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 rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 9(1) When provision of information demand expenses, the applicant is responsible to pay for the actual costs incurred. Otherwise the request is rejected. (2) The costs in paragraph one shall only include the cost of reproducing information and sending it to the applicant. Reproduction includes copying the original document in hard, audio or visual format. Applicants are exempted from paying any costs for the first twenty pages of the requested information. (3) The amount of costs and the manner of payments is established in accordance with the procedures prepared by the Access to Information Commission in consensus with the Ministry of Finance. | |
| Argentina | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Acceso A La Información Pública, Decree 206/2017. ARTÍCULO 6°.- Los sujetos obligados deberán entregar la información de forma totalmente gratuita, excepto en aquellos casos en que estuviesen autorizados expresamente por la normativa vigente a cobrar un arancel o equivalente en concepto de contraprestación por el servicio brindado. El Estado tiene la obligación de entregarla en formatos digitales abiertos, salvo casos excepcionales en que fuera de imposible cumplimiento o significara un esfuerzo estatal desmedido. Las excepciones las fijará la Agencia de Acceso a la Información Pública. En el caso en que los sujetos obligados no posean versión electrónica de la información solicitada, deberán: 1. entregar copia papel o permitir la reproducción en dispositivos electrónicos. 2. si la información requerida fuera menor a las 50 (cincuenta) hojas simples, y el organismo contara con los medios para la realización de copias, la reproducción estará a cargo del sujeto obligado. 3. cuando supere las 50 (cincuenta) hojas simples o el sujeto requerido no pudiera reproducirlas a pesar que se tratara de un número menor de hojas, personal de la dependencia que tramita la respuesta a la solicitud de acceso a la información pública acompañará al solicitante a sacar las fotocopias de la respuesta y el costo de las mismas irá por cuenta del requirente. 4. en ningún caso el costo de la reproducción puede poner en riesgo el ejercicio del derecho de acceso a la información pública. 5. toda vez que se comunique al ciudadano que se le hará entrega de la información solicitada y que ella supera las 50 (cincuenta) hojas simples o que el organismo no está en condiciones de realizar las copias, se deberá también poner en su conocimiento la forma de entrega de la misma y comunicar- en su caso, la necesidad de disponer de un dispositivo de almacenamiento digital para tal fin. | |
| Armenia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 10(1) Providing information or its copy from state and local self-government bodies is realized according to the Government Regulation of the Republic of Armenia. (2). The payment defined in the 1st clause of the current Article is not paid in the following cases: (a) response to oral inquiries; (b) for up to 10 pages of printed or copied information; (c) for information via e-mail (internet); (d) responding the written information inquiries mentioned in the 2nd clause of the Article 7; (e) providing information about the changes of the deadline in the cases foreseen by the 7c sub clause and 10th clause of the Article 9; (f) declining the information request. (3) The organizations of public importance decide themselves the cost to be paid for information, which can not exceed the costs of providing that information. (4) Body or organization that has provided untruthful or incomplete information shall provide corrected information free of charge, as defined by this law, upon the written inquiry of the receiving party. 2015 regulation | |
| Bangladesh | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 8(5): "The Government may, in consultation with the Information Commission, fix the fees for having any information by notification in the official Gazette, and, if necessary, may fix the price of information, or as the case may be, may exempt an individual or a class of individuals or any other class from paying such price." 9(7): "For determining the price under sub-section (6), the price shall not exceed the actual expense of providing information such as cost of printing electronic format or photocopying or print-out." | 8(5) - fees can be centrally set. 9(7) limits fees to actual expenses incurred. 8(5) allows for waivers. |
| Canada | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Interim Reg 7.5.1 Waiving all fees prescribed by the Act and Regulations, other than the application fee set out in section 7(1)(a) of the Regulations. | |
| Chile | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | ARTICLE 18. Sólo se podrá exigir el pago de los costos directos de reproducción y de los demás valores que una ley expresamente autorice cobrar por la entrega de la información solicitada. La obligación del órgano requerido de entregar la información solicitada se suspende en tanto el interesado no cancele los costos y valores a que se refiere el inciso precedente. | Art 18 - fees are limited to reproduction costs, and local expert claisms there are centrally set rules. |
| Croatia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Art.19.2.: The public authority body is entitled to request from the beneficiaries to cover the actual material expenses incurred by providing information, under Article 17 of this Law, as well as to request to cover the expenses of delivering the requested information. Art.19.3.: The criteria for setting the amount of fees and the manner of covering the expenses as referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, shall be prescribed by the Commissioner. | Fee is related only to reproduction and delivery costs. Public bodies are set their own fees, but in accordance to standards set centrally by the Information Commissioner. There is no mentioning of the 20 pages being free of fees, but setting the fee is optional. (In practice, when it comes to regular/usual requests fee is charged very rarely.) |
| Czech Republic | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 17 - Cost recovery "(1) In connection with the provision of information, the obligated bodies are entitled to require payments in an amount not exceeding costs incurred in connection with the retrieval of information the copying, obtaining data carriers and delivery of the information to the applicant. The obligated body may also require payments for extraordinarily extensive information retrieval." | |
| El Salvador | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | ARTICLE 4 En la interpretación y aplicación de esta ley deberán regir los principios siguientes: g. Gratuidad: el acceso a la información debe ser gratuito. ARTICLE 61 La obtención y consulta de la información pública se regirá por el principio de gratuidad, en virtud del cual se permitirá el acceso directo a la información libre de costos. La reproducción y envío de la información, en su caso, será sufragada por el solicitante, si bien su valor no podrá ser superior al de los materiales utilizados y costos de remisión. Los entes obligados deberán disponer de hojas informativas de costos de reproducción y envío. El envío por vía electrónica no tendrá costo alguno. En caso de copias certificadas, se aplicarán las tasas previstas en las leyes especiales. Tratándose de copias magnéticas o electrónicas, si el interesado aporta el medio en que será almacenada la información, la reproducción será gratuita. | Art 4(g) states that access is to be free, spelled out in more detail in Art 61. The fees aren't completely centrally set, but Art 61's provisions seem specific enough to warrant 2 points here. |
| Estonia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 4. Principles of granting access to public information "(4) Access to information shall be granted without charge unless payment for the direct expenses relating to the release of the information is prescribed by law. (4 1) A holder of information must publish the conditions for accessing the information and the amount to be charged for access and, if a person making a request for information so requires, provide explanations concerning the cost-orientation of the charges." 25. Covering expenses relating to compliance with requests for information "(1) A holder of information shall cover the expenses relating to compliance with requests for information unless otherwise prescribed by law. (2) A person making a request for information shall pay up to 0.19 euros per page for printouts and copies on paper starting from the twenty-first page, unless a state fee for the release of information is prescribed by law. (3) Holders of information shall cover the expenses relating to compliance with requests for information made by state or local government agencies. (4) Any income received for supplying information for re-use must not exceed the cost of supplying that information for re-use, to which a reasonable depreciation cost may be added which is intended to ensure the sustainability of the service." | |
