How to Make a Freedom of Information (FOI) Request

By the eLitigant Editorial Team · Reviewed for current forms, fees & procedure · How we check our guides

Quick answer: Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 anyone can ask a UK public authority for recorded information. There’s usually no fee, and they must respond within 20 working days. A clear, specific request gets the best result.

FOI is one of the most useful — and underused — civic rights. Councils, the NHS, government departments, schools, police and thousands of other public bodies must disclose recorded information on request unless an exemption applies.

What is an FOI request?

A written request to a public authority for recorded information it holds. You don’t need to say why you want it, and the authority must confirm whether it holds the information and provide it, subject to exemptions.

Who can use it & when

Anyone, anywhere — individuals, journalists, businesses, campaigners. Use it for spending, decisions, policies, statistics, correspondence, contracts and more held by public bodies. (For your own personal data, use a Subject Access Request instead; for environmental information, use EIR.)

Deadlines & key rules

The authority must respond within 20 working days.
Usually free; a fee or refusal can apply if the cost exceeds the limit (£600 central government / £450 others) or the request is vexatious.
Exemptions exist (e.g. personal data, commercial confidentiality, security) — many are subject to a public-interest test.
Must be in writing, give your name and an address for reply, and describe the information.

How to make a request — step by step

Identify the right public authority.
Describe the information precisely (dates, departments, document types) — narrow enough to stay under the cost limit.
State your name and contact address; you need not give reasons.
Send it and diarise 20 working days; if refused or ignored, ask for an internal review then complain to the ICO.

How Chris helps

Tell Chris what you want to find out and Chris drafts a precise FOI request to a high, professional standard — you check, sign and send. Not a law firm.

See it done — an FOI request, drafted in minutes

A Freedom of Information request, drafted to a high, professional standard — Chris builds it from your questions in minutes. Scroll the sample below.

DRAFTED BY CHRIS · sampleSCROLL ↓

Jordan Hale
14 Maple Court, Bristol BS1 4XY
jordan.hale@example.com

12 June 2026

Information Governance Team
Bristol City Council
By email

Request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Dear Information Governance Team,

I request the following recorded information held by the Council:

The total spent on agency staff in the Highways department in each of the financial years 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26.
Any current internal policy or guidance governing the use of agency staff in that department.
The number of agency workers engaged in that department as at 31 March 2026.

If any part of this request would exceed the appropriate cost limit, please advise which elements can be answered within it so I can refine the request, rather than refusing it in full. I would prefer the information by email in electronic format.

I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as required by the Act.

Yours faithfully,
Jordan Hale

Illustrative sample with fictional names and details. Chris drafts yours from your own facts; you check, sign and submit.

Draft my document →

Last reviewed: June 2026 · England & Wales · CIC No. 16566612 — not a law firm.