By Indicator detail
Please find below the lists of indicators that have been used to analyse each law. You can click on each of them and you will get the result for that indicator in each country.
| Country | Description | Scoring instructions | Max score | Finding | Points | Article | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 8(1) Institutions shall provide the requested information to the applicant as soon as possible …. | |
| Albania | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 15(1) The public authority handles the information request by giving the required information as soon as possible, but no later than 10 working days from the day of submission, unless otherwise provided for by the particular Law. | The Law establishes that public officials are required to handle the information requested as soon as possible (no later than 10 working days from the day of submission). |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 18(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), an official of a public responding to authority or private body must respond to a request for requests information as soon as practicable and in any event within twenty working days of receipt of the request if the request has been approved and the applicant has paid the fees required to be paid under section 20. | |
| Argentina | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | ARTÍCULO 1° — Objeto. La presente ley tiene por objeto garantizar el efectivo ejercicio del derecho de acceso a la información pública, promover la participación ciudadana y la transparencia de la gestión pública, y se funda en los siguientes principios: | |
| Australia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 15 Requests for access (5) On receiving a request, the agency or Minister must: ...b) as soon as practicable (...) take all reasonable steps to enable the applicant to be notified of a decision on the request (including a decision under section 21 to defer the provision of access to a document). | |
| Austria | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 8 (1) Access to the information shall be granted without undue delay, but at the latest… | |
| Azerbaijan | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 24. Term of execution of information request 24.1. The request for information shall be executed as soon as possible, but not later than 7 working days. 24.2. If this information loses its urgency within this period, the request must be answered immediately, and if this is not possible, no later than 24 hours. 24.3. In cases where there is a real threat to human life, health or liberty, information that requires a certain amount of time to search and prepare shall be provided within 48 hours (excluding rest, voting, non-working holidays and days of national mourning). 24.4. If the request is incomplete or inaccurate, the official shall notify the applicant of the identified deficiencies within 5 working days.24.5. The period of execution of the information request determined by this Law shall be calculated from the next business day following the day of registration of the request. 24.6. In cases specified in Article 24.4 of this Law, the deadline for execution of the request shall be from the next working day after the elimination of deficiencies, and in cases provided for in Article 23.1 of this Law, not later than the date of receipt of the request. calculated from the working day. | |
| Bahamas | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 7. Application for access. (4) A public authority shall respond to an application as soon as reasonably practical | |
| Belize | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | SECTION 16 "<...> the Ministry or prescribed authority shall take all reasonable steps to enable the applicant to be notified of a decision on the request as soon as practicable <...>" | Time within which formal request to be decided |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 14.4. "Notices referred to in subsections (2) and (3) shall be sent out as soon as possible and no later than 15 days from receipt of the request.<...>" | |
| Bulgaria | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 28(1) Each application for access to public information shall be considered within the shortest possible time, but not later that 14 days as of date of registration. | |
| Chile | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | ARTICLE 11. El derecho de acceso a la información de los órganos de la Administración del Estado reconoce, entre otros, los siguientes principios:(...) h) Principio de la oportunidad, conforme al cual los órganos de la Administración del Estado deben proporcionar respuesta a las solicitudes de información dentro de los plazos legales, con la máxima celeridad posible y evitando todo tipo de trámites dilatorios. | |
| Cook Islands | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Art 14 Decisions on Requests "(1) Subject to this Act, the Ministry or Minister of the Crown or organisation to whom a request is made in accordance with section 11 or is transferred in accordance with section 13 of this Act shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case not later than 20 working days after the day on which the request is received by that Ministry or Minister of the Crown or organisation, - (a) decide whether the request is to be granted and, if it is to be granted, in what manner and for what charge (if any); and (b) give or post to the person who made the request, notice of the decision on the request. | |
| Denmark | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Chapter 4, Section 16, part 1; "The authority concerned shall decide as soon as possible whether to grant a request, and whether the person requesting access shall be given access to the documents on site, or sent a transcript or office copy." | |
| El Salvador | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | ARTICLE 71 "La respuesta a la solicitud debera ser notificada al interesado en el menor tiempo posible, que no podra ser mayor de diez dias habiles, contados desde la presentacion de aquella, siempre que la informacion requerida no exceda de sinco de cinco anos de haber sido generada..." | |