| France | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 4b. | |
| Gambia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 22(1) A requester is not required to pay any cost in relation to time spent by - (a) an information holder searching for the information requested; or (b) the information holder examining the information to determine whether it contains exempt information or deleting exempt information from a document. (2) An information holder may charge the requester such reproduction fee as may be prescribed. (3) Where a request is made that a written transcription be produced of any information provided to the requester, the information holder may recover the costs of such transcription at such rate as may be prescribed from the requester. 80(1) The Minister may make regulations for carrying into effect the purposes of the provisions of this Act in consultation with the Commission. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (1), regulations made, may provide for -- (a) fees for request for information and the manner of payment as determined by the Commission; (b) fees for reproduction or transcription of information and the manner of payment as determined by the Commission; | Fee rates are prescribed by the Minister and are limited to reproduction and delivery. No mention of free pages. |
| Guatemala | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Artículo 15. Los interesados tendrán responsabilidad, penal y civil por el uso, manejo o difusión de la información pública a la que tengan acceso, de conformidad con esta ley y demás leyes aplicables. | Article 15 - there are clear rules - no greater than market costs for reproduction, and fees are optional. |
| India | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | N/A | The rules on fees are not spelled out in the law, but are prescribed in the accompanying regulations and do not exceed cost of reproduction and delivery. |
| Jamaica | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 12(1) The cost of reproducing any documents containing information in relation to which an application is made under this Act shall be borne by the applicant. (2) The responsible Minister may waive, reduce or rem it, the cost specified in subsection (1) for access to an official document where he is satisfied that such waiver, reduction or remission is justifiable. | 12 - Mentions that applicants must pay the cost of reproduction, and it includes a waiver for impecunious requesters. Fees are set centrally and there is the possibility of getting a waiver of fees. |
| Kazakhstan | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 11(1) Information upon a request is provided free of charge. [...] (13) In case if a response to a written request necessitates copying or printing costs, then an information user must compensate these actual costs to an information holder. The amount of actual costs for copying or printing and the order of compensating costs are determined by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The tariffs for copying or printing and the order of compensating them have to be published in periodicals distributed throughout the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan and placed on the web sites of information holders. Socially deprived people are released from compensating actual costs for copying or printing according to the order set by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan. | |
| Kenya | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 12(2) A public entity or private body from which an application for access to information has been made may charge a prescribed fee for the provision of the information and the fee shall not exceed the actual costs of making copies of such information and if applicable, supplying them to the applicant. (3) Subject to subsection (2), the Cabinet Secretary shall make regulations prescribing the fees payable for expenses incurred in providing information to an applicant. | |
| Kyrgyzstan | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 20.1. Preparation of responses to inquiries shall be carried out by information holders free of charge, except for the cases established by part 2 of this Article. 20.2. Requests for information that require the copying of documents and materials or parts thereof in excess of fifteen pages may be charged a fee not exceeding the cost of copying services. When providing information by public sector entities, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic shall establish a unified register, standards and price list for the cost of copying services and the terms of their payment, including the conditions for exemption from payment for socially vulnerable categories of the population. | |
| Latvia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 13. Payment for the Provision of Information "(1) Generally accessible information which does not require any additional processing shall be provided free of charge. (2) Payment for the provision of information may not exceed the expenses of the searching for, additional processing and copying of documents or information. The payment may not include any other expenses, which have been incurred in respect of resolving legal or political issues, which are associated with the provision of answers to the request for information. (3) Every applicant for information may request exemption from the payment for the service. The Cabinet shall determine the cases where payment for the provision of information by a private person shall be reduced or shall be released from such payment. (4) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which payment is performed for the provision of information, as well as the paid services and the amounts thereof. (5) Commercial companies founded by public persons for the re-use of information in their commercial activities shall have applied the same payment and provision procedures as for other applicants for information." | |
| Lithuania | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 6. Right to Obtain Information from State and Municipal Institutions and Agencies "<...> 6. Public information relating to state and municipal institutions and agencies shall be free of charge. These agencies may charge a fee only for the services involving retrieval of the provided information and duplication (copying) of information or documents. The fee may not exceed the actual costs of the provision of information. <...>" | |
| Luxembourg | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 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. | Fees are limited to reproduction and they would be set centrally if at all |
| Malawi | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 8. The Commission, in its oversight functions, have the power to: (h) make recommendations to the Minister on the fees payable with regard to processing of requests for information. 24. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a person shall not pay any fees on lodging an application for request of information. (2) The fees payable by an applicant under this Act, shall be limited to reasonable, standard charges for document duplication, translation or transcription where necessary. 55. (1) The Minister may make regulations for the better carrying out of this Act. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the regulations may prescribe – (g) fees payable for processing requests for information. | |
| Maldives | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 19(a) Circumstances under which fees shall be charged and the rate at which such fees shall be charged for the disclosure of information shall be determined in a regulation made in accordance with this Act. (c) In so determining the applicable fee or charge, as according to the regulation mentioned in the subsection (a) of this section, due consideration must be given to the following: (1) That the charge or fee payable does not exceed the actual cost of transforming and providing the information in the required format; (2) That the fee does not amount to a charge taken for the task of searching, examining, collecting and verifying the information; (3) That the fee does not amount to an obstruction in gaining information that is entitled to a financially disadvantaged person; (4) Where the information requested is personal information of the applicant, or in the interest of the general public, no fee shall be charged. | Centrally set, limited to costs of production and delivery, and waivers for public interest requests. |
