Civic · official-source review · reviewed 2026-10-09
A fee-waiver request fails fastest when the disclosure interest statement is missing or the fee estimate is wrong.
Draft a fee-waiver request sheet with your fee cap, page estimate, and public-interest argument before you file.
Anyone asking a federal agency for records and expecting copy fees.
Use the source document or official route that applies to your situation. This guide does not contact another person or verify external information.
Open the DOJ FOIA page and find the agency that holds the records.
Estimate page counts from what you know of the file. Round up, not down.
Decide the dollar amount you are willing to pay. Write it as a firm cap.
Explain how release informs the public, not only your own work.
File the request and record the confirmation date in your log.
You request 120 pages at 10 cents per page. The sheet caps your willingness to pay at $25.00 and drafts a public-interest paragraph you edit before filing.
Use your own source and details. The example is not a record about a real person or organization.
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Information Policy · reviewed 2026-10-09
What this source supports: A FOIA request should describe the records clearly and state the requester's willingness to pay fees or request a waiver.
Source limit: Agency procedures and fee schedules differ. Confirm the current form and fees with the agency that holds the records.
U.S. General Services Administration, USA.gov · reviewed 2026-10-09
What this source supports: Complaint routes depend on the issue. USA.gov directs consumers to the relevant agency or organization.
Source limit: The correct route depends on the product, issue, location, and responsible agency. The page does not resolve an individual dispute.
These sources support the statements above. They do not show that every person needs this guide. They do not show a specific result.
This guide prepares a request sheet. It does not file the request or contact the agency for you.
Agency procedures and fee schedules differ. Confirm the current form and fees with the agency that holds the records.
Use current instructions from the responsible organization. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision or a substitute for qualified advice.
Turn page counts and a fee cap into a fee-waiver request sheet with a drafted interest statement.
This App drafts text and numbers for your request. It does not file anything with an agency or verify fee schedules.
You enter every number yourself. The sources support the method and the limits. They do not produce a result for your specific case. Keep the original documents next to the sheet you build.
The App computes the worked example with your own numbers, in your browser.
APP 1
Turn page counts and a fee cap into a fee-waiver request sheet with a drafted interest statement.
Free · no account · no upload
Open FOIA Fee-Waiver Request Prep SheetThe App runs in this browser. It does not send or save entries. Copy, download, or print only when you choose.
This guide uses short, direct instructions as an ASD-STE100-style writing target. It is not a formal certification.
Companion App: FOIA Fee-Waiver Request Prep Sheet. It runs in this browser and does not upload your entries.
This guide is edited for clarity and checked against the sources it links. It is not a substitute for official instructions or qualified advice. A linked source does not show that every person needs this guide.