Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Records and the U.S. Department of State

• Generally, permanent records older than 25 years, or pre-1925 passport and pre-1940 visa records are with the National Archives and Records Administration. 

• Certain records can be obtained without filing a request.  The Electronic Reading Room provides access to frequently requested documents released under the FOIA, special records collections of continuing public interest, and the Department’s Annual FOIA Reports.   

• Some publications, including forms, reports, and, policy statements are electronically available through the Bureaus or Offices within the Department (see Publications). 

The Department of State maintains records dealing with:

a.       The formulation and execution of U.S. Foreign policy

b.      The administration and operations of the U.S. missions abroad

c.       Applications from U.S. citizens for U.S. passports

d.      Visa requests from non-citizens to enter the U.S.

e.       Consular assistance given to U.S. citizens abroad

f.        Current and former employees of the Department

Electronic FOIA Request

If you are not seeking personal information about yourself or personal information on behalf of someone else, you may file a request electronically by using the FOIA

Request Letter Generator (go to Make a FOIA Request).   Please provide as much information as you can to help us locate the requested material.   

Making a Request

If you do not find the information you are looking for on the Department’s FOIA website and you would like to request copies of Department of State records, you may write to:

Office of Information Programs and Services
A/ISS/IPS/RL
U. S. Department of State, SA-2
Washington, D. C. 20522-8100

Please consult the FOIA Reference Guide for more information on how to request records from the Department.   

If you have any questions regarding your request, or if you need assistance with processing a request, you should contact the FOIA Requester Service Center (FRSC) at 202-261-8484.  If you are not satisfied with the response from FRSC, you may contact the FOIA Public Liaison, Patrick D. Scholl, at 202-261-8484.