---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 C.F.R. § 1830.3"
title: "5"
number: "1830.3"
heading: "Requirements for making Privacy Act requests."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/5/1830.3"
---

# §1830.3. Requirements for making Privacy Act requests.

- (a) **Submission of requests.** A request for OSC records under the Privacy Act must be made in writing. The request must be sent:
  - (1) **By email to: foiarequest@osc.gov;** or
  - (2) **By mail to—** U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Chief Privacy Officer, 1730 M Street NW, Suite 218, Washington, DC 20036-4505.
  - (3) Both the request letter and envelope or email should clearly be marked “Privacy Act Request.” A Privacy Act request is deemed received by OSC when it reaches the Chief Privacy Officer.
- (b) **Description of records sought.** Requestors must describe the records sought in enough detail for OSC to locate them with a reasonable amount of effort, including, where known, data such as the date, title or name, author, recipient, and subject matter of the requested record.
- (c) **Proof of identity.** OSC requires proof of identity from requestors seeking their own files, preferably a government-issued document bearing the subject individual's photograph. OSC requires a signed consent from the subject individual to release records to an individual's representative.
- (d) **Freedom of Information Act processing.** OSC also processes all Privacy Act requests for access to records under the Freedom of Information Act, [5 U.S.C. 552](/usc/5/552.md), by following the rules contained in [part 1820](/cfr/5/part1820.md) of this chapter.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552a(f), 301, and 1212(e).

### Source

Source: 87 FR 63413, Oct. 19, 2022, unless otherwise noted.