> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.zenoo.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Screening Request Fields

> Submit an entity for standalone AML screening against PEP, sanctions, adverse media, and watchlist databases.

# Screening Request Fields

Submit an entity for standalone AML screening against PEP, sanctions, adverse media, and watchlist databases. Screening also runs automatically as part of Company Verification and Person Verification flows.

## Request Example

### Screen a Person

```json theme={null}
{
  "name": "John Smith",
  "date_of_birth": "1975-03-20",
  "country": "GB",
  "entity_type": "person",
  "categories": ["pep", "sanctions", "adverse_media", "watchlist"]
}
```

### Screen a Company

```json theme={null}
{
  "name": "Acme Holdings Ltd",
  "country": "GB",
  "entity_type": "company",
  "categories": ["sanctions", "adverse_media"]
}
```

## Field Reference

| Field           | Type   | Required | Description                                                                                            |
| --------------- | ------ | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `name`          | string | Yes      | Full name of the person or legal name of the company                                                   |
| `date_of_birth` | string | No       | ISO 8601 date (`YYYY-MM-DD`). Person screening only. Reduces false positives by 80-95% on common names |
| `country`       | string | No       | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code (e.g., `GB`). Filters results by jurisdiction                                  |
| `entity_type`   | string | No       | `person` or `company`. Defaults to `person` if omitted                                                 |
| `categories[]`  | array  | No       | Screening categories to check. Defaults to all categories if omitted                                   |

## Screening Categories

| Value           | Description                               | Typical Sources                             |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| `pep`           | Politically Exposed Persons               | Government records, parliamentary registers |
| `sanctions`     | Global sanctions lists                    | OFAC SDN, EU, UN, UK HMT                    |
| `adverse_media` | Negative news and media                   | News databases, financial crime reporting   |
| `watchlist`     | Law enforcement and regulatory watchlists | Interpol, FBI, national fugitive lists      |

If you omit the `categories[]` array, Zenoo screens against all four categories.

## Person vs Company Screening

Person and company screening use different matching algorithms optimized for each entity type.

<Tip>**Person screening** matches on name, date of birth, nationality, and aliases. Providing `date_of_birth` is the single most effective way to reduce false positives. Without it, common names like "John Smith" can match hundreds of records.</Tip>

**Company screening** matches on legal name, registration jurisdiction, and known aliases. The `date_of_birth` field is ignored for company screening. Companies are typically screened against `sanctions` and `adverse_media` categories only, since PEP status applies to individuals.

## When to Use Standalone Screening

Screening runs automatically inside Company Verification and Person Verification flows. Use the standalone screening endpoint for:

* **Ongoing monitoring.** Re-screen existing customers on a schedule.
* **Quick pre-checks.** Screen a name before starting full verification.
* **Batch screening.** Screen multiple entities without running full verification.
* **Custom workflows.** Screen entities that are not part of a standard verification flow.