FIC Issues User Guide for Directive 10 Geographic Submissions

Posted 10 November 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Financial Intelligence Centre Act

Brought to you by SA Accounting Academy: The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) has published an operational user guide instructing accountable institutions on the technical procedure for submitting geographic location data via the goAML system under Directive 10.

Issued under the statutory authority of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, No. 38 of 2001 (FICA), Directive 10 requires every accountable institution operating in more than one geographic location to furnish the particulars of its head office, branch offices, and subsidiary head offices and branches upon registration and profile maintenance. The submission of geographic location information enables the Centre to evaluate jurisdictional and operational exposure to money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing risks across South Africa.

The published user guide contains field-by-field instructions, screen captures, and specific data validations to guide compliance officers through the goAML portal. The requirements apply across all entities identified as accountable institutions under Schedule 1 to the FICA that operate decentralised or multi-site structures.

Key Submission Requirements

In accordance with Directive 10, multi-location accountable institutions must record and maintain the following structural records on goAML:

  • Head office particulars: Physical address, legal entity designations, and primary operational contact details.
  • Branch office infrastructure: Physical location data, trading names, and operational scope for each secondary office or branch.
  • Subsidiary entities: Head office details and secondary branch profiles for all subsidiary operations falling within the reporting group.

Click here to download the FIC User Guide on the Submission of Information in Terms of Directive 10.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: Designated compliance officers and goAML administrators must review the technical field descriptions in the user guide to ensure goAML access profiles are populated accurately.
  • For your business: Accountable institutions maintaining multi-branch networks or operating subsidiaries must audit their goAML registrations and submit outstanding physical branch particulars to avoid administrative sanctions under section 43B and section 62E of the FICA.
  • For your clients: Multi-branch Schedule 1 clients must be instructed to compile formal address registers of all operating branches and subsidiaries for goAML integration rather than relying on head-office-only registration profiles.

Originally published at https://accountingacademy.co.za/news/read/fic-user-guide-relating-to-directive-10

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