Any person can request their own FBI file or files on organizations, deceased individuals, historical events, and investigations through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act (PA). The FBI maintains records on investigations, counterintelligence, and law enforcement activities.
10 steps across 1 sections
1. Steps Process
- Check the FBI Vault first — Visit vault.fbi.gov to search for records already released. The FBI has published thousands of files on historical figures, events, and investigations. You may find what...
- Determine the type of request — FOIA requests are for information about organizations, events, investigations, and deceased persons. Privacy Act requests are for your own records or those of a livi...
- Use the eFOIPA portal (recommended) — Visit efoia.fbi.gov to create an account and submit your request electronically. This is the fastest method and allows electronic tracking.
- Draft your request — Describe the records you seek as specifically as possible. Include full names, dates, locations, and any identifying details. For requests about yourself, include your full nam...
- Provide proof of identity (Privacy Act requests) — For requests about yourself, you must verify your identity. This typically requires a notarized statement or a declaration under penalty of perjur...
- Provide proof of death (deceased persons) — For requests about deceased individuals, include proof of death such as an obituary, death certificate, or Social Security Death Index record.
- State fee preferences — Indicate how much you are willing to pay for duplication fees. Most requester categories get the first 100 pages free. Request a fee waiver if the information primarily bene...
- Submit your request — Through eFOIPA or by mail to: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Attn: FOIPA Request, Record/Information Dissemination Section, 200 Constitution Drive, Winchester, VA 22602.
- Track your request — Use your Electronic Tracking Number (ETN) to monitor progress through the eFOIPA portal.
- Review the response — The FBI will release responsive records with redactions for exempt material (national security, privacy, law enforcement techniques, etc.). Each redaction cites a specific exe...
Common Mistakes
- Not checking the Vault first
- Being too vague
- Expecting records that do not exist
- Not verifying identity properly
- Giving up after heavy redactions
Pro Tips
- MuckRock.com provides free tools to file, track, and share FOIA requests, inc...
- Historical FBI files on public figures (Martin Luther King Jr., John Lennon, ...
- If you receive a "no responsive records" response, consider whether the recor...
- Some FBI field offices maintained separate files historically
- Processing times can exceed a year