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Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. FOIA (Freedom of Information Act)
  3. FOIA office FAQS
  4. May I request records in a specific format?
  • Freedom of Information Act
    • Submit & Check Status of FOIA Requests
    • FOIA Contacts & Requester Service Centers
    • Privacy Act Contacts
    • HHS FOIA Reports
      • Annual Reports
      • Quarterly Reports
      • Chief FOIA Officer Report
      • Open Pending FOIA Request Reports
    • FOIA Library / Electronic Reading Room
    • FOIA Exemptions & Exclusions
    • FOIA & Privacy Act Statutes & Resources
      • The Privacy Act
      • HHS System of Records Notices (SORNs)
      • HHS Computer Matching Agreements (CMAs)
    • FOIA FAQS
    • FOIA Appeals
    • FOIA Fees

May I request records in a specific format?

Yes, but the records may not be available in the requested format. If you request records that exist in an electronic format, the FOIA requires agencies in almost all cases to provide these records to you in that same format, if that is what you prefer. However, if you request records that exist only in paper form, and you would like them in an electronic format, the agency is obligated to provide the records in electronic format only if it can do so with a reasonable amount of effort.

Content created by Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Division
Content last reviewed September 17, 2015
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