How much does it cost to file a FOIA request?

There Is No Fee to Submit a FOIA Request

Filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request is free. You do not pay an application fee, and you are not required to use a paid service or attorney to ask a federal agency for records. You can submit a request directly to the agency that holds the records, usually by mail, email, or an online portal.

What can carry a cost is the work an agency does to fulfill your request. Even then, many requesters pay little or nothing.

How Processing Fees Work

Under FOIA, agencies may charge for certain activities depending on who you are and why you want the records. Requesters are generally grouped into categories, and the fees that apply differ by category:

• Commercial requesters may be charged for searching for records, reviewing them, and duplicating (copying) them.
• Educational, noncommercial scientific, and news-media requesters are generally charged only for duplication.
• All other requesters (most members of the public) are typically charged only for search time and duplication.

Agencies commonly provide an initial amount of free search time and a number of free copies before any charges begin. As a result, smaller or well-targeted requests often produce no bill at all.

Fee Waivers and Reductions

You can ask the agency to waive or reduce fees. A fee waiver is generally granted when releasing the information is in the public interest because it sheds light on government operations or activities, and the request is not primarily for your own commercial benefit. Make your waiver request in writing and explain how the records serve the public’s understanding.

Practical Tips to Keep Costs Down

• Be specific. Narrow date ranges, named offices, and clear descriptions reduce search effort.
• State a fee ceiling. Tell the agency the maximum you are willing to pay so it contacts you before exceeding it.
• Ask for electronic copies. Digital delivery often costs less than paper duplication.

Fee rules and amounts vary by agency and can change, so review the specific agency’s FOIA regulations and fee schedule before you file. For a broader overview of public-records access, see the FOIA and public records topic hub.