| Mexico | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 141. Should any cost to get the information exist, it will be paid in advance to delivery and may not exceed the sum of: I. The cost of the materials used in reproducing the information; II. The shipping cost, if any; III. Payment for the certification of Documents, as appropriate. Fees of dues should be established in the Federal Duties Act, which will be published on the websites of the regulated entities. In their determination, they must consider that the amounts allow or facilitate the exercise of the right of access to information, it will also establish the obligation to set a single and exclusive bank account for the applicant to make full payment of the cost of the information requested. The regulated entities to whom the Federal Duties Act does not apply shall establish fees that should not be higher than those provided for in the Act. The information shall be provided without cost, if it involves the delivery of no more than twenty simple sheets. Transparency Units may exempt payment of reproduction and mailing in addressing the socio-economic circumstances of the applicant. | |
| Nepal | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Rules s. 4. Fees for Information: (1) The fees in relation to the information requested by the applicant shall be as provided separately in the prevailing laws pursuant to Section 7 of the Act and in the absence of such provision, the following fees shall be submitted before the Public Body: (a) Rs. 5/- per page for the information prepared or maintained on general size paper (8.3 inch width and 7 inch length) (b) Rs. 10/- per page for the information prepared or maintained in as bigger size as mentioned in the Clause (a). (c) Rs. 50/- for each Diskette, CD for the information to be provided through Diskette, CD or other similar electronic devices. (d) Rs. 50/- per hour per person for the study or observation of any document, material held in or visit or observation of publicly importance undergoing construction site of the Public Body, if that has to be done for more than half an hour. Provided that, no fees shall be charged for the observation of public library or public place available in free of cost.(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in Sub-Rule (1), concerned public body shall have to provide information prepared or contained normal size paper up to five pages in free of cost. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in Sub-Rule (1), if cost would be incurred more than as stated in the sub-rule herein above, the concerned body shall determine the fee based on actual cost. (4) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Rule, public body may collect the fees for information in cash or may cause to submit deposit voucher of any particular bank or to affix the stamp (ticket) in the application as equal to the amount thereof. (5) Fees as mentioned in this Rule, for information, shall be reviewed in every two years. | Although fees can be varied based on higher costs being incurred, which is too flexible. |
| Netherlands | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Articles 2 and 3. (DECISION of 5 February 1993 on charges for the supply of copies, extracts and summaries on request under the Open Government Act) \"Article 2. Paragraph 1. For the supply of copies of documents under Article 7, first paragraph, under a, of the Open Government Act A fee may be charged. 2. If a fee is charged for providing copies of written documents, is this: for less than 6 copies: free; for 6-13 copies: € 4.50; for 14 or more copies: € 0.35 per copy. 3. If a fee is charged for providing copies of other material that contains data, this amounts to no more than cost.\" | |
| New Zealand | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 15 Decisions on requests (1) Subject to this Act, the department or Minister of the Crown or organisation to whom a request is made in accordance with section 12 or is transferred in accordance with section 14 of this Act or section 12 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case not later than 20 working days after the day on which the request is received by that department or Minister of the Crown or organisation, (a) decide whether the request is to be granted and, if it is to be granted, in what manner and for what charge (if any); and (b) give or post to the person who made the request notice of the decision on the request. (1A) Subject to section 24, every department or Minister of the Crown or organisation (including an organisation whose activities are funded in whole or in part by another person) may charge for the supply of official information under this Act. (2) Any charge fixed shall be reasonable and regard may be had to the cost of the labour and materials involved in making the information available and to any costs incurred pursuant to a request of the applicant to make the information available urgently. (3) The department or Minister of the Crown or organisation may require that the whole or part of any charge be paid in advance. (...) | S. 15 says they must be reasonable, but allows organizations to charge for the cost of locating the information as well as for reproduction and delivery costs. The Ministry of Justice Charging Guidelines for Official Information Act 1982 Requests para. 2.1(c) makes clear that 1st 20 pages are free, and 7.1 discusses fee waivers (charging is entirely optional by the agency). Staff time for locating and retrieving information can be charged, although not decision-making time. |
| Niger | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 18: L’accès aux documents administratifs s’exerce, au choix du demandeur et dans la limite des possibilités techniques de l’administration : a) par consultation gratuite sur place, sauf si la préservation du document ne le permet pas ; b) sous réserve que la reproduction ne nuise pas à la conservation du document, par la délivrance d’une copie sur un support identique à celui utilisé par l’administration ou compatible avec celui-ci et aux frais du demandeur, sans que ces frais ne puissent excéder le coût de cette reproduction, dans des conditions fixées par décret ; c) par courrier électronique et sans frais, lorsque le document est disponible sous forme électronique. | Article 18 - conditions set by decree seems to suggest centrally set. Also - fees are limited to cost of reproduction. |
| North Macedonia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Art 29. "(2) For the obtained transcript, photocopy or electronic records, the information requester shall pay a fee to the amount of material costs to be covered. (3) The Government of the Republic of Macedonia shall, upon proposal from the Ministry of Finance, adopt an act specifying the reimbursement of material costs of information providing by information holders. (4) The information holder shall publish the amount of the fee mentioned in paragraph (3) hereunder in an appropriate manner (in the official bulletin of the information holder, on its website, on an information board, etc.), and shall make this amount known to any requester before it submits its request. (5) Should the request relate to information of larger scope, the information holder may ask the requester to in advance pay the fee to cover the costs of information obtaining." | |
| Paraguay | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 4. Scope and gratuity. Any person, without discrimination of any kind, you can access public information, free of charge and without any need to justify the reasons for formulating your order according to the procedure established by this Law. | There is no mention of fees within the law except for the article at the beginning saying that access should be free - implying that no fees can be charged whatsoever. |
| Peru | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 20 Objeto Este título tiene como objeto fundamental otorgar mayor transparencia al manejo de las Finanzas Públicas, a través de la creación de mecanismos para acceder a la información de carácter fiscal, a fin de que los ciudadanos puedan ejercer supervisión sobre las Finanzas Públicas y permitir una adecuada rendición de cuentas. El presente título utiliza los términos que se señala a continuación: a) Información de finanzas públicas: aquella información referida a materia presupuestaria, financiera y contable del Sector Público. b) Gasto Tributario: se refiere a las exenciones de la base tributaria, deducciones autorizadas de la renta bruta, créditos fiscales deducidos de los impuestos por pagar, deducciones de las tasas impositivas e impuestos diferidos. c) Gobierno General y Sector Público Consolidado: Se utilizarán las definiciones establecidas en la Ley N° 27245, Ley de Prudencia y Transparencia Fiscal.