| Estonia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 4. Principles of granting access to public information "(2) Access to information shall be ensured for every person in the quickest and easiest manner possible." | |
| Ethiopia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 14(3) Upon receiving request for information, the public relation officer, in accordance with sub-article (1): of this Article shall as expeditiously as possible either provide the information requested up on payment of the prescribed fee, or provide a written response stating the reasons for rejecting the request on any of the grounds specified under Chapter Three of this Proclamation notifying the requester his rights of appeal. However the response shall in any case be made not more than thirty working days, of the receipt of the request. | |
| Finland | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | [Principles of Openness] Article 14(4) A matter referred to in this section shall be considered without delay, and access to a document in the public domain shall be granted as soon as possible and in any event within two weeks from the date when the authority received the request for the document. If the number of the requested documents is large, if they contain secret parts or if there is any other comparable reason for the consideration and the decision of the matter requiring special measures or otherwise an irregular amount of work, the matter shall be decided and access to the document granted within one month of the receipt of the request for access by the authority. | |
| Gambia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 14(1) Subject to sub-section (2), the Information Officer to whom a request is made under section 11 shall, as soon as reasonably possible, but in any event within twenty-one days after the request is submitted - (a) determine whether to grant the request; (b) notify the requestor of the decision in writing; and (c) subject to sub-section (7), if the request is granted, subject to the payment of any applicable reproduction fee or transcription fee, give the requester access to the information. | |
| Georgia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 40(1) A public agency shall render a decision on providing or denying access to public information immediately or not later than ten days. | |
| Germany | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 7(5) The information is to be made accessible to the applicant forthwith, with due regard to his or her interests; [...] | |
| Hungary | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 29(1) The body undertaking public duties controlling the data shall satisfy the requirements relating to accessing data of public interest within the shortest possible space of time, but within a maximum period of 15 days. | |
| Iceland | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 11. Governmental authorities shall determine as soon as possible whether or not to comply with a request for accessing material. [...] | |
| India | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 7(1) Subject to the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 5 or the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 6, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, on receipt of a request under section 6 shall, as expeditiously as possible, [...] | |
| Ireland | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 13(1) Subject to this Act, a head shall, as soon as may be, but not later than 4 weeks, after the receipt of an FOI request - (a) decide whether to grant or refuse to grant the request or to grant it in part, (b) if he or she decides to grant the request, whether wholly or in part, determine the form and manner in which the right of access will be exercised, and (c) cause notice, in writing or in such other form as may be determined, of the decision and determination to be given to the requester concerned. | |
| Israel | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 7(2) The public authority shall notify the applicant without delay [...] | |
| Italy | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 5(6) The public access procedure must be completed with the issuance, within thirty days from the date of submittal of the relevant application, of an express and reasoned decree to be sent to the relevant applicant and the opposing parties, if any. If the application is accepted, the administration shall promptly provide the applicant with the data or documents requested, or, in case the application concerns data the publication of which is mandatory pursuant to this decree, shall publish the data, information or documents requested on the website and shall notify the applicant thereof, by also providing the relevant hyperlink. If the application is accepted, despite the opposition of other parties, without prejudice to the cases in which it is demonstrated that the release cannot be postponed, the administration shall notify the opposing party thereof and shall send the data or documents requested to the relevant applicant not earlier than fifteen days from that date of receipt of the notice by the opposing party. If the access application is rejected. postponed or restricted, reasons must be given making reference to the cases and subject to the limits set out in art. 5-bis. hereto. The person responsible for the prevention of corruption and for transparency, may ask information about the results of the applications to the offices of the relevant administration. | |
| Jamaica | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 7(4) A public authority shall respond to an application as soon as practicable [...] | |
| Kenya | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 9(1) Subject to section 10, a public officer shall make a decision on an application as soon as possible, but in any event, within twenty one days of receipt of the application [...] | |
| Liechtenstein | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Articles 3 and 33.2. | |
| Lithuania | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 6. Right to Obtain Information from State and Municipal Institutions and Agencies "<...> 4. Information for the production whereof the accumulation of additional data is not required shall be provided to the producers and/or disseminators of public information and journalists not later than within one working day, whereas information for the production whereof additional data has to be accumulated shall be provided not later than within one week. <...>" | |
