FARA Web Guide

“The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) was enacted in 1938. FARA is a disclosure statute that requires persons acting as agents of foreign principals in a political or quasi-political capacity to make periodic public disclosure of their relationship with the foreign principal, as well as activities, receipts and disbursements in support of those activities.  Disclosure of the required information facilitates evaluation by the government and the American people of the statements and activities of such persons in light of their function as foreign agents. The FARA Registration Unit of the Counterespionage Section (CES) in the National Security Division (NSD) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Act.”

– Source: Department of Justice

The Foreign Agents Registration Act Unit at the Department of Justice maintains a helpful website with relevant reference materials including:

Archive of the FARA Unit’s semi-annual reports to congress dating from 1997 through 2008

– Interactive FARA Index and Act

Other statutes related to FARA

FARA FAQ

The FARA website also has a FARA Database Search where you may find information and documentation on all FARA registrants, both active and terminated, since the law was enacted in 1938:

– You may search by Primary Registrant, Short Form Registrant or Foreign Principal.

– As of January 19, 2010 there were 386 active FARA Registrants and 1,838 active FARA Short Form Registrants, together representing the interests of 533 active Foreign Principals.

– As of January 19, 2010 there had been a total (active and terminated) of 5,503 FARA Registrants and 33,275 FARA Short Form Registrants, together representing the interests of 14,257 Foreign Principals since FARA was enacted in 1938.