Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection: Frequently Asked Questions

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has records in its custody related to unidentified flying object (UFO) and unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) investigations, sightings, and reporting. Explore the links below to find out more about records related to UFOs and UAPs in our holdings. Links to items in the National Archives Catalog are downloadable and can be republished with attribution to NARA.  

What is the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection?

Sections 1841–1843 of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, now codified at 44 U.S.C. 2107 note, require NARA to establish the ‘‘Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection” and each federal agency to review, identify, and organize each UAP record in its custody for disclosure to the public and transmission to the National Archives. NARA has established Record Group 615, The Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection. 

What records are included under the Act?

The Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) Records Collection will consist of  “copies of all Government, Government-provided, or Government-funded records relating to unidentified anomalous phenomena, technologies of unknown origin, and non-human intelligence (or equivalent subjects by any other name with the specific and sole exclusion of temporarily non-attributed objects).”  

Agencies must identify all UAP records that exist in any format. Agencies must make digital copies of these records and prepare them for transfer to NARA. NARA will only accept the digital versions of UAP records. 

When will UAP records be transferred to NARA?

NARA is receiving records from federal agencies on an ongoing, rolling basis. Visit Record Group 615: Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection for information on records that are available now in the National Archives Catalog. 

How are UAP records transferred to NARA?

Agencies with publicly releasable UAP records should contact NARA as soon as possible to provide information about their transfer plans and to initiate transfer of publicly releasable UAP records in advance of September 30, 2025. Each publicly releasable UAP record must include metadata according to the guidance to agencies announced in AC 26.2024. 

For any publicly releasable records that include redactions, agencies must simultaneously transfer redacted and unredacted copies to NARA. NARA will only accept digital versions of UAP records. UAP records transferred to NARA in accordance with the Act will be part of Record Group 615, Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection. Agencies will work with NARA to transfer records through established procedures for accessioning electronic records. 

How does NARA provide access to UAP records once transferred to NARA?

All copies of UAP records submitted to NARA in accordance with the Act must be digital. NARA will make publicly releasable copies of these records available online in the National Archives Catalog. Digital copies will initially be available onsite in the research complex at the National Archives at College Park via public-access computers until they are available online in the National Archives Catalog. Visit Record Group 615: Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection for information on records that are available now in the National Archives Catalog.  

How do I locate records related to UFOs and UAPs that were in NARA’s custody prior to the enactment of the 2024 NDAA?

The National Archives has in its custody records across multiple record groups and collections related to UFO and UAP investigations, sightings, and reporting. NARA has created a web page for Records Related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) at the National Archives. The page includes links to descriptions of records, and where available, links to the digitized records that are available for viewing or download.