| Luxembourg | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | A5(1): Le document demandé est mis à la disposition du demandeur dans les meilleurs délais et au plus tard dans le mois qui suit la réception de la demande par l’organisme sollicité selon les modalités suivantes : | |
| Maldives | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 7(a) Where a request to access for information is made under this Act, action on the request must be taken as promptly as possible and such access must be provided as soon as may be practicable. That period shall not in any event exceed 21 (twenty-one) days. | |
| Malta | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Art.10. "Subject to this Act, the public authority to which a request is made in accordance with article 6 or is transferred in accordance with article 8 shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case not later than twenty working days after the day on which the request is received by the authority - (a) decide whether the request is to be granted and, if it is to be granted, in what manner and for what charge (if any); and (b) inform the applicant accordingly in writing." | |
| Mexico | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 132. The response to the request shall be notified to the person concerned in the shortest possible time, not exceeding twenty days, counting from the day following the submission of the request. Exceptionally, the term referred to in the previous paragraph may be extended for ten more days, provided there are reasonable grounds, which must be approved by the Transparency Committee, by issuing a decision to be notified to the applicant before its expiration. | |
| Moldova | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 16 Time limits in which requests on accessing information are to be carried out (1) Information and documents requested will be presented to the applicant as soon as they become available, but not later than 15 working days from the day, on which the request to access information has been registered. | |
| Mongolia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 14.7. A request whose response can be immediately provided shall be resolved and responded immediately. | |
| Montenegro | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 16: "Any government agency shall be in obligation, upon any request for the information, to promptly make a resolution and to deliver it to any applicant,<...>" | |
| Namibia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 35(4) If the information requested is readily available to be accessed, the information officer must immediately provide the information and retain a record of the request and the response. 37(2) Subject to subsection (3), the information officer to whom a request for access to information is made must, as soon as reasonably practicable within 21 days after receipt, consider the request and must - (a) grant the request; or (b) refuse the request, and must notify the requester of the decision in writing. (3) If a request for access to information relates to information which reasonably appears to be necessary to safeguard the life or liberty of a person, the information officer must within 48 hours after receipt of the request consider the request and must - (a) grant the request; or (b) refuse the request, and must notify the requester of the decision in writing. | |
| Nepal | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 7(2) If an application is received pursuant to Sub-Section (1), Information Officer should provide the information immediately if the information by its nature could be provided immediately and has to provide within fifteen days from the date of application if the information by its nature could not be provided immediately. | |
| Netherlands | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 6, Paragraph 1: \"The administrative authority shall decide on the application for information at the earliest possible opportunity, <...>.\" | |
| New Zealand | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 15 Decisions on requests (1) Subject to this Act, the department or Minister of the Crown or organisation to whom a request is made in accordance with section 12 or is transferred in accordance with section 14 of this Act or section 12 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 shall, as soon as reasonably practicable...,— (a) decide whether the request is to be granted and, if it is to be granted, in what manner and for what charge (if any); and (b) give or post to the person who made the request notice of the decision on the request. | Public authorities must respond "as soon as reasonably practicable". |
| Nicaragua | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Artículo 28.- Es obligación de las autoridades correspondientes dar respuesta a las solicitudes que se les presenten, de manera inmediata o dentro de un plazo no mayor de quince días hábiles, contados a partir de la fecha de presentada la solicitud. En ningún caso la entrega de información estará condicionada a que se motive o justifique su utilización, ni se requerirá demostrar interés alguno | Requests should be answered immediately or within 15 days. |
| North Macedonia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Art 21. "(1) The information holder shall be bound to answer the requester's request immediately, or within 30 days following the date of information holder's receipt of such request at latest." | |
| Norway | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 29. (Administrative agency responsible for deciding a request for access,etc): "<...> The request shall be decided without undue delay.<...>" | |
| Pakistan | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 14(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a public body shall be required to respond to a request as soon as possible and in any case within ten working days of receipt of the request. | |
