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 | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 8(1) ... In case the institutions have a justifiable reason(s), this duration can be extended to another 10 working days. In case of any extension of the period, the institution shall contact the applicant and provide him/her a written justification including reasons for extension. | |
| Albania | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 15(3) Deadlines specified in points 1 and 2 of this Article, may be extended by no more than 5 working days for one of the following reasons: (a) the need to look for and consider numerous voluminous documents; (b) the need to expand the search in offices and facilities that are physically separated from the headquarters of the authority; (c) the need to consult with other public authorities before making a decision whether or no to meet the request. The decision to extend the deadline shall be immediately notified to the applicant. | The Law is clear about the extension of the timelines and indicates the three reasons which may lead to such extension. |
| Andorra | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 2 | "Article 14, 7. Processing and resolution: Refusal decisions must be duly motivated, as well as those that grant access partial or through a different modality to the one requested. Resolutions must also be motivated allow access when there has been opposition from a third party. In the latter case, it must be expressly stated to the person requesting that access can only be formalized once the resolution is final." "Article 14, 7. Tramitació i resolució: Les resolucions denegatòries han de ser degudament motivades, així com les que concedeixin l’accés parcial o a través d’una modalitat diferent a la sol·licitada. També han de ser motivades les resolucions que permetin l’accés quan hi hagi hagut oposició d’un tercer. En aquest darrer cas, s’ha d’indicar expressament a la persona sol·licitant que l’accés únicament es pot formalitzar una vegada la resolució sigui ferma." | |
| Angola | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | N/A | No extensions. |
| Antigua and Barbuda | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 18(3) The official of a public authority or private body may, by notice in writing within the initial period of twenty days extend the period in subsection (1) to the extent strictly necessary, and in any case to not more than forty working days, where the request is for a large number of records or requires a search through a large number of records and where compliance within twenty working days would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the public authority or private body. | limits extensions reasonably, with requirement for notification. |
| Argentina | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | ARTÍCULO 11° — Plazos. Toda solicitud de información pública requerida en los términos de la presente ley debe ser satisfecha en un plazo no mayor de quince (15) días hábiles. El plazo se podrá prorrogar en forma excepcional por otros quince (15) días hábiles de mediar circunstancias que hagan razonablemente difícil reunir la información solicitada. En su caso, el sujeto requerido debe comunicar fehacientemente, por acto fundado y antes del vencimiento del plazo, las razones por las que hace uso de tal prórroga. El peticionante podrá requerir, por razones fundadas, la reducción del plazo para responder y satisfacer su requerimiento. | |
| Australia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 15(6) Where, in relation to a request, the agency or Minister determines in writing that the requirements of section 26A, 27 or 27A make it appropriate to extend the period referred to in paragraph (5)(b): (a) the period is to be taken to be extended by a further period of 30 days; and (b) the agency or Minister must, as soon as practicable, inform the applicant that the period has been so extended. | The requirements that the extension be no more than 30 days and must be communicated to the applicant are also present for timeline extensions under ss. 15(7), 15AA, 15AB, etc. |
| Belgium | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Loi n° 94-1724, Article 6.5: "En cas d'ajournement, le délai ne pourra jamais être prolongé de plus de quinze jours" | The law establishes that the maximum extension is 15 calendar days. |
| Benin | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 80: L’agent ou le responsable public qui a reçu une demande est appelé, avec diligence et, dans les cinq (05) jours francs qui suivent la date de la réception à: ...Si le traitement de la demande dans le délai prévu au premier alinéa ne lui paraît pas possible sans nuire au déroulement normal des activités de l’organisme public, l’agent ou le responsable public peut, avant l’expiration du délai, le prolonger d’une période n’excédant pas trois (03) jours francs. Il en donne alors avis écrit au requérant par courrier express ou par les moyens les plus rapides. | |
| Bolivia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | N/A | No provision for extensions |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 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. For requests that necessitate processing under Articles 7 and/or Article 9(3), this 15 day time period shall be correspondingly extended by the time limits provided for in those Articles. The competent authority shall immediately notify the requester in writing of all extensions including the reasons for the extensions". Art. 7 "Where a competent authority reasonably determines that a request for access to information involves the confidential commercial interests of a third party, the competent authority shall forthwith notify the third party in writing of the specifics of the request and inform the third party that the disclosure of the information is imminent unless the third party, within 15 days from receipt of the notice, responds in writing that it considers the information to be confidential and gives reasons as to why harm would result from disclosure.Upon receipt of such a response the competent authority shall claim an exemption." Art. 9.3 "If disclosure of the requested information for which a competent authority has claimed an exemption under Articles 7 or 8 is determined to be in the public interest, the competent authority shall notify the third party in writing that the information shall be disclosed upon the expiry of 15 days of receipt of the notice.<...>" | There are two different time limit extensions: The art. 7. referred the extension of 15 days from receipt the notice when the request of information involves the confidential commercial interests of a third party. The art. 9.3 also allowed an extension of 15 days when the imminent disclosure of the requested information can affect the protection of personal privacy. |
| Brazil | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 11. The public organ or entity shall authorize or grant immediate access to the available information. Paragraph 2. The time frame referred in Paragraph 1 may be extended for another ten days, by means of express justification, which shall be informed to the applicant. | 11 Para 2 - 10 days with notice and explanation. |
| Bulgaria | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 30(1) The time period set in art. 28, sub-art. 1 may be extended with no more than 10 days, where the requested information as specified in the application is substantial in volume and additional time for it's preparation is needed. (2) The notification under art. 29, sub-art. 1 should state the reasons for the extension of the term in which the access to the public information shall be granted. | |
| Burkina Faso | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 16 : Le responsable du service chargé de l’accès à l’information publique et aux documents administratifs dispose d’un délai de vingt jours pour répondre à la demande. Lorsque celui-ci n’est pas en mesure de répondre à une demande d’accès à l’information et aux documents administratifs, le délai peut être prolongé de dix jours. Il en informe le demandeur avant l’expiration du délai. Cependant, si l’information ou le document administratif est nécessaire pour sauver la vie ou respecter la liberté d’une personne, il est donné sans délai. | There are limits but the grounds for extension are not clear. |
| Cape Verde | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | (3) In exceptional cases, if the volume or complexity of the information justifies it, the period referred to in numbers 1 and 2 may be extended up to a maximum of one month, and the applicant must be informed of this fact, with an indication of the respective reasons, in the period of 15 (fifteen) days. | |
| Chile | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | ARTICLE 14. "(...) Este plazo podrá ser prorrogado excepcionalmente por otros diez días hábiles, cuando existan circunstancias que hagan difícil reunir la información solicitada(...)" | Art 14 - 10 additional workdays with requirement for notification |
| Costa Rica | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 7. Costo de la reproducción. El costo de la reproducción de la información pública solicitada será de cuenta del solicitante, a quien deberá comunicarse dicha circunstancia. Tales gastos no podrán exceder el costo de reproducción y de envío, en caso necesario. El funcionario encargado procurará reducir el costo al mínimo. | Will not exceed 1 month and requesters must be informed (this is affirmed in jurisprudence too). |
| Croatia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Art.22.: (1) Deadlines for exercising the right of access to information may be prolonged by 15 days from the day when the public authority body was expected to decide on the request for access to information: 1) if the information must be sought outside of the public authority body headquarters, 2) if numerous different information are requested in a single request, 3) if this is necessary in order to ensure the accuracy and validity of the requested information, 4) if the it is bound to conduct proportionality and public interest test in accordance with the provisions of this Law. (2) The public authority body shall, without delay but no later than eight days since receiving an orderly request, notify the Submitter on any prolongation of deadlines and the reasons thereof. | |
| Czech Republic | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 14 "(7) Based on serious reasons, the obligated body may extend the time limit for information provision may be extended under paragraph 5d), however, for no longer than ten days. Such serious reasons are :a) the retrieval and collection of the requested information in other offices separate from the office processing the request, b) the retrieval and a collection of a large volume of separate and different information requested in a single request, c) consultations with another obligated body that has a substantial interest in the decision on the request, or between two or more parts of the obligated body with a substantial interest in the object of the request." | |
