Making an ATIP Request

You can submit your Access to Information or Privacy request online or by mail.

Submitting a request online to Shared Services Canada

The Access to Information and Privacy Online Request Service offers convenient way to submit access to information or personal information requests. This service enables individuals to make online requests for information under the control of Government of Canada institutions instead of having to print, scan and email or mail a form to the correct institution.

Submit request online

Mailing your Request

While forms are available for the submission of both Access to Information and Privacy requests, using these forms is not essential. A letter clearly explaining what records you seek is sufficient.

• Privacy requests do not require any fees but we do ask for a signature.
• Access to Information requests must be accompanied by a $5.00 prescribed application fee, by way of a cheque or money order payable to the Receiver General of Canada.

If you have questions, please contact ATIP - Contact Us.

Forms

For those wishing to use the available access to information or privacy request forms, these can now be found on line at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat web site:

• Access to Information Act form
• Privacy Act form

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the costs involved when submitting a request under the Access to Information Act or Privacy Act?

Under the Privacy Act, there are no associated costs as it is your personal information that you are requesting.

Under the Access to Information Act, there is an initial $5.00 processing fee which covers the first 5 hours of search and preparation for your request. If more than 5 hours of search and preparation is needed for a request, a fee estimate will be calculated and you will be advised on the additional costs, which is $10.00 for every hour of research and preparation beyond the first 5 hours. Furthermore, you may be charged photocopy fees which are $0.20 a page for large requests, but again, you will be notified of any such additional costs in advance.

To avoid additional costs to your Access to Information request, please make sure that you describe, in great detail, the information that you are seeking. The more general and/or broad your request is, the more likely there will be additional fees attached to it.

2. I have received my information from your department and I am not satisfied with the results. What are my options?

It is the right for anyone who is requesting information from an ATIP office to file a complaint in relation to their request.

For Access to Information Act complaints, please send correspondence to:

The Information Commissioner of Canada
Place de Ville, Tower B
112 Kent Street, 22nd Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1H3

For Privacy Act complaints, please send correspondence to :

Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Place de Ville, Tower B
112 Kent Street, 3rd Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1H3

3. Where can I get more information about the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act?
To learn more about the Acts, please refer to the information published at the following web sites:
• Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
• Office of the Information Commissioner
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner
4. How do I make an Access to Information request?
To make a request under the Access to Information Act you may either submit your request on the Access to Information Request Form provided by the Treasury Board Secretariat or you may write to us stating what information you are seeking. Your request should be forwarded to the following address:
The Director
Access to Information and Privacy Protection Division
Shared Services Canada
PO Box 9808, STN T, CSC
Ottawa ON K1G 4A8
SSC.atip-aiprp.SPC@canada.ca
Fax: 613 995-7944
Please note:
• An application fee of $5.00 is required before the processing of your request under the Access to Information Act can begin. Payment can be made by cheque or money order payable to "The Receiver General of Canada", as well as in cash or by credit card.
• You must either be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or have an address in Canada in order to make an Access to Information request. Canadians living abroad will be required to provide proof of citizenship in order to receive the information they are seeking.
• If you are not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident and you would like to submit a request to our department, you will have to do so through a representative that is a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or has an address in Canada.
• Corporations, businesses and organizations with a Canadian presence have the right to make an Access to Information request.
• Please provide us with a detailed description of exactly what information you are seeking.
• If you are seeking personal information under our control, we suggest that you complete a request under the Privacy Act as indicated below.
• Please note that an applicant may be charged additional search fees and/or preparation fees in regards to a request they have submitted under the Access to Information Act
5. How do I make a Privacy request?
To make a request under the Privacy Act, you may either submit your request on the Personal Information Request Form provided by the Treasury Board Secretariat or you may write to us stating what personal information you are seeking. Your request should be sent to:
The Director
Access to Information and Privacy Protection Division
Shared Services Canada
PO Box 9808, STN T, CSC
Ottawa ON K1G 4A8
SSC.atip-aiprp.SPC@canada.ca
Fax: 613 995-7944
Please note:
• You must either be a Canadian citizen or present in Canada in order to make a Privacy request.
• We accept Privacy Act requests via email only if they include a signature.
• Sufficient information must be detailed in your request in order to allow us to locate your personal information.
• Please do not include your Social Insurance Number (SIN) as it is not required to make a Privacy Act request.
• Please note that no fees are charged under the Privacy Act.
6. How long does it take to get the information that I have requested?

We have 30 calendar days in which to respond to a formal request. However, if there is a lengthy or complex search involved in locating the information or if there are external consultations that need to be undertaken, we have a right to have more time to complete the request. If more time is needed, you will be advised of the extension.

7. Can I obtain all the information the government has about me by submitting a request to your Department?

Both the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act only permit us to release information that is under the control of this department. If you need information from a different federal department, such as Canada Border Services Agency, you will need to contact them directly. Please refer to the list of Access to Information and Privacy Coordinators.

Please note that you have a right to request your information under the control of a specific institution. There are some limited and specific cases where the information may be withheld.

Remember, the Acts only apply to federal government organizations. If you require information from provincial or municipal departments, you will need to contact them directly.

8. Does it matter which Act I submit my request under?

Your rights of access to your own personal information are in accordance with section 12 of the Privacy Act. Also, if you are looking for information about yourself, it is best to apply under the Privacy Act, as you will not be charged for making your request.

Information of a non-personal nature is to be requested under the Access to Information Act.

9. In what format can my final response package be sent to me?

Your package can be sent to you either on paper or on CD. CD release packages are provided in a PDF format which will work on both Mac and PC computers.

Please note that there may be fees associated with the production of paper documents.