Not all records are subject to Mandatory Declassification Review.

To request Mandatory Declassification Review: ​

1. The information must be classified.
   
   

2. The request describes the document or material containing the information with sufficient specificity to enable the agency to locate it with a reasonable amount of effort. A reasonable amount of effort is defined as:

   
   

   1. Not more than 60 minutes of search time for electronic records.

   2. Not more than 90 minutes of search time for hard copy records, not including any time necessary for physical movement of records between storage and processing facilities.

The following are Not subject to Mandatory Declassification Review: ​

• Information originated by the incumbent President or the incumbent Vice President; the incumbent President's White House staff or the incumbent Vice President's staff; committees, commissions, or boards appointed by the incumbent President; other entities within the Executive Office of the President that solely advise and assist the incumbent President. ​

  
  

• Information that is the subject of pending litigation.

  
  

• Information that has been reviewed for declassification within the past two years. If the Department has reviewed the information within the past 2 years, you will be informed of this fact and of your appeal rights.​

Write down what information you are seeking with as much detail as possible to help us locate the requested document(s).

• In your request, specifically mention MDR under Executive Order (E.O.) 13526, and not the Freedom of Information or Privacy Acts.​

  
  

• Identify the document or information to be reviewed with as much specificity as possible, e.g., “Embassy London telegram 88994 of August 22, 1997.”​

Send your request to the following​:

Email:   MDRRequest@state.gov

Mail:     U.S. Department of State
              Information Access Liaison Office, A/SKS/IAP/IAL
              2201 C Street N.W., Suite B266
              Washington, D.C. 20520-0000

Fax:       (202) 485-1669 ​

Please write “Mandatory Declassification Review" on the envelope or the subject line of your email or fax.

In responding to mandatory declassification review requests, the Department shall make a review determination as promptly as possible, but in no case more than one year from the date of receipt of the request. You will be notified accordingly. When the requested information cannot be declassified in its entirety, the Department shall release all meaningful portions that can be declassified and that are not exempt from disclosure on other grounds.

Although the purpose of an MDR is to provide declassification review of classified material, material that has been declassified pursuant to the review may nonetheless be withheld for other reasons, most typically because withholding is required by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Any denial of a mandatory declassification review request may be appealed to the Department's Appeals Review Panel (ARP).

Send appeals to: 

               U.S. Department of State
               Appeals Office
               Information Access Programs (A/SKS/IAP)
               2201 C Street, N.W., Suite B266
               Washington, D.C. 20520

The appeal should include:​

• a copy of the original challenge.

  
  

• the Department’s response.

  
  

• any additional information you believe will assist the ARP in reaching its decision.

The ARP shall respond within 90 calendar days of receipt of the appeal.

A denial by the ARP of a mandatory declassification review appeal may be further appealed to the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP).

A failure of the Department to make a determination on a mandatory declassification review request within one year from the date of its receipt or to respond to an appeal of a denial by the ARP within 180 calendar days of its receipt may be appealed directly to the ISCAP.

For more information on the ISCAP, go to 32 CFR Subtitle B Chapter XX Part 2003.