How to Cite a Government Document in Harvard Referencing

This guide explains how to format a government document citation in Harvard Referencing. Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a government document in Harvard Referencing:

Template

Agency/Author (Year) *Title*. Place of Publication: Publisher. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Department of Health, 2024)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Department of Health and Social Care (2024) *Major conditions strategy: case for change and our strategic framework*. London: HMSO. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/major-conditions-strategy (Accessed: 15 January 2026).

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the author
Use the government department or agency as the author. Write the full official name (e.g., Department of Health and Social Care).
2
Add the year
Place the year of publication in parentheses after the author name.
3
Write the document title
Italicise the title using sentence case.
4
Add publication details
Include the place of publication followed by a colon and the publisher (e.g., London: HMSO).
5
Include the URL and access date
Write 'Available at:' followed by the full URL, then '(Accessed: Day Month Year).' for online documents.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not italicising the title of the government document.
Omitting the place of publication and publisher.
Forgetting to include the access date for online government documents.
Using an abbreviation for the department name instead of the full name on first use.
Not including 'Available at:' before the URL.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a government document with no named author in Harvard?

Use the government department or agency as the corporate author. If neither is identifiable, begin the reference with the title of the document.

Do I need to include the place of publication for government documents?

Yes. Harvard style requires the place of publication and publisher for government documents. For UK government documents, this is typically 'London: HMSO' or 'London: The Stationery Office.'

How do I cite a government document that has been updated or revised?

Use the date of the edition you consulted. If the document notes it is a revised or updated edition, include that information after the title (e.g., 2nd edn).

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your government document:

Author/Agency
Title
Publication Number
Publisher
Year
URL

Generate citations automatically with CiteDash

Stop formatting citations by hand. CiteDash automatically generates accurate Harvard Referencing citations for all your sources while you research and write.

Start Free Trial More Harvard Referencing Guides

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the author

Use the government department or agency as the author. Write the full official name (e.g., Department of Health and Social Care).

Add the year

Place the year of publication in parentheses after the author name.

Write the document title

Italicise the title using sentence case.

Add publication details

Include the place of publication followed by a colon and the publisher (e.g., London: HMSO).

Include the URL and access date

Write 'Available at:' followed by the full URL, then '(Accessed: Day Month Year).' for online documents.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not italicising the title of the government document.

Omitting the place of publication and publisher.

Forgetting to include the access date for online government documents.

Using an abbreviation for the department name instead of the full name on first use.

Not including 'Available at:' before the URL.