| Philippines | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 9(d): The government office shall respond to a request fully compliant with requirements of sub-section (a) hereof as soon as practicable but not exceeding fifteen (15) working days from the receipt thereof. The response mentioned above refers to the decision of the office or office concerned to grant or deny access to the information requested. | |
| Poland | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 13(1) Making the information available on the petition of is made without undue delay, no later however than within 14 days of submitting the petition, with the stipulation of it. 2 and Article 15, it.2. | |
| Rwanda | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | MINISTERIAL ORDER No 007/07.01/13 OF 27/12/2013: Article 2: An information officer shall make a decision on a request for information as soon as possible. However, the time limit shall not exceed three working (3) days from the date of receipt of the application. | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 10(1) | |
| Serbia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 16. Paragraph 1: "The competent authority is obliged to inform the recipient about the possession of information without delay, and no later than within 15 days from the day of reciept of the request, ie the arranged request, to present the document containing the information, or issue him a copy of the document. A copy of the document is sent for request on the day of sending the office of the authority from which th information was requested, ie on the day of sending the email." | "A public authority shall, without delay" |
| Seychelles | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 11 . (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Information Officer to whom a request is made under section 9 shall, as soon as reasonably possible, but in any event within 21 days after the request is submitted— (a) determine whether to grant the request; (b) notify the requester of the decision in writing; and (c) subject to subsection (7), if the request is granted, subject to the payment of any applicable reproduction fee or transcription fee, give the requester access to the information. | |
| Sierra Leone | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 4. (1) Subject to subsection (2), section 2 shall be complied with as soon as possible, and in any event within fifteen working days of receipt of the application. | |
| Slovakia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 17 Period for compliance with request: \"(1)The obliged person shall comply with the request for information without undue delay, but not later than eight working days after filing of the request or after the day the applicant removed imperfections of the request (Section 14, paragraphs 2 and 3), unless otherwise stipulated herein. (2) The obliged person shall be entitled to extend the period (paragraph 1) for serious reasons by a maxim um of eight working days. The following shall be regarded as serious reasons: a) searching for and gathering of required information on a place other than the headquarters of the obliged person complying with the request, b) searching for and gathering of large amount of separate or diverse information requested in a single request, c) provable technical problems related to the search and disclosure of information that are expected to b e removed within the extended period. (3) The obliged person shall notify the applicant o f the extension of the period without undue delay, not later than before the expiration of the period (paragraph 1). The notice must include the reasons leading to the extension of the period.\" | |
| Slovenia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Art 23. "The body shall decide about the applicants request immediately, and at the latest within the time limit of 20 working days beginning from the day of receiving the complete request." | |
| South Africa | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 25. (1) The information officer to whom a request for access is made or transferred, must, subject to section 26 and Chapter 5 of this Part, as soon as reasonably possible, but in any event within 30 days, after the request is received— (a) decide in accordance with this Act whether to grant the request; and (b) notify the requester of the decision and, if the requester stated, as contemplated in section 18(2)(e), that he or she wishes to be informed of the decision in any other manner, inform him or her in that manner if it is reasonably possible. | |
| Sri Lanka | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 24(4) Where an information officer is able to provide an immediate response to a citizen making a request and such response is to the satisfaction of the requester, the information officer shall make and retain a record of the request and the response thereto. Section 25. (1) An information officer shall, as expeditiously as possible and in any case within fourteen working days of the receipt of a request under section 24, make a decision either to provide the information requested for on the payment of a fee determined in accordance with the fee schedule referred to in section 14(e) or to reject the request on any one or more of the grounds referred to in section 5 of this Act, and shall forthwith communicate such decision to the citizen who made the request. (2) Where a decision is made to provide the information requested for, access to such information shall be granted within fourteen days of arriving at such decision. | "as expeditiously as possible" |
| Sudan | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 11(1) A public or private institution, civil society organizations, and others must respond to a request for information within the shortest possible time limits that should not exceed two weeks from the date of submitting the application. | |
| Sweden | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Chapter 2, Article 12, Paragraph 1: "An official document to which the public has access shall be made available on request forthwith, or as soon as possible, at the place where it is held, and free of charge, to any person wishing to examine it, in such form that it can be read, listened to, or otherwise comprehended. A document may also be copied, reproduced, or used for sound transmission. If a document cannot be made available without disclosure of such part of it as constitutes classified material, the rest of the document shall be made available to the applicant in the form of a transcript or copy." | |
