State Department Fax Number: Complete Guide (2026)

By Michael Chen · Published March 17, 2026 · Updated June 8, 2026 · 9 min read

The U.S. State Department does not have a single public "main" fax number. Instead, each bureau and office maintains its own contact channels — and most of them no longer accept faxes at all. This guide cuts through the confusion: every confirmed State Department fax number, exactly which offices accept them, and what to do when fax isn't an option.

If you need to send now, mFax.to lets you fax any of these numbers from your phone in under 2 minutes — no fax machine needed.

All State Department Fax Numbers at a Glance

1. FOIA Fax Numbers — The Primary Fax Channel

The Freedom of Information Act office is the one State Department division that actively accepts and relies on fax submissions. These are the only fax numbers officially listed on foia.state.gov.

What to Include When Faxing a FOIA Request

A well-prepared cover sheet reduces delays:

• "FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST" at the top in large text
• Attention: Information Access Programs Directorate (A/SKS/IAP)
• Your full legal name, mailing address, phone, and email
• A specific description of the records you want (avoid vague language)
• The time period or date range of the records
• Fee preferences: fee waiver request with justification, or maximum fee you'll pay
• Total page count including the cover sheet
• Mark CONFIDENTIAL if sending personally identifiable information

2. National Visa Center Fax Number

The NVC is the State Department office that processes immigrant visa cases after USCIS approves a petition. Their fax number remains active, but the office now strongly prefers digital contact.

3. Diplomatic Security — Public/Congressional Affairs

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) — which oversees protection of U.S. embassies, personnel, and certain investigations — maintains a publicly listed fax for congressional and general correspondence.

4. Offices That Do NOT Accept Fax

Understanding what cannot be faxed saves time and prevents sending sensitive information to the wrong place.

Passport Services

The National Passport Information Center (NPIC) does not publish or accept a fax number. There is no way to submit a passport application, renewal, or status inquiry by fax.

Office of Authentications (Apostille)

The Office of Authentications certifies U.S. documents for international use (apostilles). It accepts only mail and in-person submissions — no fax, no email for submissions.

Vital Records (Overseas Birth & Death Certificates)

The Office of Vital Records issues Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and death certificate replacements. No fax channel exists.

Nonimmigrant Visa Applications

All nonimmigrant visa applications go through the DS-160 online form. U.S. embassies and consulates do not list or accept public fax submissions.

Office of the Legal Adviser

The State Department's Office of the Legal Adviser handles treaty questions, international law, and interagency legal matters. Their publicly listed contact is phone and email — no fax.

How to Send a Fax to the State Department Without a Fax Machine

You do not need a physical fax machine to reach State Department fax lines. Online fax services work identically from a receiving perspective.

When to Fax vs. When to Use Other Channels

Fax is the right choice for a narrow set of State Department interactions. For everything else, digital channels are faster and officially preferred.

Cover Sheet Requirements for State Department Faxes

A proper cover sheet is essential — it routes your fax to the right person and protects your information.

Tips for Successful State Department Fax Submissions

Always verify numbers first. Fax numbers at government agencies do change. Before sending sensitive personal information, confirm the number against the official source: foia.state.gov for FOIA lines, nvc.state.gov for the NVC.

Send once, then wait. Duplicate fax submissions create multiple case files and delay processing. Submit once, note the date, and allow the normal processing window before following up.

Government lines can be busy. State Department fax lines receive high volume, especially around FOIA backlogs and visa processing spikes. If your first attempt doesn't go through, retry during off-peak hours (early morning or late afternoon Eastern time). Most online fax services automatically retry failed transmissions.

Get a virtual fax number to receive replies. If your FOIA request includes your own fax number for the State Department to respond to, turnaround tends to be faster than waiting for mailed responses. mFax.to provides a virtual fax number — any incoming State Department reply arrives as a PDF in your email.

Keep your transmission record. Save the confirmation report from your fax service alongside a copy of everything you sent. This is your proof of submission.

For a full step-by-step walkthrough of each use case — including how to draft a proper FOIA request letter and NVC inquiry — see our guide to faxing the State Department.

Send Your State Department Fax Now

Most people searching for the State Department fax number need to file a FOIA request for personal records or follow up on an immigrant visa case. You don't need a fax machine to do either.

mFax.to lets you send from your phone or browser in under 2 minutes — upload your PDF, enter the number, and send. Over 5 million people use mFax for government and business faxing.

For ongoing government correspondence, mFax Business gives you a dedicated fax number so you can receive State Department replies directly, with full audit logs. Instead of rigid fixed tiers, you build your own plan with a live calculator — choose the exact seats and pages you need and pay only for what you use, from about $9/mo (billed annually).