Collection

Requests for personal data and service records: a detailed guide

How to apply for access to personal data held by the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

• From: Ministry of Defence
• Published: 9 November 2016
• Last updated: 3 April 2023 — See all updates

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently in the process of transferring circa 9.7 million Service records to The National Archives. The transfer is expected to complete in 2027.

More information on records that have been transferred to The National Archives.

British Army records

If your request relates to an army record of service, due to the volume of requests received there is currently a significant backlog, however, we are working hard to reduce this as quickly as possible.

Information about how to:

• apply for your own records (Subject Access Request)
• apply for service records of deceased service personnel
• apply for Home Guard service records
• apply for RAF casualty files
• apply for information about potentially hazardous exposure (Special Subject Access Request)

A short guide to finding out how to get a copy of military service records is available.

Information on making a complaint about how your request was handled.

Obtain your own records

Subject Access Request (SAR).

• Obtain information about yourself held by MOD
  • 21 March 2022
  • Guidance

Data protection

Exercise other data protection rights.

• Data Protection: rights for data subjects
  • 21 January 2021
  • Guidance

Records of deceased service personnel

• Request records of deceased service personnel
  • 3 April 2023
  • Guidance

Home Guard records

• Request Home Guard service records
  • 3 April 2023
  • Guidance

RAF casualty files

• Request information held on the RAF Casualty Files
  • 3 April 2023
  • Guidance

Potential hazardous exposure

Including information for Porton Down volunteers.

• Request information on potentially hazardous exposure during MOD employment
  • 30 May 2018
  • Guidance

Published 9 November 2016
Last updated 3 April 2023 + show all updates

1. 3 April 2023

   Updated information about accessing personal data and service records.

2. 24 March 2023

   Added: link to information on records that have been transferred to The National Archives.

3. 13 January 2023

   Added information about Records of Service for Deceased Service Personnel: requesters will no longer be required to pay the administration fee from 1 April 2023.

4. 17 August 2022

   Update to the British Army Records statement

5. 6 August 2021

   Added an update on delays caused by COVID-19.

6. 23 July 2020

   Updated the coronavirus statement.

7. 7 May 2020

   Updated the coronavirus (COVID-19) announcement.

8. 9 April 2020

   Updated COVID-19 announcement.

9. 8 April 2020

   Added coronavirus update.

10. 19 July 2019

    Added section: Data protection rights for data subjects.

11. 9 November 2016

    First published.