| Denmark | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Chapter 5, Section 16. " 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. 2. If an application has not been granted or rejected within ten days of its receipt by the authority concerned, the authority shall inform the applicant of the reasons for this and also of the date when a decision can be expected." | |
| Dominican Republic | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | ARTICLE 8. "(...) El plazo se podrá prorrogar en forma excepcional por otros diez (10) días hábiles en los casos que medien circunstancias que hagan difícil reunir la información solicitada. En este caso, el órgano requerido deberá, mediante comunicación firmada por la autoridad responsable, antes del vencimiento del plazo de quince (15) días, comunicar las razones por las cuales hará uso de la prórroga excepcional." | |
| East Timor | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | N/A | No extensions. |
| Ecuador | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | ARTICLE 9 "(...) Su responsabilidad será recibir y contestar las solicitudes de acceso a la información, en el plazo perentorio de diez días, mismo que puede prorrogarse por cinco días más, por causas debidamente justificadas e informadas al peticionario." | Art 9 - 5 additional days and requirement for notification |
| El Salvador | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 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..." | Art 71 - 10 working days if info is more than 5 years old, and then by another 5 working days max. |
| Estonia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 19. Extension of terms for compliance with requests for information "If a holder of information needs to specify a request for information or if identification of the information is time-consuming, the holder of information may extend the term for compliance with the request for information for up to fifteen working days. The holder of information shall notify the person making the request for information of extension of the term together with the reasons therefor within five working days." | |
| Finland | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 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. [Administrative Procedure Act] Article 7. Service and the consideration of matters by an authority should be arranged so that the customer of the administration receives appropriate service and that the authority can perform its tasks productively. Article 8. An authority shall provide to its customers the necessary advice, within its competence, for taking care of administrative matters; as well as respond to the questions and queries on its service. Advice shall be provided free of charge. If the matter does not fall within the competence of an authority, it should direct the customer to the competent authority. | The established timeframe will be 1 month (20 working days). No specific rule about notifying the requester, but it is a standard administrative procedure that can be inferred by the reading of Articles 7 and 8 of the Administrative Procedure Act. |
| Gambia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 15(1) Subject to sub-section (2), the Information Officer to whom a request is made may extend the period to respond to a request in section 14(1) on a single occasion for a period of not more than fourteen days if - (a) the request is for a large amount of information or requires a search through a large amount of information and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with the activities of the information holder concerned; or (b) consultations are necessary to comply with the request that cannot be reasonably completed within twenty-one days. (2) If any part of the information requested can be considered by the Information Officer within the time period specified under section 14(1), it shall be reviewed and a response provided to the requester in accordance with that section. (3) If a period to respond to a request is extended in terms of subsection (1), the Information Officer shall forthwith after the decision to extend has been taken by him or her, but in any event within twenty-one days after the request is received, notify the requester in writing of that extension. (4) The notice in terms of sub-section (3) shall state - (a) the period of the extension; (b) adequate reasons for the extension, based on the provisions of this Act; and (c) that the requester may apply for a review of the decision in accordance with section 39. | |
| Ghana | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 25 (1) The head of the institution may extend the time provided for dealing with the application for a further period if (a) the application is for a large volume of information or necessitates a search through a large number of records and compliance with the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the public institution, (b) the information requested has to be gathered from more than one source, or (c) consultations with a person outside the public institution are required and cannot reasonably be complied with within the time limit. (2) The period of extension shall not exceed seven days from the date when a decision on the application should have been made. (3) Where an extension of time is granted under this section, an information officer shall, within seven days of the receipt of the application, notify the applicant in writing stating, (a) the period of the extension, (b) the reason for the extension, and (c) the right of the applicant to lodge an application for a review under sections 31 to 39 within the prescribed period. | |
| Guatemala | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Artículo 40. Los sujetos obligados adoptarán las medidas de seguridad que permitan dotar de certeza a los informes enviados por mensajes de datos. En cualquier caso conservarán constancia de las resoluciones originales. | |
| Guinea | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 23. Le délai prévu à l'article 18 de la présente loi, peut être prolongé de dix (10) jours avec notification au demandeur d'accès, lorsque la demande porte sur l'obtention ou la consultation de plusieurs informations détenues par le même organisme. | 10 day extension with notification. Would be preferable to require reasons to be given to the requester. |
| Hungary | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 29(2) The deadline set in subsection (1) may be extended once by 15 days should the request for data concern an extensive and large volume of data. The applicant must be notified of this within a period of eight days following the receipt of the request. | |
| India | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | N/A | No extensions. Not mentioned. |
| Indonesia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 22(8) The Public Agency concerned may extend the period to dispatch the notification as referred to in paragraph (7) to no later than 7 (seven) working days thereafter, with the reason therefore in writing. | The language also seems to suggest that an explanation be provided, but this is unclear due to issues with the translation. |
| Ireland | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 14(1) The head may, as respects an FOI request received by him or her (the "specified request"), extend the period specified in section 13 (1) for consideration of the request by such period as he or she considers necessary but not exceeding a period of 4 weeks if, in the opinion of the head - (a) the request relates to such number of records, or (b) the number of other FOI requests relating either to the record or records to which the specified request relates or to information corresponding to that to which the specified request relates or to both that have been made to the FOI body concerned before the specified request was made to it and in relation to which a decision under section 13 has not been made is such, that compliance with that subsection within the period specified therein is not reasonably possible. | Public bodies can seek a 4 week extension, and the requester has no option but to accept. |
| Italy | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 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. | |
| Ivory Coast | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 13. Les délais prévus à l’article précédent peuvent être renouvelés une seule fois dans le cas où leur observation entraverait le fonctionnement de l’organisme, en raison soit du grand nombre de documents demandés, soit de l’ampleur des recherches à effectuer pour donner suite à la demande. A l’expiration de ces délais, il est notifié au requérant un avis de prorogation. Cet avis l’informe de son droit d’exercer un recours contre la décision de prorogation devant la Commission d’accès à l’information prévue par la présente loi. | |
| Jordan | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | N/A | No extensions. |
| Kazakhstan | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 11(10) [...] In cases, when requested information is within competence of several information holders and in order to give a response it's necessary to receive information from other information holders, the period of time for consideration can be once extended for another 15 days by the head of an information holder. An information user should be informed about it within three working days from the moment of extension. | |
| Kosovo | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 12(3) The public institution may extend the deadline set out under paragraph 1 of this Article for decision making on access to public documents to a maximum of fifteen (15) additional days if: (3.1) the document has to be searched within a large number of documents or outside the public institution; or (3.2) the same applicant requests, with a single application, a large number of public documents. (4) The public institution shall notify the applicant immediately of the progress and the reasons causing the extension of the deadline, but no later than eight (8) days after receiving the request. | |
| Kyrgyzstan | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 17.2...In the event that the preparation of a response to the request within the established period is not possible or is extremely difficult due to a large amount of information or coordination with third parties, the owner of the information has the right to extend the period for responding to the request up to 10 working days additionally by sending a corresponding written (electronic) notice to the applicant before the expiration of the initial period, indicating the reason for the delay. | |
| Lithuania | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 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. <...>" | |
| Malawi | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 19. (2) Where the information holder requires further information in order to identify or locate the information requested, the applicant shall be notified of the need for such further information within seven working days of receiving the request and in that case, the period referred to in subsection (1) shall be calculated from the date on which such further information is received from the applicant. | No extensions. |
