For the purpose of fees only, the FOIA divides requesters into three categories:

(1) commercial requesters may be charged fees for searching for records, reviewing the records, and photocopying them;

(2) educational, noncommercial scientific institutions, and representatives of the news media are charged for photocopying, after the first 100 pages;

(3) all other requesters (requesters who do not fall into any of the other two categories) are charged for photocopying after 100 pages and for time spent searching for records in excess of two hours. The VA charges $0.15 per single-sided page for photocopying. Actual costs are charged for a format other than paper copy, such as computer tapes, disks and videotapes.

Click here to view the VA fee schedule.

Agencies may grant fee waivers if the requester successfully describes that the disclosure of information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to the public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.