| Switzerland | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 12 (Decision of the Authority) Section 1: "The authority shall make a decision as soon as possible; no later than 20 days after receipt of the application." | |
| Tajikistan | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 13(1)"Answer to a request for information is issued as soon as possible but not later than thirty calendar days after receiving the request." | |
| Tanzania | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 11(1) Where access to information is requested, the information holder to which the request is made shall, as soon as practicable but not exceeding thirty days after the request is received- (a) give written notice to the person who made the request as to whether the information exists and, if it does, whether access to the information or a part thereof shall be given; and (b) if access is to be given, promptly give the person requesting access to the information or a part thereof in the manner prescribed under this Act. | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 15. A public authority shall take reasonable steps to enable an applicant to be notified of the approval or refusal of his request as soon as practicable but in any case not later than thirty days after the day on which the request is duly made. | |
| Uganda | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 16. Decision on request and notice (1) The information officer to whom a request for access is made or transferred shall, subject to section 17, as soon as reasonably possible, be in any event, within twenty one days after the request is received - (a) determine in accordance with this Act, whether to grant the request; and (b) notify the person requesting the access of the decision and, if the person stated as required by section 11(2)(b), that he or she wishes to be informed of the decision in any other manner, inform him or her in that manner if it is reasonable possible. | 16(1) |
| Uruguay | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | Art 15 "... Ante la petición formulada por el interesado, el organismo requerido está obligado a permitir el acceso o, si es posible, contestar la consulta en el momento en que sea solicitado. ..." | |
| Uzbekistan | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 9(3) Response to a written application shall be issued in a prompt way, but not later than thirty days since the application has been received, if otherwise is not envisaged by the legislation. 9(4) Response to an oral application shall be given, as promptly as possible. | |
| Zimbabwe | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | YES | 2 | 7(3) If an information officer is able to provide an immediate response to an applicant that is to the satisfaction of the applicant, the information officer shall make the response.; 8(1) Subject to subsection (2), an information officer to whom a request is made shall, as soon as is reasonably possible, but in any event within twenty-one days of the date of the request—(a) determine whether to grant the request; and (b) notify the applicant of the decision whether to grant the request, in writing; and (c) subject to subsection (7), if the request is granted, give the applicant access to the information. | |
| Brazil | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | Partially | 1 | 15 Para 1 On the Access to Information Proceedings After the request is received, and should the requested information be available, the access to information shall be granted immediately. In case it is not possible to grant immediate access, the related body or entity shall, within twenty days: send the requested information to the applicant by postal or email address informed | |
| China | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | Partially | 1 | 33 Where administrative organs receiving open government information applications are able to respond at the scene, they should reply at the scene. Where administrative organs are not able to reply at the scene, they shall reply within 20 business days from receiving a request; where an extension of the time limit for replying is needed, they shall obtain the consent of the responsible person for the open government information work body and inform the applicant, the extension of the time limit must not exceed 20 business days at the longest. The time needed for administrative organs to seek the opinions of third parties and other organs is not be counted against the time limit provided in the preceding paragraph. | Obligation to reply "at the scene" if possible gets one point but not enough of a proper obligation for full points |
| Costa Rica | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 1 | 2. Definiciones. Para efectos del presente Decreto se entenderá por: … c. Información pública preconstituida: cualquier información pública solicitada que sea de fácil entrega, debido a la simplicidad de su trámite, y que la institución pública pueda brindar de forma inmediata. 5. Plazo de respuesta. . . . En caso de tratarse de información pública preconstituida, la autoridad pública deberá brindar lo solicitado de forma inmediata. | No such provision but 1 point given because easily attainable information should be granted immediately, and because there is some constitutional jurisprudence supporting that a response should be immediate or at least in a reasonable period. See Res. 3194-2013 as excerpted in https://www.pgr.go.cr/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/TryAmite_de_solicitudes.pdf. |
| Iran | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 8. The public institution shall grant requests for access to information in a prompt way and this duration must not exceed10 days. The executive regulations of this article will be approved by the cabinet in six months from the time this law is enacted considering the recommendations of the commission on publication and free access to information. | 'in a prompt way' is not quite the same as 'as soon as possible' but it warrants one point. |