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| Philippines | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 10: Fees: Government offices shall not charge any fee for accepting requests for access to information. They may, however, charge a reasonable fee to reimburse necessary costs, including actual costs of reproduction and copying of the information requested, subject to existing rules and regulations. In no case shall the applicable fees be so onerous as to defeat the purpose of this Order. | |
| Poland | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 15(1) If as a result of making public information on the petition, defined in Article 10, it. 1, the entity obliged to do this, is to incur the additional costs connected with the method defined in the petition of a method of making it available or necessity to transform the information in the form pointed in the petition, this entity is entitled to the payment from the petitioner covering these costs. (2) The entity, defined in it. 1, within 14 days of submitting the petition, shall notify the petitioner of the amount of the payment. Making the information available in accordance with the petition takes place after the expiration of the period of 14 days of notifying the petitioner unless the petitioner makes within this period the change in the petition in the scope of method and form of making this information available or withdraw the petition. | The only fee listed refers to the method of making information available. |
| Portugal | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Art 12. " 1. The reproduction provided for by paragraph (1)b of the previous Article shall take the form of a single copy, which shall be subject to payment by whoever requests it of a fixed fee, which shall be equal to the sum of the proportional costs of the use of machines and tools and of the materials used and the service provided, but shall not exceed the average amount for the equivalent service practised by the market. 2. With due regard to the provisions of the previous paragraph and after consulting the Commission on Access to Administrative Documents (hereinafter referred to in abbreviated form as “CADAâ€), the Government of the Republic, the Governments of the Autonomous Regions, and the national associations of local authorities shall set the fees to be charged for reproductions and certificates of administrative documents. 3. Bodies which possess an autonomous power to tax shall not set fees that exceed the various amounts set in accordance with the previous paragraph by more than 100%, and shall abide by those amounts until such time as they publish their own tables of fees. 4. The bodies and entities referred to by Article 4 shall affix a list of the fees they charge for reproductions and certificates of administrative documents in a place which is accessible to the public. 5. A body to which an application is made may require an advance to guarantee payment of fees and, where applicable, of postage or shipping charges." | |
| Russia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 22(1): (Payment for Granting of Information on the Activities of Government Bodies and Bodies of Local Self-Government): Payment for granting information on the activities of government bodies and bodies of local self-government is levied if in granting this information by request, the volume of the requested and received information exceeds the volume of information given free of charge, as defined by the Government of the Russian Federation. (2) Upon occurrence of the case provided in part 1 of the present Article, the information user pays expenses for manufacturing of copies of the requested documents and (or) materials, as well as the expenses connected with their sending by mail. (3) Funds received as payment for granting information on the activities of government bodies and bodies of local self-government are subject to transfer to corresponding budgets of the budgetary system of the Russian Federation. (4) The government body or body of local self-government which has given information containing incorrect data is obliged to eliminate such discrepancies, free of charge, upon received a justified written statement from the information user. | Rules are set centrally. There is a volume of information given free of charge, but it's not mentioned. The fee will be limited to the cost of reproducing. Electronic copies are not for free. |
| Rwanda | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Article 10: The provision of information is an obligation without fee. However, depending on the means for providing the information, charges for making copies or sending information may be charged to the applicant. A Ministerial Order shall determine the procedure thereof. | |
| Sierra Leone | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 6. (1) A public authority to which a request for information is made may, within the time limit for compliance specified in section 5, give the applicant a fees notice, stating that a fee of an amount specified in the notice is to be charged by the public authority for complying with section 2.(2) Where a fees notice has been given to the applicant, the public authority shall not be obliged to comply with section 2 unless the fee is paid within the period of three months beginning on the day on which the fees notice is given to the applicant. (3) Subject to subsection (5), any fee under this section shall not exceed the reasonable, cost-based amount for reproducing and sending the information to the applicant, and shall be in accordance with any Regulations made by the Minister under this Act. | |
| Slovakia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Section 21 Payment of costs: \"(1)Information shall be provided free of charge, with the exception of payments not higher than the costs of material for making copies, the costs of technical data carriers and delivery of information to the applicant. <...> (3) The details on the costs of disclosure shall be regulated by a generally binding legal regulation of t he Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic.\" | |
| Slovenia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | Art 34. (2) The body may charge the applicant the material costs for the transmission of a transcript, copy or electronic record of the requested information. Article 34a. Price and other requirements for re-use of information (1) The body can charge for the re-use of information for commercial purposes, except in case of re-use for the purpose of providing information, ensuring the freedom of expression, culture and art and media's re-use of information.(2) The price may not exceed the costs of collecting, producing, reproducing, and disseminating, together with a reasonable return on investment. The price must be adjusted for cost-effectiveness, set within a common accounting period and consistent with applicable accounting principles of the body concerned. The cost calculation method for the price is itself public information, and the body must in accordance with this Act, transmit it to every applicant which so requests. (3) The body does not charge for the re-use of information if it transmits the same information to the internet free of charge. | |
| South Sudan | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 12 - access fees are set centrally, and are limited to the reproduction costs, and specifically exclude costs for searching, transcribing or examining. 12 also implies fees are optional. | |
| Ukraine | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 21.2 If satisfaction of the information request requires making of photocopies of documents of more than 10 pages, the requester shall be obliged to compensate the factual expenses for copying and printing. 21.3 The amount of factual expenses shall be determined by the respective information administrator within the limits established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. In case the information administrator has not established the amount of payment for copying and printing, the information shall be provided free of charge. 21.4 Requestor’s personal information and information of public interest shall be provided without payment for copying and printing. | The fees are determined individually by the public authorities but they are limited to copying/printing and the Government sets the maximum ceiling which cannot be exceeded. 10 pages are allowed to be printed for free. |
