When should I request an internal review of my FOI response?

You should use an internal review if a public authority has refused your request, applied an exemption you believe is unjustified, provided incomplete information, or failed to respond within the 20-working-day limit. This step is mandatory before you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office. Do not use this process if you have not yet submitted your original Freedom of Information request.

How long do I have to request an internal review?

You have 40 working days from the date of the refusal notice or the date you became dissatisfied to request an internal review. If you fail to request the review within this timeframe, the Information Commissioner's Office may refuse to investigate a subsequent complaint. It is essential to keep copies of your original request and the refusal notice to track these deadlines.

How long does a public authority have to complete an internal review?

The public authority should complete its internal review within 20 working days. For complex cases, this timeframe extends to 40 working days. The letter template suggests asking the authority to keep you informed of progress if the review will take longer than the standard 20-working-day period.

What happens if I am still unhappy after the internal review?

If you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal review, your next step is to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). You cannot request a second internal review. The ICO may refuse to investigate a complaint if the internal review was not requested within the 40-working-day limit.

Who should I send my internal review request to?

The internal review request should be sent to a senior officer who was not involved in the original decision. Sending it to the same person who issued the refusal is a common mistake. Additionally, ensure you specifically identify which exemption the authority relied on and why you believe it was incorrectly applied.

Does the process differ for environmental information requests?

If the public authority is subject to the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the review procedure is similar but is governed by regulation 11 of those regulations. For standard Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests, the process follows the Act and ICO guidance, which recommends that authorities have an internal review procedure.

← All Templates

Public Law

Information Rights

Updated 2026-05-16

Freedom of Information — Internal Review Request

A letter requesting an internal review of a public authority's decision to refuse, partially refuse, or otherwise respond inadequately to a Freedom of Information request.

This template was not drafted by a solicitor.

It is an editorial reference based on the official sources we cite. You are responsible for any document you send. For high-stakes matters (court proceedings, large sums, deportation, criminal allegations, child welfare), have a regulated solicitor review or draft your document.

When to use this template

Use this letter when a public authority has refused your FOI request, applied an exemption you believe is unjustified, provided incomplete information, or failed to respond within the 20 working day time limit. An internal review is a mandatory step before you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office. The authority should complete its internal review within 20 working days (or 40 working days for complex cases).

When NOT to use this template

Do not use this letter if you have not yet submitted the original FOI request — submit the request first. You have 40 working days from the refusal notice or the date you became dissatisfied to request an internal review. If you have already requested an internal review and remain dissatisfied, your next step is a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), not a second internal review.

Legal Basis

Freedom of Information Act 2000 s.1 (right of access to information held by public authorities); s.17 (refusal notices must specify exemptions); ICO Section 45 Code of Practice (para 6.1 — public authorities should have an internal review procedure); ICO Guidance on Recognising a Request and Complaints; if the authority is subject to the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the review procedure is similar but governed by EIR r.11.

Before you send

Not identifying specifically which exemption the authority relied on and why it was incorrectly applied
Failing to request the review within 40 working days of the refusal — the ICO may refuse to investigate a late complaint
Assuming all information was withheld — ask the authority to reconsider specific documents or categories

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗Not identifying specifically which exemption the authority relied on and why it was incorrectly applied
✗Failing to request the review within 40 working days of the refusal — the ICO may refuse to investigate a late complaint
✗Assuming all information was withheld — ask the authority to reconsider specific documents or categories
✗Not keeping a copy of the original request, the refusal notice, and all correspondence
✗Sending the internal review request to the same person who issued the refusal — it should go to a senior officer not involved in the original decision

Build Your Letter

Fill in your details

Complete the fields below. Required fields are marked with *.