| Kosovo | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | Partially | 1 | 11(6) Requests for access to public documents or reuse of public documents shall be treated rapidly and according to the principle of objectivity and impartiality pursuant to the applicable Law on General Administrative Procedure. | One point awarded because while requests must be dealt with rapidly, that is not the same as a requirement that requests must be dealt with as soon as possible. |
| Malawi | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | Partially | 1 | 19(1) Where a request for access to information is made, an information officer shall, within fifteen working days after the request is received, - (a) give written notice to the applicant as to whether the information exists and, where it does, whether access to the entire information requested or a part thereof will be given; and (b) where access shall be granted, promptly give the applicant access to the information. | 15 working days. |
| Republic of Belarus | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 4. Principles of legal regulation of information relations Legal regulation of information relations shall be based on the following principles: • timeliness of provision, objectivity, completeness and authenticity of information; Article 6. Right to information Citizens of the Republic of Belarus shall be guaranteed the right to receive, store and disseminate complete, reliable and timely information about the activities of state bodies, public associations, political, economic, cultural and international life, [and (or)] the state of the environment in the order established by this law and other legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus. Article 33. Rights and obligations of holder of information A holder of information shall be obliged to: provide accurate, complete information within specified time frame; | A general concept of timeliness is mentioned as well as a timeframe - but not as soon as possible |
| United Kingdom | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | Partially | 1 | Section 10: "(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), a public authority must comply with section 1(1) promptly and in any event not later than the twentieth working day following the date of receipt." | Requirement to comply "promptly" but this is not as strong as "as soon as possible" so only one point given. |
| Vietnam | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 30: (3) For simple, available information which can be provided immediately, the requested state agency shall, within 03 (three) working days from the date of receipt of valid request, provide information; See also Articles 29 and 31 | Not quite as soon as possible: within 3 days |
| Zambia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | Partially | 1 | 6(3) | |
| Andorra | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | |
| Angola | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Armenia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | 9(7) The answer to written inquiry is given in the following deadlines: (a) If the information required by the written inquiry is not publicized, than the copy of that information is given tot the applicant within 5 days after the application is filed. (b) If the information required by the written inquiry is publicized, than information on the means, place and time framework of that publication is given within 5 days after the application is filed. (c) If additional work is needed to provide the information required, than the information is given to the applicant within 30 days after the application is filed, about which a written notice is being provided within 5 days after the application submission, highlighting the reasons for delay and the final deadline when the information will be provided. | Not mentioned |
| Bangladesh | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Belgium | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | The law provides the maximum timeframe only. |
| Benin | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | |
| Bolivia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned |
| Burkina Faso | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Canada | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Cape Verde | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Colombia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | No - speed (celeridad) is included within the statement of principles, but that doesn't quite cut it here. |
| Croatia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Cyprus | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned |
| Czech Republic | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | The law does not include the saying "as soon as possible", but the deadline is 15 days. |
| Dominican Republic | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| East Timor | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | |
| Ecuador | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Fiji | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | Article 8. If the Commission accepts the request made under section 6, the Commission must, within 20 days from the receipt of the request - [...] (c) inform the person who made the request that the request has been accepted by the Commission and that the public agency has been directed to make the information available to that person. Article 12(1) A public agency to which a request has been forwarded by the Commission under section 8 or 10 must - [...] (c) provide access to the information, as soon as reasonably practicable and within 20 days from the receipt of the request from the Commission, to the person who made the request under section 6. | Even though the agency needs to provide the information as soon as possible, this is already potentially 20 days after the request was made. |
| France | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Ghana | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned |
| Greece | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | Article 4(1) When applications are made, the administrative authorities are obliged to handle the cases of the interested parties and decide on their requests within the time limit, if any, stipulated by the relevant special provisions, otherwise, within sixty (60) days. [...]. | |