| Yemen | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 2 | 2: "<...> The cost of access to information: It is the actual cost incurred to portray or copy the information required on paper or electronically excluding the cost of any staff time it takes to arrange these copies and highlighted or moved. <...>" | "The cost of accessing information" is defined as "actual cost incurred to portray or copy the information required on paper or electronically excluding the cost of any staff time it takes to arrange these copies and highlighted or moved." The law also describes fees as only being levied "where appropriate" - meaning they are optional. |
| Albania | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 13(2) The cost of reproduction can not be higher than the actual cost of the material on the information reproduced. The cost of delivery can not be higher than the average cost of the same service in the market. 13(3) The Commissioner for the Right to Information and Protection of Personal Data shall, periodically and in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, consider the charges made public by the public sector bodies and, as appropriate, order their change. | The Law limits fees to cost of reproduction and to cost of delivery and establish the need to issue instructions to determine the number of pages which will be provided free of charge. In practice, the Information Commissioner has issued an instruction that urges public authorities to provide the first 10 pages for free. |
| Andorra | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | YES | 1 | "Article 15) 2. The consultation of public information to which access has been granted is free of charge. Format must be prioritized and electronic support. Issuing copies or translating the information into a format other than the original may be subject to the payment of a pre-established public price, which may not exceed the actual cost and may include the costs of dedication it generates to the Administration for its own obtaining and delivery, as established in the corresponding tax instrument." "Article 15, 2. La consulta de la informació pública l’accés a la qual s’ha atorgat és gratuïta. S’han de prioritzar el format i el suport electrònics. L’expedició de còpies o la transposició de la informació a un format diferent a l’original pot ser sotmesa al pagament d’un preu públic prèviament establert, que no pot excedir el cost real de reproducció, i pot incloure els costos de dedicació que aquesta generi a l’Administració per a la seva obtenció i lliurament, segons el que s’estableixi en el corresponent instrument tributari." | 1 = Article 15.2 (Pending verification of reproduction fees) |
| Angola | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 12(2) Reproduction pursuant to paragraph 1b) shall be one copy and subject to payment by the applicant of an amount strictly corresponding to the cost of the materials used and the service rendered; such amount to be determined by a decree-law. | No - Art 12(2) limits access fees to the cost of materials used AND services rendered. |
| Austria | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 12 (2) (Constitutional provision) Applications (requests for information), requests for the provision of information and other applications in the procedure for the provision of information, information and notices under this Federal Act shall be exempt from the administrative charges of the provinces and municipalities. Explanatory Note, Re § 12...The applicable provisions regarding cash expenses should remain unaffected by this: Pursuant to Section 76 AVG, cash expenses incurred by "the authority in the course of an official act" shall be borne by "the party that made the application initiating the proceedings". This concerns material costs that exceed the general administrative expenses and are incurred in the specific case, such as costs for copies on electronic data carriers, costs for the production of copies or printouts that exceed a minor amount due to their number or format (see also Section 17 (1) AVG, according to which parties can "make copies themselves or have copies or printouts made at their own expense"), and packaging costs. As part of the duty to provide information (Section 13a AVG), the body obliged to provide information must point out any potential expenses incurred in providing the information, in particular in cases where cash expenses are expected to be significant (e.g. extensive copies), as well as any more favorable ways for the applicant to obtain the information (e.g. by inspecting or photographing, which generally does not incur any cash expenses). | The explanatory note is somewhat broad and lacks specificity in terms of the kinds of fees which may be levied and how they are set. It is not entirely clear that charging for staff time is ruled out. Requests are free. The official documents affirming that information is not (fully) provided (which are needed to take a case to court) cost EUR 6.5 |
| Azerbaijan | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 2.1. Access to information is free in the Republic of Azerbaijan. 14.3. In the cases specified in Article 14.2.1 of this Law, access to information shall be provided free of charge, with payment or on preferential terms. Article 26. Payment for access to information 26.1. The applicant shall not pay for access to the information if he / she gets acquainted with the information, copies it by hand or makes a copy using his / her technical capabilities, as well as in other cases where technical assistance is not provided. 26.2. There is no charge for accessing public information. 26.3. There may be a fee for the information service, provided that the amount of payment does not exceed the cost of preparation and submission of information. 26.4. Relevant executive authority in coordination with the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan: 26.4.1. list of paid information services; 26.4.2. payment rules for preparation and submission of information; 26.4.3. cases of submission of information with advance payment; 26.4.4. the terms of the discount that can be made at the time of payment; 26.4.5. except as provided in Article 14.4 of this Law, determines the conditions and rules for securing information requests by contract. | Free if inspect or copy using own devices but the fee refers to the cost of "preparation and submission" of the information, which is not very clear. Also, while authorities must coordinate with the Ombudsman on fees, the latter does not seem to be tasked with preparing a central schedule of fees. |
| Bahamas | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Section 13. Cost of access. (2) Access to a record is conditional upon the payment by the applicant of the prescribed fee, as set out in the Regulations, for reproducing or preparing the record. (3) The fees payable by the applicant shall be commensurate with the cost incurred in making the record available. Section 56. Fees (1) The Minister may make regulations prescribing fees— (a) for the costs of access to record and the manner in which such fees are to be calculated; (b) for such other services or matters as may be prescribed, and the Minister may therin exempt any category of persons for whom no fee shall be charged. (2) The Minister may vary the fees so prescribed pursuant to subsection (1) and the provisions of sections 31 and 32 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act (Ch. 2) shall apply in relaiton to any regulations made by the Minister under this section | No mention of at least 20 pages being free of charge and fees may be charged for "preparing" the record but set centrally. |