| Maldives | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 7(c) Where the information requested is to be provided by undergoing extensive research, or where the information so requested is great in quantity, and where having to set aside time to undertake such tasks would impede significantly the general functions of the State Institute, for the reasons mentioned herein, the State Institute, before the expiration of the 21 (twenty-one) days mentioned in subsection (a) of this section, has the right to extend the time to an additional 14 (fourteen) days within which to comply with request for information. 12. Where a request for access to information is received to a State Institute, it shall reply to the applicant in writing, informing: (e) where the information requested cannot be disclosed within 21 (twenty-one) days, the reason(s) for the delay; | Limit on time extensions to an additional 14 days, and a requirement for notification. |
| Malta | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Art. 11. "(1) Where a request in accordance with article 6 is made or transferred to a public authority, the authority may extend the time limit set out in article 10 by up to forty working days in respect of the request if - (a) the request is for a large number of documents or necessitates a search through a large number of documents, and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the public authority; or (b) consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are such that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit. (2) Any extension under subarticle (1) shall be for a reasonable period of time having regard to the circumstances. (3) The extension shall be effected by giving notice to the person who made the request within twenty working days after the day on which the request is received, and the notice shall - (a) specify the period of the extension; (b) give the reasons for the extension; (c) state that the applicant has the right under article 23 to make a complaint to the Commissioner about the extension; and (d) contain such other information as is necessary." | |
| Mexico | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 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 | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 16 Time limits in which requests on accessing information are to be carried out (2) The manager of the public institution may extend by 5 working days the term, in which the information and documents are supplied, if: a) a very large amount of information has been requested, and it requires selection; b) additional consultations are necessary in order to carry out the request. (3) The requesting party will be informed about any extension of the term and the reasons for that, five days before the initial term expires. | |
| Mongolia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 14.9. If deems necessary, period specified in the article 14.8 of this Law may be extended once by 7 days. | |
| Montenegro | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 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, whereas not later than eight days as of the day of the request for information being submitted. Except for paragraph 1 of this Article and in cases when it is required for the purposes of protecting lives or freedoms of persons, any government agency shall be in obligation to promptly make and to deliver a resolution to any applicant, whereas not later than 48 hours upon such request has been submitted. If the range of the required information is big or if the searching for such information requires an extensive documentation inspection that would unreasonably disrupt regular operations of any government agency relevant therefore, the deadline for making and delivering a resolution, referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, may be prolonged by 15 days at most. | |
| Morocco | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 16(1) L'institution ou l'organisme concerné doit répondre à la demande d'accéder à l'information dans un délai ne dépassant pas vingt (20) jours ouvrables à compter de la date de réception de la demande. Ce délai peut être prolongé d'une durée similaire, si l'institution ou l'organisme concerné n'est pas en mesure de donner suite, en tout ou en partie, à la demande de l'intéressé dans le délai précité, ou si la demande porte sur un grand nombre d'informations, ou s'il était impossible de fournir les informations durant le délai précité ou si leur délivrance nécessite la consultation préalable de tiers. (2) L'institution ou l'organisme concerné est tenu d'aviser l'intéressé au préalable de ladite prolongation, par écrit ou par courrier électronique, tout en précisant les raisons. | Another 20 days, but grounds not very clear. |
| Mozambique | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | N/A | No extensions seem to be permitted |
| Namibia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 39(1) Subject to subsection (3), an information officer may extend the period within which to consider a request received under section 35 to a period of not more than 14 days on a single occasion, if - (a) the request is for a large amount of information or requires a search through a large amount of information that cannot be provided or completed within 21 days without unreasonable interference with the main activities of the information holder; or (b) the holding of consultations is necessary to comply with the request and cannot be reasonably completed within 21 days. (2) If the information officer considers any part of the information requested within 21 days specified in section 37(2), the information officer may decide in respect of such part in accordance with that section. (3) If a period to respond to a request is extended in terms of subsection (1), the information officer must, within the 14 day extension, notify the requester in writing of the extension. (4) The notice in terms of subsection (3) must state - (a) the period of the extension; (b) the reasons for the extension, based on the provisions of this Act; and (c) that the requester may apply for review of the decision in accordance with section 48. | 14 days. Enough for full points although notice under s. 39(3) is to be provided within the 14 days and not within the original 21 days as it should be. |
| Nepal | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | No extensions | |
| Netherlands | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 6, Paragraph 1: \"The administrative authority shall decide on the application for information at the earliest possible opportunity, and in any event no more than two weeks after the date of receipt of the application. The dministrative authority may defer the decision for no more than a further two weeks. The applicant shall be notified in writing, with reasons, of the deferment before the first two-week period has elapsed.\" | |
| Nicaragua | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Artículo 29.- El plazo anterior podrá ser prorrogado por diez días hábiles si concurre alguna de las siguientes circunstancias: a. Que los elementos de información requeridos se encuentran en todo o en parte, en otra dependencia del Estado o se encuentre alejada de la oficina donde se solicitó. b. Que la solicitud, requiera de alguna consulta previa con otros órganos administrativos. c. Que la información requerida sea voluminosa y necesite más tiempo para reunirse. d. Que la información solicitada necesite de un análisis previo por considerarse que está comprendida en las excepciones establecidas de esta ley. La entidad requerida deberá comunicar, antes del vencimiento del plazo original de quince días las razones por las cuales hará uso de la prórroga excepcional. | |
| Niger | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | No extensions. | |
| Nigeria | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 6 The public institution may extend the time limit set out in Section 5 or Section 6 in respect of an application for a time not exceeding 7 days if – (a) The application is for a large number of records and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the public institution; or (b) Consultations are necessary to comply with the application that cannot reasonably be completed within the original time limit, by giving notice of the extension stating whether the extension falls under the circumstances set out in this section, which notice shall contain a statement that the applicant has a right to have the decision to extend the limit reviewed by the Court. | S. 6 - 7 additional days with notice requirement
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| North Macedonia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Art. 22 "(1) If the information holder should need a time period longer than the one prescribed in Article 21 of the present Law to enable partial access to certain information, in line with Article 7 of the present Law, or due to the large scope of the document requested, it may extend the time period needed, yet the time period for issuing information may not, as a whole, exceed the period of 40 days following the date of receipt of an information request." | |
| Pakistan | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 14(2) The period stipulated in sub-section (1) may be extended by maximum of further ten working days where it is necessary when the request requires a search through a large number of records or records located in different offices or consultation is required with third parties or other public bodies. | |
| Panama | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Artículo 7: (...) De tratarse de una solicitud compleja o extensa, el funcionario informará por escrito, dentro de los treinta días calendario antes señalados, la necesidad de extender el término para recopilar la información solicitada. En ningún caso, dicho término podrá exceder de treinta días calendarios adicionales. (...) | Article 7 of Law 6 of 2002: another 30 calendar days in limited cases, with a requirement for notification |
| Paraguay | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | N/A | No mechanism for extensions. |
| Peru | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 11 Procedimiento: El acceso a la información pública se sujeta al siguiente procedimiento:(...) b) La entidad de la Administración Pública a la cual se haya presentado la solicitud de información deberá otorgarla en un plazo no mayor de 7 (siete) días útiles; plazo que se podrá prorrogar en forma excepcional por cinco (5) días útiles adicionales, de mediar circunstancias que hagan inusualmente difícil reunir la información solicitada. En este caso, la entidad deberá comunicar por escrito, antes del vencimiento del primer plazo, las razones por las que hará uso de tal prórroga. En el supuesto de que la entidad de la Administración Pública no posea la información solicitada y de conocer su ubicación y destino, esta circunstancia deberá ser puesta en conocimiento del solicitante.
