State Department records requests must go through its FOIA website, FOIA.gov or mail
Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act requests to the State Department must be filed in writing through its FOIA website, the national FOIA.gov portal, or by mail. The rule also gathers in one place the proof of identity needed for requests about a person's own records.
Who it affects
People filing records requests with the State Department
When
This rule takes effect on October 21, 2026.
- : Published in the Federal Register
- : This rule takes effect
Official text
FR Doc. 2026-19223: Public Access to Information
On Federal Register. The official text is what counts; read it before you act.
Not legal advice. Plain-English summaries to help you find what changes and when. Not legal advice: read the official text, and ask a lawyer about your situation.