| Belgium | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Loi n° 94-1724, Article 3 "Art. 3 Les rétributions éventuellement réclamées pour la délivrance des informations visées à l'article 2, 1° et 2°, ne peuvent excéder le prix coûtant." Article 12 La réception d'une copie d'un document administratif peut être soumise au paiement d'une rétribution dont le montant est fixé par le Roi. | Article 3 establish that fees can be charged for copies but only the real cost. Article 12 says that the King shall fix the rate for copies. Charging seems to be optional but there is no provision for free copies. There is a Royal Decree setting the tarrifs. |
| Benin | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 75: L’accès à un document ou renseignement public est gratuit. Toutefois, en cas de besoin de leur transcription, de leur reproduction ou photocopie ou encore de leur envoi par la poste ou par courrier électronique, le coût de ces actes est imputable au requérant. Le montant et les modalités de paiement de ces frais sont fixés par décision de la Haute Autorité de l’Audiovisuel et de la Communication après avis du ministre en charge des finances. | No free pages and they seem to envisage fees that go beyond just reproduction and sending but set centrally. |
| Bolivia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 12(III) In accordance with the principle of gratuity, the petitioner who requires information must pay only the amount corresponding to the reproduction costs of the required information. | No mention of how fees are determined and no provision for a certain number of free pages but is limited to reproduction |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 16 Duplication Costs "<...> fees may only be levied for duplication costs that shall be determined in accordance with an Instruction of the Federation Ministry of Justice issued pursuant to this Act. For standard size photocopies, the first ten pages shall be free of charge." | It is free of charge only for the first 10 pages. |
| Brazil | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 12. The service to search and provide information is free of charge, except in the case of document reproduction by the public organ or entity, when only the costs of the services and materials used can be charged. | 12 - fees are optional - but include "services" as well as delivery |
| Bulgaria | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 20(2) The expenses incurred for granting access to public information shall be recovered in accordance with tariffs determined by the Minister of Finance, and shall not exceed the actual costs incurred. (3) A justification of the expenses under art. 2 shall be made to the applicant upon his/her request. | There is no mention of anything about optional fees or at least 20 pages free of charge. |
| Burkina Faso | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 8 : L'accès à l’information publique et aux documents administratifs est gratuit. Toutefois, le paiement de frais n'excédant pas le coût de la transcription, de la reproduction ou de la transmission du document peut être mis à la charge du demandeur. Dans le cas où il y a lieu à paiement de frais pour plusieurs documents différents, lesdits frais sont précisés pour chaque document. Article 19 : Le demandeur n’est pas soumis au paiement de frais : - pour le dépôt de la demande ; - pour le temps passé par un organisme de service public dans la recherche de l’information demandée ; - pour le temps passé par un organisme de service public à examiner l’information pour déterminer si elle contient des informations classifiées ou pour effacer l’information classifiée d’un document. | Only reproduction but not set centrally and no free pages |
| Cape Verde | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 8(1) Access through the means provided for in paragraphs b) and c) of paragraph 1 of the previous article, without prejudice to the principles enshrined in the General Regime of Fees, is subject to the payment of fees, the determination of which amount is subject to the following Principles: a) Correspond to the sum of the charges proportional to the use of machines and tools for the collection, production and reproduction of the document, with the costs of the materials used and the service provided, with the value of the fee not exceeding three times the average market value; b) In the case of issuance of a certificate, when the document made available constitutes the material result of an administrative activity, for which fees or fees are due, the charges referred to in the previous paragraph are added to the amount of the fee for issuing the certificate; c) The fees charged may also add, when applicable and required by law, the cost of anonymizing the documents and shipping charges, when this is done by post; d) The reproduction carried out electronically and sent by email is not subject to charges.; e) The bodies and entities to which this law applies must, without prejudice to the provisions of subsection i) of no. 1 of article 4 of the present diploma, post in a place accessible to the public the table of charges charged for reproductions and certificates of administrative documents. (6) The amount of fees provided for in this article is regulated by regulatory decree. | No free pages, fees may rise to three times the commercial rate, not clearly limited to cost of reproduction and delivery, although it probably is. |
| China | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 42 Administrative organs providing government information upon application are not to collect fees. However, where the number or frequency of applicants' applications to disclose government information clearly exceed reasonable limits, administrative organs may collect fees for handling the information. Specific measures on administrative organs collection of information handling fees are to be drafted by the State Council departments for pricing together with the State Council finance departments, and the departments in charge of open government information for the entire nation. | Generally free, but fees may apply when number or frequency of applications "clearly exceed reasonable limits" -- enough for one point, but no full points because of lack of clear limits when the possibility of fees is triggered |
| Colombia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Art. 26: The response to the request should be free or subject to a cost that does not exceed the value of the reproduction and delivery of the same to the applicant. It is preferable, where possible, according to the passive and active subjects, the response electronically, with the consent of the applicant. | Art 17 - fees are set locally, but cannot exceed cost of reproduction. |
| Costa Rica | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 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. | Limited to reproduction and delivery costs but not clear set centrally and no free pages. A large number of constitutional cases also take this approach. |
| Cyprus | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | "Article 54 (Regulations) 54.-(1) Το Υπουργικό Συμβούλιο έχει εξουσία να εκδίδει Κανονισμούς που δημοσιεύονται στην Επίσημη Εφημερίδα της Δημοκρατίας, για τον καθορισμό κάθε θέματος που χρήζει ή είναι δεκτικό καθορισμού και γενικά για την καλύτερη εφαρμογή των διατάξεων του παρόντος Νόμου. (2) Χωρίς επηρεασμό της γενικότητας του εδαφίου (1), οποιοιδήποτε τέτοιοι Κανονισμοί δύνανται, μεταξύ άλλων, να προνοούν για όλα ή μερικά από τα ακόλουθα θέματα: (α) Τον καθορισμό των πληρωτέων τελών, (β) την προθεσμία δημόσιας αρχής να επιληφθεί αίτησης, και (γ) τον καθορισμό του κόστους παροχής πληροφοριών που λογίζεται ως εύλογο κόστος και τον τρόπο υπολογισμού του. (3) Κανονισμοί που εκδίδονται δυνάμει των διατάξεων του παρόντος άρθρου κατατίθενται στη Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων. Αν μετά την παρέλευση εξήντα (60) ημερών από την κατάθεση αυτή η Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων, με απόφασή της, δεν τροποποιήσει ή ακυρώσει τους Κανονισμούς που κατατέθηκαν με τον τρόπο αυτό στο σύνολό τους ή μερικώς, τότε αυτοί, αμέσως μετά την παρέλευση της πιο πάνω προθεσμίας, δημοσιεύονται στην Επίσημη Εφημερίδα της Δημοκρατίας και τίθενται σε ισχύ από την ημερομηνία της δημοσίευσής τους. Σε περίπτωση τροποποίησης αυτών, στο σύνολό τους ή μερικώς από τη Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων, αυτοί δημοσιεύονται στην Επίσημη Εφημερίδα της Δημοκρατίας όπως έχουν τροποποιηθεί από αυτήν και τίθενται σε ισχύ από την ημερομηνία της δημοσίευσής τους" | These are set centrally |