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The law's parameters for extensions could be stricter (exceptional cases when the requested information is unusually difficult to gather) but they still deserve full marks because of a requirement for notification and the short length of the extension. |
| Romania | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 7(1): "The public authorities and institutions have the obligation to respond in writing to the request of the public interest information within 10 days or, as the case may be, within 30 days from the registration of the request, depending on the difficulty, the complexity, the volume of documentary work and the urgency of the request If the time required to identify and disseminate the information exceeds 10 days, the response shall be communicated to the applicant within 30 days, provided written notice thereof is given within 10 days." | Article provides: "The public authorities and institutions have the obligation to answer in writing, to the request of the information of public interest within 10 days."& This timeline could be extended to 30 days (20 working days) depending of the complexity of the matter. |
| Russia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 18(6): (Request for Information on the Activities of Government Bodies and Bodies of Local Self-Government): The request is subject to consideration within thirty (30) days from the date of its registration unless otherwise stipulated in the legislation of the Russian Federation. If granting of the requested information is not possible within the specified term, the information user shall be notified, within seven days from the date of registration of the request, of the delay of response to his request, including the reason for the delay and the time period in which the requested information will be granted, which cannot be more than fifteen (15) days in excess of the period defined by the present Federal Law for a response to a request. | The timeline extension is 15 days. |
| Seychelles | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 12. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Information Officer to whom a request is made may extend the period to respond to a request in section 11(1) for a period of not more than 14 days if— (a) the request is for a large amount of information or requires a search through a large amount of information and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with the activities of the information holder concerned; or (b) consultations are necessary to comply with the request that cannot be reasonably completed within 2l days. (2) If any part of the information requested can be considered by the Information Officer within the time period specified under section 11(1), it shall be reviewed and a response provided to the requester in accordance with that section. - (3) If a period to respond to a request is extended in terms of subsection (I), the Information Officer shall, after the decision to extend time has been taken by him or her, but in any event within 21 days after the request is received, notify the requester in writing of that extension. (4) The notice in terms of subsection (3) shall state (a) the period of the extension; (b) reasons for the extension, based on the provisions of this Act; and (c) that the requester may apply for a review of the decision in accordance with section 34. | |
| Slovakia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 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.\" | |
| South Africa | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 26. (1) The information officer to whom a request for access has been made or transferred, may extend the period of 30 days referred to in section 25(1) (in this section referred to as the ‘‘original period’’) once for a further period of not more than 30 days, if— (a) the request is for a large number of records or requires a search through a large number of records and compliance with the original period would unreasonably interfere with the activities of the public body concerned; (b) the request requires a search for records in, or collection thereof from, an office of the public body not situated in the same town or city as the office of the information officer that cannot reasonably be completed within the original period; (c) consultation among divisions of the public body or with another public body is necessary or desirable to decide upon the request that cannot reasonably be completed within the original period; (d) more than one of the circumstances contemplated in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) exist in respect of the request making compliance with the original period not reasonably possible; or (e) the requester consents in writing to such extension. (2) If a period is extended in terms of subsection (1), the information officer must, as soon as reasonably possible, but in any event within 30 days, after the request is received or transferred, notify the requester of that extension. (3) The notice in terms of subsection (2) must state— (a) the period of the extension; (b) adequate reasons for the extension, including the provisions of this Act relied upon; and (c) (c) that the requester may lodge an internal appeal, complaint to the Information Regulator or an application with a court, as the case may be, against the extension, and the procedure (including the period) for lodging the internal appeal, complaint to the Information Regulator or application, as the case may be. | |
| Spain | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Artículo 20 (Resolución): Este plazo podrá ampliarse por otro mes en el caso de que el volumen o la complejidad de la información que se solicita así lo hagan necesario y previa notificación al solicitante. | |
| Sri Lanka | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 25(5) The period of fourteen days referred to in subsection (2) for providing access to information may be extended for a further period of not more than twenty one days where- (a) the request is for a large number of records and providing the information within fourteen days would unreasonably interfere with the activities of the public authority concerned; or (b) the request requires a search for records in, or collection of records from, an office of the public authority not situated in the same city, town or location as the office of the information officer that cannot reasonably be completed within the fourteen days. Section 25(6) Where a period for providing information is to be extended for any of the circumstances referred to in subsection (5), the information officer shall, as soon as reasonably possible, but in any case within fourteen days, notify the citizen concerned of such fact giving the following reasons:– (a) the period of the extension; and (b) reasons for the extension. | |
| Sudan | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 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. | No extensions |
| Switzerland | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 12 (Decision of the Authority) Section 2: "The deadline may, under exceptional circ umstances, be extended by 20 days, should the application for access concern a large number of documents or documents which are complex or difficult to obtain. Should an application concern official documents containing personal information, the deadline shall be extended for the required period." Section 4: "The authority shall inform the applicant, with summary grounds, of any extension of the deadline, limitation or refusal of access. Information concerning the limitation or denial of access, as well as the grounds therefor, shall be conveyed in writing." | The timeline extension will be 20 days. |
| Tajikistan | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 13(1) - 15 days plus requirement for notice | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | N/A | No extensions. |
| Tunisia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Art. 19 - Le délai prévu à l’article 14 de la présente loi, peut être prolongé de dix (10) jours avec notification au demandeur d’accès, lorsque la demande porte sur l’obtention ou la consultation de plusieurs informations détenues par le même organisme. | |
| Uganda | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 17. Extension of period to deal with request. (1) The information officer to whom a request for access has been made or transferred, may extend the period of twenty one days referred to in section 16(1), in this section referred to as the "original period", once for a further period of not more than twenty one days, if - (a) the request is for a large number of records or requires a search through a large number of records and compliance with the original period would unreasonably interfere with the activities of the public body concerned; (b) the request requires a search for records in, or collection of the records from, an office of the public body not situated in the same city, town or location as the office of the information officer that cannot reasonably be completed within the original period; (c) more than one of the circumstances contemplated in paragraphs (a) and (b) exist in respect of the request, making compliance with the original period not reasonably possible; or (d) the person requesting for the record consents in writing to the extension. (2) Where a period is extended under subsection (1), the information officer shall, as soon as reasonably possible, but in any case within twenty one days, after the request is received or transferred, notify the person requesting the record of the extension. (3) A notice given under subsection (2) shall state - (a) the period of the extension; (b) adequate reasons for the extension, including the provisions of this Act relied upon; and (c) that the person may lodge an internal appeal or an application with a court, as the case may be, against the extension, and the procedure, including the period, for lodging the internal appeal or application, as the case may be. | S. 17
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| Ukraine | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 20.4 If the request requires providing a big scope of information or requires search within a large amount of data, the information administrator may extend the term for consideration of the request to 20 working days with substantiation of such extension. The information administrator shall notify the requester about the extension in writing no later than five working days from the date of receipt of the request. | |
| Uruguay | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Artículo 15. (Plazos).- Cualquier persona física o jurídica podrá formular la petición de acceso a la información en poder de los sujetos obligados. 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. En caso contrario tendrá un plazo máximo de veinte días hábiles para permitir o negar el acceso o contestar la consulta. El plazo podrá prorrogarse, con razones fundadas y por escrito, por otros veinte días hábiles si median circunstancias excepcionales. | Art 15 - 20 workdays more, with notification requirement. |
| Uzbekistan | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 9(5) In the instance of impossibility to give response within the period envisaged in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article, the applicant shall be provided with notification of delay. 9(6) Delay in providing of the information applied for shall not exceed two months since the date of submission of the application. The notification of delay shall be sent to the applicant within one week since the date of submission of the application. 9(7) Notification of delay shall indicate: the reasons for impossibility of providing with the information applied for in time; the date, by which the information in question shall be provided. | Two months in total so original 30 days plus 30 more. Notice with reasons required. |
| Vanuatu | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 20. Extension of time (1) A Right to Information Officer may extend the period for responding to an application for only one occasion, for a period of not more than 14 days if: (a) the application is for a large amount of information or requires a search through a large amount of information and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with the activities of the Government agency, relevant private entity or private entity; or (b) consultations that are necessary to comply with the application cannot be reasonably completed within the 30 day period set out in subsection 16(1). (3) If the period to respond to an application is extended, the applicant is to be notified and the notice must: (a) state the period of the extension; and (b) provide the reasons for the extension; and (c) inform the applicant of his or her right of appeal to the Information Commissioner and set out the procedure for appealing and the applicable time limits in accordance with section 64. | - |
