If you would like to get official information held by the FCO, please firstly check our Information Guide and the Released Information pages to see if we have already published the information. If the information you want is not already available, you can request official information that you believe is held by the FCO.

What to include in your request:

Your request must be in writing and must include:

• details of the information you would like to see, and
• your name and correspondence address.

If possible, please help us to find the information you want by being as specific as you can about the information you are seeking. The Freedom of Information Act makes provisions for public authorities to refuse requests for information where the cost of dealing with them would exceed the appropriate limit of £600 or 3.5 days. Being as specific as you can and providing dates for when you believe the information was created will help us to find the information you wish to see.

Where to send your request:

You can send your request to us by post, email or fax to the following addresses:

Information Rights Team
Information Management Group
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Old Admiralty Building
The Mall
London
SW1A 2PA

E-mail: dp-foi.img@fco.gov.uk

Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7008 1114

For general enquiries, please telephone us on +44 (0) 20 7008 1223

Once we have received your request:

We will acknowledge your request and give you your own unique reference number. In our acknowledgement we will tell you which access regime we will be treating your case under. The relevant department in the FCO may contact you to clarify certain aspects of your request so that we are sure of what information you are seeking.

We will reply to your request within 20 working days. In our reply to your request will confirm or deny whether we hold the information you have requested. We will provide you with the information you have requested if we judge that the information can be released to you. For any information we withhold, we will explain why we have not provided it, quoting an exemption under the Act.

More about exemptions

If you are not happy with our response:

If you are not happy with how your request was handled or the decision we have made, you have the right to complain. Please see our complaints page for more information on how to do this.

Complaints