Politically exposed person (PEP) definition

Below are definitions of the different types of politically exposed persons (PEPs). Consider whether you, or any representative acting on your behalf, fall within one of these categories.

Foreign PEP

A foreign PEP is an individual who holds, or has held, a prominent office or position or public function in or for the legislature, executive or judiciary of a foreign country.

This includes an individual who holds, or has held, any of the following offices or positions:

• head of state or head of government
• member of the executive council of government
• member of a legislature
• minister, deputy minister or equivalent office or position
• judge of a supreme court, constitutional court, or other court of general jurisdiction or last resort
• ambassador, high commissioner or chargé d’affaires
• high-ranking military officer
• head or board member of a government body
• head or board member of a state-owned company or a state-owned bank
• member of a governing body of a political party represented in a legislature.

A foreign PEP is also a family member of an individual listed above, or an individual who is known (based on information that is public or readily available) to have:

• joint beneficial ownership of a body corporate or legal arrangement with an individual listed above
• sole beneficial ownership of a body corporate or legal arrangement on behalf or for the benefit of an individual listed above
• any other close business relations with an individual listed above.

Domestic PEP

A domestic PEP is an individual who is in, or has been in, any of the following offices or positions:

• member of the legislature of the Commonwealth or a state or territory
• member of the governing body of a political party represented in the legislature of the Commonwealth or a state or territory
• Governor-General
• governor of a state
• administrator of a territory
• Justice of the High Court
• Judge of the Federal Court of Australia
• Judge of the Supreme Court of a state or territory
• accountable authority, or member of the accountable authority, of a Commonwealth entity within the meaning of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) — for example, a Secretary of a Department of State or parliamentary department
• member of the governing body of a wholly-owned Commonwealth company within the meaning of the PGPA Act
• head (however described) of a department of state or territory, or an agency or authority of a state or territory that has a prominent public function
• head (however described) of a local government council in a state or territory
• the chair of the board, chief executive officer, or chief financial officer of a company or other incorporated body that is wholly-owned or majority-owned by a state or territory
• Chief of the Defence Force, Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Chief of Navy, Chief of Army or Chief of Air Force
• officer of the Navy of the rank of Vice Admiral or higher
• officer of the Army of the rank of Lieutenant General or higher
• officer of the Air Force of the rank of Air Marshal or higher
• any of the following offices of the Commonwealth in a foreign country, or to a public international organisation, to which appointments are made by the Governor-General:
  • Ambassador
  • High Commissioner
  • Consul-General
  • Australian representative
  • special representative
  • representative
  • permanent representative
  • Chargé d’Affaires.

A domestic PEP is also a family member of an individual listed above, or an individual who is known (based on information that is public or readily available) to have:

• joint beneficial ownership of a body corporate or legal arrangement with an individual listed above
• sole beneficial ownership of a body corporate or legal arrangement on behalf or for the benefit of an individual listed above
• any other close business relations with an individual listed above.

International organisation PEP

An international organisation PEP is an individual who is entrusted, or has been entrusted, with a prominent public function, position or office of a public international organisation. This includes a head, deputy head or board member of a public international organisation, such as a United Nations body.

An international organisation PEP is also a family member of one of these individuals, or an individual who is known (based on information that is public or readily available) to have:

• joint beneficial ownership of a body corporate or legal arrangement with an individual entrusted with a prominent public function, position or office of a public international organisation
• sole beneficial ownership of a body corporate or legal arrangement on behalf or for the benefit of an individual entrusted with a prominent public function, position or office of a public international organisation
• any other close business relations with an individual entrusted with a prominent public function, position or office of a public international organisation.

Family members

A family member includes:

• a spouse, de facto partner, or equivalent under any applicable law of a foreign country, of the individual
• a child of the individual
• a spouse or de facto partner, or equivalent under any applicable law of a foreign country, of a child of the individual
• a parent of the individual.