| Vietnam | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 30(4): If the requested agency need more time to review, search, collect, copy, resolve the request of information provision, the time limit may be extended for a maximum of 15 working days. The requested agency shall inform the requester of the extension of the deadline for providing information in written forms. See also Articles 29 and 31. Reg. 5(1): Forms of written requests for use in the provision of information at request as provided in the Appendix to this Decree include: … d/ Form of notice on extension of the time limit for requesting the, provision of information: Form No. 04. | |
| Yemen | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 18: "The employee in charge shall respond to the request within fifteen days from the date of its submission, the employee may extend this period for one period of time not to exceed fifteen days if the application contains a large number of information, or if access to information requires reasonable consultation of another party, whereas it would be considered as a denial to the request if there was no response during that period of time. And where such extension is appropriate, the employee in charge shall report to the applicant in writing, during original period of time while giving priority to requests that were applied by the journalists and people who collect news and job seekers who work during the time limits or by those who ask for information on issues dealing with the public interest or public affairs." | Article 18 - One extension for 15 days - if the application contains a large number of information, or if access to information requires reasonable consultation of another party - with a requirement for notification. Also - it prioritizes requests by journalists or by those who ask for information on issues dealing with the public interest or public affairs. |
| Zambia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | YES | 2 | 13 | |
| Armenia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 9(7) The answer to written inquiry is given in the following deadlines: (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. | 30 working days but notice must be provided |
| Austria | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 8(2) If access to the information cannot be granted within the period pursuant to para. 1 for special reasons and in the case of § 10, the period may be extended by a further four weeks. The applicant shall be notified of this within the period specified in para. 1, stating the reasons. | The reference to "special reasons" is vague and the law does not set out clear grounds for extensions. |
| Azerbaijan | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 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. Article 25. Extension of the term of execution of the information request 25.1. If the owner of the information receives too many requests and therefore requires additional time to prepare the information, or to clarify the essence of the request, or to examine numerous documents to clarify the information, he may extend the execution period provided by this Law for an additional 7 working days. 25.2. The owner of the information shall inform the applicant within 5 working days, stating the reasons for the extension. | An extension of only 7 days is allowed but the grounds for this are too broad, including having received a number of requests or it takes time to clarify the essence of a request. Notice to be provided within 5 days. |
| Bahamas | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | Section 7. Application for access. (4) A public authority shall respond to an application as soon as reasonably practical, but not later than— (a) thirty days after the date of receipt of the application; or (b) in the case of an application transferred to it by another public authority pursuant to section 8, thirty days after receipt of the application from the originating public authority, however, a public authority may extend the period for responding by one further period, not exceeding thirty days, in a case where there is reasonable cause for such extension. Section 11. Deferment of access. (1) A public authority may defer the grant of access to a record— (a) until the expiration of any period that the law specifies as the time within which a record must be published; (b) if the record was prepared for presentation to Parliament or for the purpose of being made available to a particular person or body, until it has been presented or made available to that person of body; (c) if it would be in the public interest to release the record after an event has occurred or a period of time has passed. (2) Where a public authority decides to defer access in accordance with subsection (1), it shall inform the applicant of that decision and shall, where possible, indicate to him the period during which the deferment will operate. | Delays permitted for broad reasons. |
| Bangladesh | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 9(2): "Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), if more than one unit or authority are involved with the information sought for, such information may be provided within 30 (thirty) working days." | Art 9(2) limits the extension to 10 extra days, but with no requirement for notification. |
| Belize | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | SECTION 18 (1) A Ministry or prescribed authority which receives a request may defer the provision of access to the document concerned until the happening of a particular event (including the taking of some action required by law or some administrative action), or until the expiration of a specified time, where it is reasonable to do so in the public interest or having regard to normal and proper administrative practices. (2) Where the provision of access to a document is deferred in accordance with subsection (1), the Ministry or prescribed authority shall, in informing the applicant of the reasons for the decision, indicate, as far as practicable, the period for which the deferment will operate. | S 18 allows deferral of access where it is in the public interest or required by normal and proper administrative procedure based on an impending event. I deducted a point because this requirement seems unduly vague. In such instances the law requires the ministry to notify requesters. |
| China | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 33 . . . 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. 35 Where the number or frequency of applicants' applications to disclose government information clearly exceed reasonable limits, administrative organs may request that the applicants explain the reasons. Where administrative organs find that the reasons for the applications are not reasonable, they are to inform the applicant that they will not handle them; where administrative organs find that the reasons for the applications are reasonable, but that they are unable to respond to the applicants within the time provided in article 33 of this Regulation, they may determine a reasonably extended period for responding and inform the applicants. | Extensions limited to 20 working days and must give notice, but no requirement to give reason for extension |
| Cook Islands | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 15. Extension of time limits (1) Where a request in accordance with section 11 of this Act is made or transferred to a Ministry or Minister of the Crown or organisation, the permanent head or that Minister of the Crown or that organisation may extend the time limit set out in section 13 or section 14(1) of this Act in respect of the requests if - (a) the request is for a large quantity of official information or necessitates a search through a large quantity of information and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the Ministry or the Minister of the Crown or the organisation; or (b) consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are such that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit. (2) Any extension under subsection (1) of this section shall be for a reasonable period of time having regard to the circumstances. (3) The extension shall be effected by giving or posting notice of the extension to the person who made the request within 20 working days after the day on which the request is received. (4) The notice effecting the extension shall – (a) specify the period of the extension; and (b) give the reasons for the extension; and (c) state that the person who made the request for the official information has the right, under section 30(3) of this Act, to make a complaint to an Ombudsman about the extension; and (d) contain such other information as is necessary. | 15 - requires notification, explanations, and notice of appeal options, but the law loses a point for not listing a specified time limit for these extensions, noting only that they must be "reasonable". |
| Greece | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 4(2) If a case cannot be handled within the time limit of the previous paragraph, the competent service is obliged to notify the following to the interested party in writing: (a) the reasons for the delay, (b) the civil servant to whom the case was assigned and his telephone number for the provision of information, (c) the supporting documents that may be missing, as well as (d) any other useful information. | The procedure is established, but no timeline is mentioned. |
| Guyana | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 18(1) Time limit for determining request. On receipt of the request, the Commissioner of Information shall acknowledge receipt of the request within thirty days from the date of its receipt and advise the applicant if the request is approved or denied within sixty days from the date the request is received. (2) The Commissioner of Information may extend the period of sixty days for approval or denial and inform the applicant of the reasons therefor. | Requirement for notification in Section 18, but extensions run for an additional 60 days (so - 180 days total - far too long). |
| Honduras | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | ARTICULO 21. FUNDAMENTACION Y TÉRMINO PARA RESOLVER. Presentada la solicitud, se resolverá en el término de diez (10) días, declarándose con o sin lugar la petición. En casos debidamente justificados, dicho plazo podrá prorrogarse por una sola vez y por igual tiempo. [...] | Article 21 - limited to 10 days more, but no requirement for notification. |
| Iceland | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 11. Governmental authorities shall determine as soon as possible whether or not to comply with a request for accessing material. Should a request not have been handled within seven days of when it was received, the reasons for this delay and the expected time of decision must be clarified for the requester. [...] | Requesters must be informed of reasons, and the expected time for decision, but there is no legal limit stipulated for the extension. |
| Israel | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 7(2) The public authority shall notify the applicant without delay, and within 30 days of receiving the request, of its decision concerning his request; the head of the public authority, or a person authorized by him for the purpose, is entitled to extend this period by a further 30 days, if necessary, provided that he notifies the applicant in writing, explaining the need for the additional period. 7(3) The head of the public authority is entitled to further extend the period mentioned in sub-section (B), in a fully annotated decision sent to the applicant within the above-mentioned period, whether because of the extent or complexity of the requested information. The additional extension shall not exceed the obligatory period for the above-mentioned reasons, and in any event shall not exceed 60 days. | Yes to notification - 7(2). But 7(3) provides for a second extension of another 60 days - which is too long. |
| Jamaica | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 7(4) A public authority shall respond to an application as soon as practicable but not later than - (a) thirty days after the date of receipt of the application; or (b) in the case of an application transferred to it by another authority pursuant to section 8, thirty days after the date of the receipt by that authority, so, however, that an authority may extend the period of thirty days for a further period, not exceeding thirty days, in any case where there is reasonable cause for such extension. (5) The response of the public authority shall state its decision on the application, and where the authority or body decides to refuse or defer access or to extend the period of thirty days, it shall state the reasons therefore, and the options available to an aggrieved applicant. | 7(4) and (5) - some restrictions, and a requirement for eventual notification, but this is fuzzy. |
| Japan | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 10 (Due Date for Disclosure Decisions, Etc.)