| Guatemala | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Guinea | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | |
| Guyana | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Honduras | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Indonesia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Ivory Coast | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Japan | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Jordan | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Kazakhstan | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Kuwait | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | Partially | 0 | 8. The competent employee shall – after submitting to the head of the authority or whom they delegate – reply to the applicant within ten business days from the date of its receipt. This deadline can be extended for the same duration or more in the event when the application contains a big number of information, or when the access to the information requires consulting another authority, while notifying the applicant thereof, provided the total duration in all cases does not exceed three months. | Not mentioned. |
| Kyrgyzstan | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | Not mentioned. | |
| Latvia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned.State administration structure law. Section 10. Principles of State Administration (5) State administration in its activities shall observe the principles of good administration. Such principles shall include openness with respect to private individuals and the public, the protection of data, the fair implementation of procedures within a reasonable time period and other regulations, the aim of which is to ensure that State administration observes the rights and lawful interests of private individuals. |
| Lebanon | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Liberia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | No - "promptly" - not asap. | |
| Malawi | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | Not mentioned. | |
| Monaco | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | 23(2) L’autorité administrative est tenue de notifier au pétitionnaire les suites qu’elle entend réserver à sa demande dans un délai de quatre mois. (3) À défaut de réponse dans le délai mentionné au précédent alinéa, la demande est réputée rejetée. | Not mentioned |
| Morocco | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned |
| Mozambique | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | Right to Information Law Regulation ARTIGO 11 (Urgent Requests) 1. When the citizen shows that the access request is urgent for defense of fundamental rights or danger of severe damage, irreparable or difficult to repair, of his rights, interests or of the public interest, as well as for the disclosure of news of relevant public interest, the Public Authority hall make the information available in the shortest possible time. 2. The official or agent responsible of ensuring the right to information or any other official or agent in charge of making the information available is disciplinary liable for the frustration of the pretension, if there is evidence that he acted negligently disclosing lately the information requested with urgency. | Has a rule for urgent requests but no general requirement to respond asap |
| Niger | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | Not mentioned. | |
| Nigeria | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Palau | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | Not mentioned | |
| Panama | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | Not mentioned. | |
| Paraguay | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | |
| Peru | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Portugal | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Does not mention as soon as possible, however the stated time frame is 10 days. |
| Qatar | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | Not mentioned | |
| Romania | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | Not mentioned. | |
| Russia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | Not specifically mentioned. | |
| San Marino | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | 29(1). The authorities concerned shall act within thirty days from the date of receipt of the request or from the expiry of the term granted to one or more interested parties to submit any opposition pursuant to article 25, paragraph 3, after which Article 10, paragraph 2, of Law no. 68 of June 28, 1989 shall apply | No mention of requirement to respond as soon as possible. |
| Saudi Arabia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| South Korea | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | Not mentioned. | |
| South Sudan | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | ||
| Spain | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | |
| Taiwan | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Thailand | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | 11 - "Within a reasonable period of time.". | Otherwise the law is silent on timelines. |
| Togo | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned |
| Tunisia | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Turkey | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Ukraine | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | 20.1 Information administrator must provide a reply to the information request not later than five working days from the date of receipt of the request. | Although the time for response is short, this is not a duty to respond as soon as possible. |
| United States | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Vanuatu | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Venezuela | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | 10. Los sujetos obligados deberán responder a la solicitud de información de interés público dentro de los veinte días hábiles contados a partir de la recepción de la petición que cumpla con los requisitos previstos en esta Ley... | Not mentioned |
| Yemen | Public authorities are required to respond to requests as soon as possible. | Score: No=0, Yes=2 points | 2 | NO | 0 | Not mentioned. |
