in the OFAC Licensing Portal.
Date Updated: September 9, 2026
Date Released
September 10, 2002
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58. What are the chances that my application will be approved?
Each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and often requires interagency consultation. Although we cannot predict how long this review might take, following existing application guidelines will help to expedite your determination. [09-10-02]
[9-9-26 Update - amended to reflect advent of the "View Application Status" option on OFAC’s website and explain why some license applications take a long time to adjudicate]
The official "case-by-case" policy belied by certain sweeping policies that OFAC implements informally, such as its general policy against unblocking frozen funds belonging to blocked persons when those funds were initially blocked in connection with commercial transactions. Consult the tag in the Research System referring to "dissipation" licenses. There are other categories of licenses for which one can technically apply, but because of statutory restrictions, OFAC is essentially prohibited from granting, such as licenses for pure "tourist activity" in Cuba.
It is worth having a grasp of OFAC's broad licensing policy practice prior to submitting unblocking applications; some application types are manifestly inutile.