(2) Notwithstanding the provision of the preceding paragraph, when there are justifiable grounds such as difficulties arising from the conduct of affairs, the head of an Administrative Organ may extend the period of time prescribed in the same paragraph for up to thirty days. In this case, the head of an Administrative Organ shall without delay notify the Disclosure Requester in writing of the extended period and the grounds for the extension.
11 (Exception to the Due Date for Disclosure Decisions, Etc.) In the case that there is a considerably large amount of Administrative Documents pertaining to a Disclosure Request, and that there is a risk that the performance of duties may be considerably hindered by making Disclosure Decisions, etc. for all of them within sixty days from the date of a Disclosure Request, notwithstanding the provision of the preceding Article, it would be sufficient for the head of an Administrative Organ to make Disclosure Decisions, etc. for a reasonable portion of the Administrative Documents pertaining to a Disclosure Request within the said period of time, and to make Disclosure Decisions, etc. for the remaining Administrative Documents within a reasonable period of time. In this case, the head of an Administrative Organ shall within the period of time prescribed in paragraph 1 of the same Article notify the Disclosure Requester in writing of the following matters: (i) The application of this Article and the grounds for its application. (ii) Due date for making Disclosure Decisions, etc. for the remaining Administrative Documents. |
Article 10(2) is reasonable, but Article 11 extends this slightly too far. |
| Kenya | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 9(3) The information officer to whom a request is made under subsection (2) may extend the period for response on a single occasion for a period of not more than fourteen days if - (a) the request is for a large amount of information or requires a search through a large amount of information and meeting the stipulated time would unreasonably interfere with the activities of the information holder; or (b) consultations are necessary so as to comply with the request and the consultations cannot be reasonably completed within the stipulated time. | No requirement for notification or reasons. |
| Kuwait | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 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. | There are grounds for extensions and also a requirement to notify the requester (although the timeline for this is not made explicit) but the length of the extension - up to three months - is far too long. |
| Latvia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | Section 14. Time Periods for the Provision of Information "(1) An institution, which has received a written request for information, shall perform one of the following operations: 1) within the period of seven days provide the answer referred to in Section 11.2, Paragraph four and Section 12, Paragraph two, three or four of this Law; 2) within a period of 15 days answer the applicant if the information requires no additional processing; or 3) within a period of 30 days answer the applicant if information requires additional processing, and not later than within a period of 15 days notify the applicant of this. (2) An answer to a collective information request shall be sent to the person who has first signed the relevant request for information, or to the person who is indicated by the collective applicants for information." | |
| Lebanon | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 16: Timeframes for responding: The appointed employee shall respond to the request within fifteen days of its submission. This period may be extended once for a period not exceeding fifteen days if the request encompasses a large amount of information or if accessing the information requires consulting a third party or another administration. A lack of response during said period shall be considered a tacit denial of the request. | Extensions are capped at 15 days, but no requirement for notification or an explanation. |
| Liberia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 3.9: "Maximum period for responding to Requests: Every public authority and private entity shall respond to every request for information within thirty (30) calendar days; provided that this period shall be extended once upon showing of a reasonable cause." | 3.9 - limited to 30 more days, but no requirement of notification. |
| Luxembourg | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | A5(2): Le délai prévu au paragraphe 1 er peut être prolongé d’un mois lorsque : (i) le volume et la complexité des documents demandés sont tels que le délai d’un mois ne peut être respecté ; (ii) la demande est adressée à l’organisme qui ne détient pas le document ; (iii) l’organisme doit, en application de l’article 6, occulter ou disjoindre les données à caractère personnel d’autres personnes ; (iv) le document sollicité a fait l’objet d’un dépôt aux Archives nationales ; (v) l’organisme doit consulter un tiers. Le demandeur est informé dès que possible, et, en tout état de cause, avant la fin du délai d’un mois, de toute prolongation du délai et des motifs de cette prolongation. | Grounds for delay are far too broad but good notice requirements. |
| New Zealand | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 15A Extension of time limits (1) Where a request in accordance with section 12 is made or transferred to a department or Minister of the Crown or organisation, the chief executive of that department or an officer or employee of that department authorised by that chief executive or that Minister of the Crown or that organisation may extend the time limit set out in section 14 or section 15(1) in respect of the request if (a) the request is for a large quantity of official information or necessitates a search through a large quantity of information and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the department or the Minister of the Crown or the organisation; or (b) consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are such that a proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit. (2) Any extension under subsection (1) shall be for a reasonable period of time having regard to the circumstances. (3) The extension shall be effected by giving or posting notice of the extension to the person who made the request within 20 working days after the day on which the request is received. (4) The notice effecting the extension shall (a) specify the period of the extension; and (b) give the reasons for the extension; and (c) state that the person who made the request for the official information has the right, under section 28(3), to make a complaint to an Ombudsman about the extension; and (d) contain such other information as is necessary. | S. 15(a) – there is a requirement for notification, but no firm time limit. |
| Norway | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | Public Administration Act § 11 a. (time spent on dealing with a case, provisional reply) "<...> If it is expected that it will take a disproportionately long time before an application can be answered, the administrative agency that received the application shall as soon as possible give a provisional reply. In this reply the reason why the application cannot be dealt with earlier shall be explained, and it shall, as far as possible, be stated when a reply can be expected. A provisional reply may be omitted if it is considered obviously unnecessary.<...>" | No clear timelines established (1 point loss). If it is expected that it will take a disproportionately long time before an application can be answered, the administrative agency that received the application shall as soon as possible give a provisional reply. |
| Philippines | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | Section 9(e): The period to respond may be extended whenever the information requested requires extensive search of the government office’s records facilities, examination of voluminous records, the occurrence of fortuitous events or other analogous cases. The government office shall notify the person making the request of the extension, setting forth the reasons for such extension. In no case shall the extension go beyond twenty (20) working days unless exceptional circumstances warrant a longer period. | |
| Poland | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 13(2) If the public information cannot be made available within the date defined in it.1, the entity obliged to making it available notifies within this period of the reasons for delay and of the date on which he completes this information, not longer however, than two months of submitting the petition. | |
| Portugal | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | Art 14.4: In exceptional cases, if the volume or complexity of the information so warrant, the time period referred to by paragraph (1) above may be extended to a maximum of two months, whereupon the applicant shall be informed of the fact and of the grounds therefore within a maximum of ten working days. | Extension of 2 months but there is a need to inform and motivate that extension. |
| Qatar | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | مادة 12: يتعين على الجهة المعنية البت في الطلب خلال (15) خمسة عشر يوماً من تاريخ تقديمه، ويجوز لها تمديد هذه الفترة لمدة مماثلة، بحسب طبيعة أو كم المعلومات 12. The concerned authority must decide on the request within (15) fifteen days from the date of its submission, and it may extend this period for a similar period, depending on the nature or amount of information requested, and if a rejection decision is issued, it must be reasoned. |
No notification requirement for extensions. The grounds for extensions are also a bit unclear. |
| Rwanda | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | MINISTERIAL ORDER No 007/07.01/13 OF 27/12/2013: Article 2: Without prejudice to Paragraph One of this Article, where an application, other than an application that concerns the life or liberty of a person, is especially complex or relates to a large volume of information, an information officer may request the Office of the Ombudsman for an extension of time of no more than fourteen (14) working days. | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 10(3) | 40 working days but do need to notify in writing |
