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Request official information
If you would like to request official information held by the FCO, please firstly check our model publication scheme, Released Information and Transparency pages to see if we have already published the information. If the information you want is not already available, you can request it if you believe is held by us.
If you are trying to trace a family member who worked at the FCO, or you are looking for certain publications that were published during the Colonial Office period read the frequently asked questions on our website to find out who to approach to find that information.
Our policy is not to disclose information which could compromise the security of our buildings, staff and families.
For more information about the process and our obligations under the Act, please see the Information Commissioner’s Office FAQs and information pages.
If you wish to make a subject access request for your personal data under the Data Protection Act, please see the separate section below.
On 1st April 2011, the FCO transferred responsibility for issuing all passports worldwide to the Identity and Passports Service (IPS) of the Home Office. FOI requests relating to overseas passports should be sent to:
Parliamentary Correspondence Management Team
Identity and Passport Service
Home Office, 4th Floor, Peel SE, Mailpoint D
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
E-mail: henquiries@ips.gsi.gov.uk
Any Subject Access Requests (SAR) relating to overseas passports should be sent to:
Disclosure of Information Section
Identity and Passport Service
Aragon Court
Northminster Road
Peterborough
PE1 1QG
Tel: 01733 888242
E-mail: henquiries@ips.gsi.gov.uk
The FCO will continue to process any FOI requests or SARs relating to the issue of emergency passports or consular services.
Making your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Your request for official information 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. 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.
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
Room SG120
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 0123
If you are not happy with our response
If you are not satisfied with our reply and wish to make a complaint or if you would like a review of our decision, please write to the Information Rights Team (details above). You have 40 working days to do so from the date of our reply
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the FCO..
Request your personal information
If you believe that the FCO holds personal data relevant to you in our offices in the UK or overseas (including FCO Services), you can request it from us.
For more information about the process and our obligations under the Act, please see the Information Commissioner’s Office information pages and FAQs.
From 1 April 2009 all requests received by the FCO for information held by the United Kingdom Borders Agency (UKBA) will be passed to the UKBA to handle. Please note that UKBA charge £10 for processing all requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998. Contact details for UKBA.
Making your request under the Data Protection Act 1998
Your request for your personal data must be in writing. It would be helpful if you could detail where you believe personal data may be held about you in the FCO. This will help us to locate and provide you with all of your personal information that you are entitled to see.
You must include proof of ID and address with your written request. This is to ensure that personal data is only released to the person to whom the data is relevant. We can only accept a copy of your photo ID such as your passport or drivers license, and an original, recent, utility bill. Please note that we will not accept copies of your utility bill and we will return this to you.
You should send your request in the post to:
Information Rights Team
Information Management Group
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Old Admiralty Building
Room SG120
London
SW1A 2PA
For any general enquiries, please call us on + 44 (020) 7008 0123 or email us at dp-foi.img@fco.gov.uk.
If you are not happy with our response
If you are not satisfied with our reply and wish to make a complaint, please write to the information rights team (details above). This does not affect your right to complain to the Information Commissioner or a court.
If you are still not content, you may complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office.