| Denmark | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Chapter 4, Section 16.3: "The Minister for Justice shall lay down rules on the fees payable for transcripts and office copies." | Fees will be set centrally (minister of Justice) and will be for the copies, transcript or documents. |
| Dominican Republic | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | ARTICLE 14. El acceso público a la información es gratuito en tanto no se requiera la reproducción de la misma. En todo caso las tarifas cobradas por las instituciones deberán ser razonables y calculadas, tomando como base el costo del suministro de la información. ARTICLE 15. El organismo podrá fijar tasas destinadas a solventar los costos diferenciados que demande la búsqueda y la reproducción de la información, sin que ello implique, en ningún caso, menoscabo del ejercicio del derecho de acceso a la información pública. Podrá, además, establecer tasas diferenciadas cuando la información sea solicitada para ser utilizada como parte de una actividad con fines de lucro o a esos fines; y podrá exceptuar del pago cuando el pedido sea interpuesto por instituciones educativas, científicas, sin fines de lucro o vinculadas como actividades declaradas de interés público o de interés social. | Art 14-15 - fees aren't set centrally, but there are clear rules. |
| East Timor | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 9(3) The entities that hold the documents may charge administrative fees for the reproduction or issuance of certificates whose value is not disproportionate to the costs incurred by the services and does not exceed the average value charged by the corresponding service. 4. The value of the administrative costs of the services integrated in the Direct and Indirect Administration of the State is defined by Government Diploma. 5. Administrative charges should be posted in a place accessible to the public. | Fees are centrally set. Somewhat vague as to whether these are limited to reproduction costs and whether or not they are optional, but together these are worth a point. |
| Ethiopia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 14(12) The fees payable for access to information in accordance with sub-article (2) of this Article shall not exceed the actual cost of searching, collecting and duplicating the record containing the information provided that no fee shall be charged for requests of personal information or for requests from those who cannot afford to pay. | 14(12) fees are not set centrally, are limited to costs incurred but this includes the cost of searching for the information. |
| Finland | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | [Principles of Openness] Article 14(3) If the official or the other person referred to in paragraph (2) refuses to grant the requested access, he/she shall: inform the person requesting access of the charges involved in the consideration of the request. Article 34. A copy of a document and the provision of access to information in the form of a printout or by means of a technical interface, otherwise electronically or in a comparable manner, as well as the retrieval and delivery service provided by an authority, may be subject to a charge, as specifically provided elsewhere. Other access provided by virtue of this Act shall be free of charge. | |
| Georgia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 38 – Availability of copy of public information Public institutions shall be obliged to ensure availability of copies of public information. Charging any fees for issuing public information other than the cost of making copies shall not be permitted. | A public agency shall provide access to the copy of public information. No fees shall be charged for distributing public information, except for copying costs. There is not 20 pages for free. |
| Ghana | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 75(1) An applicant seeking access to information under this Act shall pay the fee or charge approved by Parliament in accordance with the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 (Act 793). (2) Despite subsection (1), a fee or charge shall not be payable for (a) the reproduction of personal information of the applicant; (b) the reproduction of personal information of a person on whose behalf an application is made; (c) the reproduction of information which is in the public interest; (d) information that should have been provided within the stipulated time under this Act; (e) information to an applicant who is indigent; (f) information to a person with disability; (g) time spent by an information officer or information reviewing officer in reviewing the information requested; (h) time spent by an information officer or information reviewing officer in examining whether the information requested is exempt information; or (i) preparing the information for which access is to be provided. | Fees are set centrally and the rules seem to exclude all time spent by public institutions but no free pages |
| Greece | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 5(4) The relevant reproduction cost is incurred by the applicant unless the law stipulates otherwise. | The costs are limited to the reproduction of the document. |
| Guinea | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 16. L'accès aux documents administratifs s'exerce au choix du demandeur et dans la limite des possibilités techniques de l'administration : - Par consultation gratuite sur place, sauf si la préservation du document ne le permet pas ; - Sous réserve que la reproduction ne nuise pas à la conservation du document, par la délivrance d'une copie sur un support identique à celui utilisé par l'administration ou compatible avec celui-ci et aux frais du demandeur, sans que ces frais puissent excéder le coût de cette reproduction, dans des conditions prévues par décret ; - Par courrier électronique et sans frais lorsque le document est disponible sous forme électronique. 33(1) Tout citoyen a droit gratuitement à l'accès à l'information. Toutefois, si la fourniture de L'information nécessite des frais à payer par l'organisme concerné demandeur sera informé de la nécessité de payer un montant qui ne dépassera pas les coûts réels supportés par l'organisme concerné. (2) L'information demandée ne sera fournie qu'après justification du paiement du montant dû. | Limited to actual costs but no clear definition of what this would cover. No free pages. But Article 16 gives free access to inspections and electronic versions, and suggests costs for photocopies would only relate to copying. And it also refers to the idea of a decree setting fees. |
| Guyana | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 21(3) The fees payable, in accordance with regulations made under section 46, by the applicant shall be commensurate with the cost incurred in making documents available and the fees shall be accompanied by a deposit in respect of a large document. | 21(3) - fees payable are commensurate to costs incurred. These are meant to be set by regulations - but that has not been done yet. |
| Honduras | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | N/A | Not centrally set - but the law limits fees to cost of reproduction. |
| Hungary | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 29(3) The applicant is entitled to receive a copy of the documents or document section containing the data regardless of its mode of storage. The body undertaking public duties controlling the data is entitled to charge a fee for making the copies - which fee shall be aligned to costs arising in connection with copying - of which the applicant must be notified before the request is processed. (4) Should the document or document section of which a copy has been requested be large, copying requests shall be fulfilled within a period of 15 days after the payment of the fee charged. The applicant must be notified of the large size of the document or document section of which a copy was requested, the fee charged, as well as options in which case copying is not needed to satisfy data requirements within a period of eight days following the receipt of the request. (5) The relevant legislation regulates cost items and the highest value of these taken into account when setting fee rates, as well as criteria to be applied to determine the large volume of the document of which a copy was requested. | 20 pages are not free of charge. |