| Saudi Arabia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | The main steps for the request to access public information (pp. 46 - 47) Second: The public entity, in not less than thirty (30) days of receipt of a request to access or obtain public information, shall take one of the following steps: 3. Extension: In the event the public entity is unable to respond to the request for access in due time, the time in which to respond should be extended within reasonable time given the size and nature of information requested – for example not exceeding an additional thirty (30) calendar days – and the public entity should provide the applicant the following information: o Notice of the Extension and the new date when the request is expected to be completed; o A concise statement for the basis of delay; o Notice of a right to appeal such delay, including notice as to the time and manner in which any appeal must be taken. | While the Regulation does not explicitly state that requests are free, the description of the procedure suggests that fees appear to only be charged for processing requests and are charged after the filing of a request. |
| Serbia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 16. Paragraph 3: "If the authority determines that the request refers to the information contained in a large number of documents, the subsequent action of the authority within the period referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article would be difficult, it may, within seven days of receiving a proper request, inform the applicant and offer him to specify the request or to inspect the document before determining which copies of the documents he needs. | The public authority shall, within seven days of receipt of the request at the latest, inform the applicant about the delay. The timeline extension is 40 days (1 point loss). |
| Sierra Leone | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 4(3) Where an application is especially complex or relates to a large volume of information, the public authority may request the Commission for an extension of not more than fifteen working days. | |
| Slovenia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | Art 24. "(1) In cases when the body requires more time for the transmission of requested information due to the implementation of partial access to public information in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 7 of this Act, or due to comprehensive documentation, it may extend the time limit laid down in the preceding Article for not more than 30 working days." | Clear procedure for extension but too long, 30 days |
| South Korea | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 11(2) Where a public institution is unable to decide whether or not to disclose information within a period fixed under paragraph (1) due to inevitable grounds, such public institution may extend the fixed period for up to ten days, as reckoned from the day following the date on which the previously fixed period expires. In such cases, the public institution shall promptly notify in writing the applicant of the fact of the extension and the grounds for extension. 13(2) When applicants desire to have copies or replications of information, a public institution shall deliver them to applicants: Provided, That when it is likely to significantly obstruct the performance of duties due to excessive quantity of information to be disclosed, it may provide copies or replications of information to applicants after dividing them on a periodic basis or may furnish such copies while allowing the public to peruse them at the same time. PD 7: The unavoidable grounds pursuant to the former part of Article 11 (2) of the Act shall fall under any of the following subparagraphs: 1. Where it is difficult to decide whether or not to disclose within a fixed period because too many requests for information disclosure are made all at once or because the contents requested to be disclosed are complicated; 2. Where it is difficult to decide whether or not to disclose within a fixed period, due to the hearing of opinion from a third party under Article 11 (3) of the Act relating to the public institution that has produced the information or the information requested to be disclosed, the holding the information disclosure council under Article 12 of the Act, etc; 3. Where the information handled by the computer information processing organization includes a part to be disclosed and another part not to be disclosed, and where it is difficult to decide whether or not to disclose within a fixed period; 4. Where it is difficult to decide whether or not to disclose within a fixed period, due to force majeure, temporary heavy workload, etc. 12(2): Where a copy or reproduced article of information are provided in successive portions divided throughout a certain period of time or simultaneously with the perusal under Article 13 (2) of the Act, a public institution shall provide the copy or reproduced article after having an applicant peruse it in advance, and except in extenuating circumstances, it shall provide it within two months. | Again, 10 days but cases up to 2 months are envisaged for more voluminous requests. |
| South Sudan | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | days.10(3) limits extensions to 20 days, but no requirement for notification. | |
| Sweden | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | N/A | No clear deadline. |
| Taiwan | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 12 Within fifteen days of receiving the request for government information, the government agency shall determine whether to approve such a request; the time may be extended for no longer than fifteen days if necessary. (...) | Art 12 - maximum extension of 15 additional days, but no requirement for notification. |
| Tanzania | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 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. (2) Where the information holder requires further information in order to identify and locate the information requested, it shall, within fourteen days of receiving the request for information, notify the person requesting of the need for such further information and in that case, the period of fourteen days shall be reckinedfrom the date on which such futher information is received. Section 16(1) The information holder may defer the provision of access to information until the happening of a particular event, including the taking of some action required by law or some administrative practices, or until the extension of a specified time, where it is reasonable to do so in the public interest or having regard to normal and proper administrative practices. (2) Where the provision of access to information is deferred, the information holder shall, in writing, inform the person requesting information the reasons for such decision and the period od which the deferment shall operate. | Do not appear to be extensions but unclear rules on cases where clarification of the request is needed and, as noted above, time limits can be deferred on discretionary grounds. |
| Togo | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 11 : Les délais prévus à l'article précédent peuvent être prorogés, une (01) seule fois, en raison du grand nombre de documents demandés, ou de l'ampleur des recherches à effectuer pour donner suite à la demande. | Limits on extensions but nothing about reasons. |
| Turkey | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 11: "The institutions shall provide the required information within 15 working days. However, where the required information or document is to be obtained from another unit within the applied institution or it is necessary to receive the opinion of another institution or if the scope of the application pertains more than one institution; the access shall be provided in 30 working days. In such case, the applicant will be notified of the extension and its reasons within 15 working days." | The requesters are notified with the reasons, but the timeline extension reaches to the 30 working days (1 point deduction because of this). |
| United Kingdom | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | Section 17.2: "(2) Where-- (a) in relation to any request for information, a public authority is, as respects any information, relying on a claim-- (i) that any provision of Part II which relates to the duty to confirm or deny and is not specified in section 2(3) is relevant to the request, or (ii) that the information is exempt information only by virtue of a provision not specified in section 2(3), and (b) at the time when the notice under subsection (1) is given to the applicant, the public authority (or, in a case falling within section 66(3) or (4), the responsible authority) has not yet reached a decision as to the application of subsection (1)(b) or (2)(b) of section 2, the notice under subsection (1) must indicate that no decision as to the application of that provision has yet been reached and must contain an estimate of the date by which the authority expects that such a decision will have been reached." | The timeline extensions are not clear. Requesters are required to be told that an extension is being taken and be given an estimate of how long it will be. |
| United States | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 6(b) - extensions are limited to 10 working days and require notice, but 6(b)(ii) allows longer extensions, with the requirement that they be limited to "unusual circumstances" as spelled out in the law and also must be explained in writing. | |
| Venezuela | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 10...Cuando una solicitud requiera de una búsqueda o revisión de un gran número de documentos, una búsqueda en oficinas físicamente separadas de la oficina que recibió la solicitud o consultas con otros sujetos obligados antes de alcanzar una respuesta con respecto a la divulgación de la información, el sujeto obligado que tramita la solicitud podrá prorrogar el lapso para responder por un período de hasta veinte días hábiles adicionales. | Up to 20 working days extension but no requirement to notify/give reasons |
