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Freedom of information guidance and resources

Find out about your obligations under the Freedom of Information Act and how to respond to requests.

We've recently restructured our FOI guidance and resources. Please let us know what you think.

Supporting public authorities to be open and transparent

Transparency is fundamental to our democracy. It underpins trust and confidence in public services.
One year into our new upstream approach, we reflect on what we have achieved so far, highlight products that you may have missed, and set out what else we will do.
Read our latest blog about the ICO’s FOI work.

Find out and feedback
What's new
Feed back on our FOI resources
Apply to join our FOI upstream feedback group
ICO's blog on its information rights work

How to respond to an FOI request

Managing an FOI request

What is a valid request, cost, timescales, refusing requests, exemptions and internal reviews.

Guidance index

Alphabetical list of all our detailed guidance about FOI.

Response templates

Use our templates to help create your response to a request.

FOI information and resources

What is the FOI Act and are we covered?

What is the act, when you need to follow it, who can make a request and what you need to do.

FOI complaints and ICO enforcement powers

When people can complain to the ICO, the complaints process, decision notices and other enforcement powers.

Publication schemes, datasets and RPSI

What you need to publish and how, including definition documents.

Decision notices

Decision notice support materials

FOI self-assessment resources

Assess your performance in key areas of FOI including timeliness, cost, vexatious requests and clearing backlogs.

Case studies

Learning resources and training videos

Learn from action we've taken

Examples of section 14 FOIA – vexatious requests