Toolantern
Home › FOIA Request Builder

Regulatory guides

FOIA Request Builder

Generate a Freedom of Information Act request letter, estimate what it will cost for your requester type, and see the 20-working-day timeline agencies must follow. Anyone can file, including non-citizens.

Not legal advice. This guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. Laws change and local rules vary. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed attorney or your local legal aid office.

Listen to this guide

A 3-minute narrated walkthrough. Press play to hear each step explained.

How FOIA works

The Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) gives any person the right to request existing federal records. Agencies must make a determination within 20 working days, with a possible 10-day extension in unusual circumstances. In practice, complex requests often take months. You can appeal a denial within 90 days, then sue in federal court.

Fees by requester type

Commercial requesters pay for search, review, and duplication. Educational institutions and news media pay for duplication only, with the first 100 pages free. Everyone else gets the first 2 hours of search and 100 pages free. Fee waivers are available when disclosure serves the public understanding of government operations.

The nine exemptions

Agencies can withhold classified material, internal personnel rules, trade secrets, deliberative memos, private personnel and medical files, law enforcement records, financial institution records, and geological data about wells. The deliberative-process exemption is the most commonly claimed.

Sources

}

Planning estimate only. Results use the list prices shown and may differ from your actual bill. Terms

Frequently asked questions

How long does a FOIA request take?

Agencies must make a determination within 20 working days, with a possible 10-working-day extension in unusual circumstances. Complex requests often take months or years in practice.

How much does a FOIA request cost?

Filing is free. Fees depend on your requester category: commercial requesters pay for search, review, and duplication; news media and educational institutions pay duplication only with 100 free pages; all others get 2 free search hours and 100 free pages.

Who can file a FOIA request?

Any person, including US citizens, foreign nationals, organizations, universities, and businesses.

Can I appeal a FOIA denial?

Yes. You have 90 days to appeal to the agency head, and after that you can file suit in federal court.

Can FOIA force an agency to answer my question?

No. FOIA covers existing records only. Agencies do not have to answer questions, render opinions, or create new records.

More free tools