Your full name*

Your address*

Your email address*

Date of letter*

Name of public authority*

Authority's address*

Date of original FOI request*

Summary of your original FOI request*

Date of the authority's response*

Description of the authority's response*

First reason for requesting review*

Details of first reason*

Optional fields

Your original FOI request reference

Second reason for review (if applicable)

Details of second reason

Your public interest argument

Specific public interest factors in your favour

Letter preview

[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
[YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS]

[DATE OF LETTER]

Information / FOI Officer (Internal Review)
[NAME OF PUBLIC AUTHORITY]
[AUTHORITY'S ADDRESS]

---

Dear Sir or Madam,

**REQUEST FOR INTERNAL REVIEW — FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000**
**Original Request Reference: [YOUR ORIGINAL FOI REQUEST REFERENCE]**

I am writing to request an internal review of [NAME OF PUBLIC AUTHORITY]'s response to my Freedom of Information request dated [DATE OF ORIGINAL FOI REQUEST].

**Background**

On [DATE OF ORIGINAL FOI REQUEST], I submitted a freedom of information request asking for the following information:

[SUMMARY OF YOUR ORIGINAL FOI REQUEST]

**The Response I Received**

On [DATE OF THE AUTHORITY'S RESPONSE], I received the following response: [DESCRIPTION OF THE AUTHORITY'S RESPONSE]

**Why I am Requesting a Review**

I am dissatisfied with this response for the following reasons:

**Reason 1 — [FIRST REASON FOR REQUESTING REVIEW]**

[DETAILS OF FIRST REASON]

**Reason 2 — [SECOND REASON FOR REVIEW (IF APPLICABLE)]**

[DETAILS OF SECOND REASON]

**The Public Interest Test**

[YOUR PUBLIC INTEREST ARGUMENT]

Where you have applied a qualified exemption, I ask you to reconsider whether the public interest in maintaining that exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure. In particular: [SPECIFIC PUBLIC INTEREST FACTORS IN YOUR FAVOUR].

**What I Am Seeking**

I ask the internal review to:

1. Re-examine each exemption that has been applied and reconsider whether it is engaged and whether the public interest test is properly satisfied.
2. Provide disclosure of all or part of the information originally requested.
3. If any information is still withheld following review, provide a clear and specific explanation of the exemption(s) relied upon and why they apply to each piece of withheld information.

**Timescale**

I understand that the ICO's guidance recommends that internal reviews be completed within 20 working days (or 40 working days for complex cases). I ask you to keep me informed of progress if the review will take longer than 20 working days.

**Next Steps**

If I remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal review, I will make a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office under section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Yours faithfully,

[YOUR FULL NAME]

Unfilled fields appear as [FIELD NAME]. Review the letter carefully before sending. This template is a starting point — adapt it to your specific circumstances.

Official Resources

ICO — Internal Reviews →ICO — Make a Complaint about an FOI Response →Gov.uk — Freedom of Information Act 2000 →

Frequently asked questions

When should I request an internal review of my FOI response?: You should use an internal review if a public authority has refused your request, applied an exemption you believe is unjustified, provided incomplete information, or failed to respond within the 20-working-day limit. This step is mandatory before you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office. Do not use this process if you have not yet submitted your original Freedom of Information request.
How long do I have to request an internal review?: You have 40 working days from the date of the refusal notice or the date you became dissatisfied to request an internal review. If you fail to request the review within this timeframe, the Information Commissioner's Office may refuse to investigate a subsequent complaint. It is essential to keep copies of your original request and the refusal notice to track these deadlines.
How long does a public authority have to complete an internal review?: The public authority should complete its internal review within 20 working days. For complex cases, this timeframe extends to 40 working days. The letter template suggests asking the authority to keep you informed of progress if the review will take longer than the standard 20-working-day period.
What happens if I am still unhappy after the internal review?: If you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal review, your next step is to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). You cannot request a second internal review. The ICO may refuse to investigate a complaint if the internal review was not requested within the 40-working-day limit.
Who should I send my internal review request to?: The internal review request should be sent to a senior officer who was not involved in the original decision. Sending it to the same person who issued the refusal is a common mistake. Additionally, ensure you specifically identify which exemption the authority relied on and why you believe it was incorrectly applied.
Does the process differ for environmental information requests?: If the public authority is subject to the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the review procedure is similar but is governed by regulation 11 of those regulations. For standard Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests, the process follows the Act and ICO guidance, which recommends that authorities have an internal review procedure.