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Government · the UK
Updated September 2026

📂 How do I request documents or information from a public body?

Direct answer

Every EU country has an access-to-information law: you can ask any public body for documents, without giving a reason, and they must answer within a legal deadline (often 15–30 days) — either with the documents or with a reasoned refusal citing an exception (privacy, security, ongoing decisions). Send the request to the body; if refused or ignored, Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) — FOI complaints (0303 123 1113) — the information commissioner or ombudsman for the UK — reviews it; Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman / Parliamentary Ombudsman (0300 061 0614) handles the procedural complaint; Administrative Court — judicial review / First-tier Tribunal (gov.uk) is the court. Documents about you are also a data-protection right (GDPR access), which has no exceptions for "internal" notes.

Call firstInformation Commissioner's Office (ICO) — FOI complaints
Report toLocal Government & Social Care Ombudsman / Parliamentary Ombudsman
If that failsAdministrative Court — judicial review / First-tier Tribunal

🗣️ What to say

"Under [access-to-information law] I request copies of [documents: description, period, subject], including [emails, reports, contracts]. Please provide them in electronic form within the legal deadline. If you refuse any part, please state the exception and the reasoning, and tell me how to appeal."

🪜 Step by step

  1. Describe, do not justifyWhat documents, which period, which department. No reason is needed; a clear description is.
  2. Send it in writingEmail to the body's official address or the online portal. Note the date — the deadline runs from receipt.
  3. Deadline passesA reminder citing the law; then a complaint to Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) — FOI complaints for silence.
  4. RefusedRead the exception. Partial disclosure with redactions is the norm; a blanket refusal is reviewable at Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) — FOI complaints.
  5. Documents about youUse both routes: access to information and GDPR access. The GDPR route reaches personal notes and assessments.

📇 All contacts

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) — FOI complaintsFreedom of Information complaints after internal reviewWhen a public body refuses information📞 0303 123 1113🔗 ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint
Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman / Parliamentary OmbudsmanComplaints about councils and government departments, freeWhen a public body does not answer or acts unfairly📞 0300 061 0614🔗 www.lgo.org.uk
Administrative Court — judicial review / First-tier TribunalJudicial review (3-month limit) and tribunalsWithin the deadline on the decision🔗 www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals
ICO — Information Commissioner's OfficeComplaints against organisations, investigations, finesWhen the organisation does not answer within a month or misuses data📞 0303 123 1113🔗 ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint

❓ Frequently asked

Can they charge me?

Copying costs at most; many countries provide electronic copies free. Excessive fees are appealable.

They say the documents do not exist

Ask how they searched; Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) — FOI complaints can check. Emails and messages are documents too.

Can I ask a private company?

Only if it performs a public task or is publicly owned; otherwise, GDPR access for your own data.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.

  • “freedom of information request the UK”
  • “access to documents public body”
  • “foi request refused appeal”
  • “information commissioner the UK”
  • “request my file from authority”

🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related questions

⚖️Ombudsman→📩Object to a decision→💡Broken streetlight→🗑️Illegal dumping→

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