5 CFR § 1830.3 - Requirements for making Privacy Act requests.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s1830.3"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 1830.3 - Requirements for making Privacy Act requests."
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "1830.3"
section_name: "Requirements for making Privacy Act requests."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL"
part_number: "1830"
part_name: "PRIVACY ACT REGULATIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 552a(f), 301, and 1212(e)."
regulatory_source: "87 FR 63413, Oct. 19, 2022, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1830"
---


# 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: [email protected];* 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, by following the rules contained in part 1820 of this chapter.