Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), organisations are generally required to respond to a request made by a member of the public promptly and within 20 working days from the date the request is received
. The 20 working days serve as a statutory "long stop," meaning the response should ideally be given sooner but must not exceed this timeframe
. If the request is complex or requires consideration of the public interest test, the organisation may extend the response time by an additional 20 working days, but they must notify the requester within the initial 20-day period about the extension
. Some public authorities, such as schools or archives, may have variations allowing up to 60 working days under specific regulations
. In summary:
- Standard response time: within 20 working days of receipt.
- Possible extension: up to an additional 20 working days for public interest considerations.
- Some authorities may have up to 60 working days in special cases.
- Working days exclude weekends and public holidays.
If the organisation requests clarification from the requester, the 20 working days clock pauses until clarification is received
. This timeframe applies broadly across UK public authorities and is similarly reflected in US federal agencies, which also have a 20 business day response requirement under FOIA, subject to exceptions for unusual circumstances
. Therefore, your organisation should aim to respond to FOIA requests within 20 working days, with possible extensions under defined conditions.
