To request UAP records, identify the agency likely to hold them, search its reading room, then describe a specific incident, date range and record type. FOIA requests seek existing records; they do not require an agency to answer research questions or prove a theory.
In this article
Copyable UAP FOIA request template
Replace every bracketed field and remove optional paragraphs that do not apply.
Subject: FOIA request — [incident or project], [date range]
Dear FOIA Officer,
Under the Freedom of Information Act, I request electronic copies of [specific record types] held by [component or office], concerning [incident, location or file identifier], created between [start date] and [end date]. Relevant identifying information is [case number, flight, coordinates, document title or other search terms].Please provide reasonably segregable non-exempt portions of responsive records. For any withholding, identify the applicable exemption and explain the determination and available appeal rights.
I prefer electronic delivery. I am willing to pay fees up to $[limit]. Please contact me before exceeding that amount. If the scope needs clarification, please contact me at [email].
Optional fee-waiver request: I request a waiver because disclosure will contribute significantly to public understanding of [government activity], through [specific dissemination plan], and is not primarily in my commercial interest. Supporting facts: [explain].
Sincerely,
[name and contact details required by the agency]
Choose the correct submission channel
| Agency | Official starting point | Routing check |
|---|---|---|
| DoD components, including records associated with AARO | FOIA.gov agency directory and request service | Select the component likely to hold the record. An operational UAP reporting channel is not automatically a FOIA submission channel. |
| CIA | CIA Electronic Reading Room | Search released files first; consult its request guidance or the FOIA.gov directory. |
| FAA | FAA request instructions | Identify the appropriate service center and incident details. |
| NARA | National Archives Catalog | Use record-group and catalog identifiers; request help locating existing holdings before assuming a new FOIA request is needed. |
Before submitting
- Use one defined incident or record series rather than “all UAP documents.”
- For background on agency FOIA offices and official UAP record sources, see The UAP News Center’s About FOIA and Government UAP Sources.
- Check the selected agency’s contact, fee category and required contact fields.
- Keep a copy of the request and its tracking number.
- Request expedited processing only if you can substantiate the agency’s criteria; general public interest alone is not a universal entitlement.
The official FOIA.gov request guide explains scope, fees and expedited processing. A fee waiver needs supporting reasons; being a researcher or journalist does not automatically establish eligibility.
Timelines, fees and appeals
The usual statutory determination period of 20 working days is not a promise that all records will arrive within that period. Clarification, extensions and backlogs can affect processing. Avoid treating a generic 3–12 month estimate as an agency commitment.
There is no initial fee simply to file a request, but processing charges can depend on requester category and agency rules. State a payment ceiling. If records are withheld, review the decision’s exemption explanation and appeal instructions and deadline. A detailed Vaughn index is associated with judicial review and should not be promised as an automatic response to every initial request.
Updated 7 October 2026: The previous broad template and automatic expedited-processing language have been replaced with a focused request and optional, evidence-based fee-waiver paragraph.
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