| Zimbabwe | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | Partially | 1 | 9 (1) Subject to subsection (2), an information officer to whom a request is made in terms of section 8(1) may, within the initial twenty-one days, seek the consent of the applicant for an extension of time for a period not exceeding fourteen days if— (a) the request is for a large amount of information or requires a search through a large amount of information, and meeting the original time limit would unduly interfere with the operations of the entity concerned; or (b) consultations that cannot reasonably be completed within twenty-one days are necessary to comply with the request. (2) Where an applicant is of the view that the seeking of consent to extend time by the principal officer is merely dilatory, or the information officer does not obtain the consent of the applicant for the extension, the applicant or the information officer, as the case may be, may lodge an appeal with the Commission in terms of section 35. 11 (1) An information officer who receives a request may defer the provision of access to the information if— (a) the information has been prepared for presentation to Parliament; or (b) the information or part thereof constitutes a report that has been prepared for the purpose of reporting to a public entity or to a public officer, but only until the report has been presented or made available to that public entity or public officer or upon the expiration of thirty days from the date of the request, whichever is the sooner; or (c) the information is sub judice. (2) If an information officer defers access to information in terms of subsection (1), he or she must notify the applicant in writing of— (a) the deferral within twenty-one days of the date of the request; and (b) the reason for the deferral, including the provisions of this Act relied on; and (c) the likely period for which access is to be deferred; and (d) the applicant’s right to make representations, within fourteen days of receiving notice, to the information officer regarding why the information is required before such presentation, in the case of a deferral by reason of subsection (1)(a) or (b). (3) If representations have been made in terms of subsection (2)(d), an information officer shall, after due consideration of those representations, within five days of the representations being made, grant the request for access if there are reasonable grounds for believing that the applicant will suffer substantial prejudice if access to the information is deferred for the period referred to in subsection (2)(c). | Only 14 days but odd system requiring consent from applicant; but s. 11 also allows for deferments of access in unreasonable circumstances |
| Canada | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 0 | 9 (1) The head of a government institution may extend the time limit set out in section 7 or subsection 8(1) in respect of a request under this Part for a reasonable period of time, having regard to the circumstances, if (a) the request is for a large number of records or necessitates a search through a large number of records and meeting the original time limit would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the government institution, (b) consultations are necessary to comply with the request that cannot reasonably be completed within the original time limit, or (c) notice of the request is given pursuant to subsection 27(1) by giving notice of the extension and, in the circumstances set out in paragraph (a) or (b), the length of the extension, to the person who made the request within thirty days after the request is received, which notice shall contain a statement that the person has a right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner about the extension. Interim Reg. 7.6.1 Assessing, without undue delay, all access requests received and, if an extension is needed for processing the request, notifying the requester of the extension within 30 days of the receipt of the request. | While there is a requirement for notice, wildly unreasonable delays are common in Canada. There is also no practical way of enforcing the already vague standard of "a reasonable period of time". Thus, no points are warranted here. |
| Colombia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Extensions are allowed, as per Law 1437 of 2011 article 17 but the rules surrounding them are fuzzy. |
| Cyprus | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 0 | "Article 18 (Rejection of Request for Information) 18 (2) Σε περίπτωση που - (α) Αναφορικά με αίτηση για παροχή πληροφοριών και σε σχέση με συγκεκριμένες πληροφορίες, δημόσια αρχή προβάλλει τον ισχυρισμό ότι - (i) Εφαρμόζεται διάταξη του Μέρους ΙΙΙ η οποία συνδέεται με την υποχρέωση επιβεβαίωσης ή άρνησης κατοχής πληροφοριών και η οποία δεν καθορίζεται στο εδάφιο (1) του άρθρου 19, ή (ii) οι πληροφορίες είναι εξαιρούμενες πληροφορίες δυνάμει διάταξης του παρόντος Νόμου που δεν περιλαμβάνεται στο εδάφιο (1) του άρθρου 19, και (β) κατά το χρόνο που η προβλεπόμενη στο εδάφιο (1) ειδοποίηση κοινοποιείται στον αιτητή, η δημόσια αρχή ή, στις περιπτώσεις που εμπίπτουν στις διατάξεις των εδαφίων (3) και (4) του άρθρου 51, η υπεύθυνη αρχή, δεν έχει λάβει απόφαση για την εφαρμογή των διατάξεων της παραγράφου (β) του εδαφίου (3) ή της παραγράφου (β) του εδαφίου (4) του άρθρου 19, στην προβλεπόμενη στο εδάφιο (1) ειδοποίηση περιλαμβάνεται δήλωση ότι δεν έχει ακόμα ληφθεί η σχετική απόφαση, καθώς και η προβλεπόμενη ημερομηνία μέχρι την οποία η δημόσια αρχή ή η υπεύθυνη αρχή, ανάλογα με την περίπτωση, αναμένει να λάβει την απόφαση." | No clear limits on extension deadlines - only a right to be informed about when to expect a response. |
| Ethiopia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 0 | 14(8) The public relation officer to whom a request for access to a public record is made may extend the period of thirty days referred to in sub article (3) for a further period of not more than 30 working days if - a) the office is congested with many similar requests and the information sought cannot reasonably be provided within the 30 working days; or b) the information required to be retrieved or processed would involve the review of large number of documents and compliance with the request within the prescribed time would unreasonably divert the resources of the public body . c) the request requires a search for records in or collection thereof from, branch offices of a public body located at different cities as a result it can not reasonably be completed within 30 working days; or d) consultation among the different organs or divisions of the public body or with other public bodies is necessary to decide upon the request and that can not reasonably be completed within 30 working days; or e) the requester declares his agreement in witting for such extension. | 14(8) - extension period is too long (30 working days) and has no requirement for notification. |
| Fiji | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 0 | Article 18(1) The Commission may extend the period prescribed in section 12 if - (a) the request is made to access a large quantity of documents, or necessitates a search through a large quantity of documents, and complying with the prescribed period would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the public agency; (b) consultations are necessary to make a determination on the request; or (c) the information cannot be reasonably provided to the person who made the request within the prescribed period. (2) Any extension under subsection (1) must be reasonable having regard to the nature of the circumstances and must be for a further period not exceeding 90 days. (3) The Commission must provide the person who made the request with a written notice of the extension as soon as reasonably practicable after a decision has been made to extend the prescribed period, and such notice must specify the period of the extension and state the reason for the extension. | Notice is required to be given but: a) it is not clear that is within the original time period, even though they must be as soon as possible; b) the grounds for extensions are too broad ("cannot reasonably be provided … within the prescribed period); and c) extensions may be for up to 90 days. |
| France | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Georgia | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | There is no mention about the extensions. |
| Germany | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | No specific provision, |
| Iran | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Liechtenstein | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Neither in law nor regulation. |
| Monaco | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 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. | No mention of extensions but the initial time limit - of about 90 working days - is already longer than what is expected of the initial period plus extensions. |
| Palau | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 0 | Section 9(a) Within ten (10) days of any request, all public records produced by a governing body shall be available by any person during regular business hours, unless the disclosure will take more time to produce due to exceptional circumstances or the volume of information requested, is in violation of the Constitution of the Republic, other law of the Republic, or is exempted under this Act. | Extensions are not limited in duration and the grounds for extending are vague. |
| Republic of Belarus | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 0 | Article 21. Provision of publicly accessible information upon request The procedure for submitting requests for publicly accessible information, as well as the procedure for their consideration, is determined by legislative acts of the Republic of Belarus. | Not mentioned |
| San Marino | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 0 | 25(3). The Director General of the Civil Service, the organizational units, the Departments, the Autonomous State Agencies and the wider Public Sector Bodies to which the request for access is addressed are obliged, should counterinterested parties be identified or easily identifiable pursuant to article 30, to notify them by sending a copy of the request by registered letter with advice of receipt or through secure computer channels, in accordance with the provisions of the relevant regulations. Within thirty days of receipt of the communication, the interested parties may present a reasoned objection, also with reference to the need to protect personal data; once this term has elapsed the Administration, having ascertained receipt of the communication, shall act on the request within the term provided for in article 29, paragraph 1. 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. | The rules regarding extensions in the 2011 legislation, except where third parties need to be contacted, are unclear. |
| Thailand | There are clear limits on timeline extensions (20 working days or less), including a requirement that requesters be notified and provided with the reasons for the extension. | - | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | There is a requirement for notice and an explanation, but no limit as to how many times this can be done or the time period of the extension, so I don't feel it's worthy of any points. |