| Iceland | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 12. [...] When the number of documents is great, the government authority may decide to assign their photocopying to other parties. The same applies when the government authority does not have facilities for photocopying documents. In such cases, the requester shall pay the cost entailed in photocopying the documents. The same applies, where relevant, to copies of material other than documents. By means of a list of fees, the Prime Minister shall decide what is to be paid for copies and photocopies of material provided pursuant to this Act. It is permissible to allow for all of the costs entailed. | It is able to charge all the costs entailed, but only in the case when the number of documents is great. |
| Israel | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | N/A | Fees are centrally set. |
| Italy | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 5(4) No cost shall be applied to the data or documents released in an electronic format or in hard copy except for the cost actually incurred and duly documented by the administration for reproducing such data and documents on physical devices. | |
| Ivory Coast | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 14. L’accès aux documents se fait au choix du demandeur et dans la limite des possibilités techniques de l’administration par: consultation gratuite sur place, sauf si la préservation du document ne le permet pas; délivrance d’une copie dans la forme ou le format souhaité sous réserve que la reproduction ne nuise pas à la conservation du document; courrier électronique et sans frais, lorsque le document est disponible sous forme électronique; tout autre mode de communication, conformément à la pratique administrative en vigueur. La délivrance d’une copie du document est subordonnée au paiement d’un montant déterminé par voie réglementaire. | Not quite clear - determined on a regulatory basis. |
| Japan | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 16 (Fees) (1) The person who makes a Disclosure Request, and the person who obtains the disclosure of Administrative Documents shall, pursuant to the provisions of a Cabinet Order, pay a fee pertaining to the Disclosure Request and a fee pertaining to the implementation of disclosure of an amount specified within the scopes of actual costs by a Cabinet Order respectively. (2) When setting the amount of the fee set forth in the preceding paragraph, consideration shall be given to make the amount as affordable as possible. (...) | Fees should be within the limits of actual expenses: Article 16. |
| Jordan | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 18 A decree by the Prime Minister shall fix any amount received by the Department for the copying of the information required, based on the Board's point of view. | Instructions call for fees to be set centrally and give 10 pages for free. 18 - set by the individual departments, with vague rules governing limits. |
| Kosovo | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 15(1) Consultation of public documents in the public institutions’ premises shall be granted free of charge, but does not exclude fees that can be imposed for related services rendered by libraries, archives and museums. (2) Costs for a copy of a public document may be charged to the applicant, which shall be reasonable and shall not exceed the real cost for production and the service of a copy. (3) Where charges are made by libraries, archives and museums, the total income from supplying and allowing reuse of public documents over the appropriate accounting period shall not exceed the cost or collection, production, reproduction, dissemination, preservation and rights clearance, together with a reasonable return on investment. (4) No fees shall be charged concerning requests for personal data. (5) Fees related to production and service of documents or a copy thereof shall be regulated by the sub-legal act issued by the respective Ministry of Finance and shall be unified for all public institutions. (6) In the case of standard charges for the re-use of public documents any applicable condition and the actual amount of those charges, including the calculation basis for such charges, shall be preestablished and published, through electronic means where possible and appropriate. | Costs are set centrally and are generally limited to reproduction and delivery. However, no pages are provided free of charge. |
| Kuwait | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 9. The competent employee shall, upon the approval of the application, enable the person to access the information pertaining to him and deliver to him copies of the documents related thereto in case requested, after payment of the fees indicated by the executive regulations. Reg. 4. The person has the right, upon acceptance of their application, to peruse the information without paying a fee. They are also entitled to obtain the documents after payment of a fee amounting to five Dinars for each document for which the number of papers does not exceed ten. Half a Dinar shall be added for each additional paper. | Fees are set centrally and are somehow limited to reproduction. However, the cost is KWD5 (approx. USD17) for just ten pages and the KWD0.5 (USD1.7) for each page thereafter which is clearly excessive. |
| Lebanon | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 18: The means of accessing administrative documents: A – Access to administrative documents shall occur for free at their location unless that is not possible for reasons related to the physical preservation of the document. B – Acquisition of a copy of the requested document by the person concerned shall occur at his own expense. However, the expense shall not exceed the cost of reproduction or photocopying or the cost stipulated by law. If the document is electronic or an audio or visual recording, the person concerned may request, at his own expense, a printed copy or an audio, visual, or electronic recording of it. The electronic document may be emailed for free to the person concerned. | No provision for centrally set fees and no free pages. |
| Liberia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 3.11: "Provision of Requested information: The search for and provision of requested information shall be done free of charge to the requester, but a public entity may charge such amount as is necessary to cover actual cost of photocopying, transcribing, scanning or other forms of reproduction." | 3.11 limits charges to the actual cost of production. |
| Liechtenstein | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Articles 32 and 33.4. | Not specified in law, see above. |
| Moldova | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 20. Fees for providing official information (1) Fees will be levied for providing official information and documents, except for cases specified by law, in amounts and according to procedures set by representative bodies; such fees will be disbursed to the state budget. (2) The fees will not exceed the costs incurred during the search for and processing of the information or parts thereof, copying, sending it to the applicant and/or translating it from the state language, based on the request of the information solicitor. (3) Fees for providing analytical or novel information, as well as information synopses, carried out on the request of the information solicitor, will be established on the basis of a bilateral contract between the applicant and the corresponding institution. (4) No fees will be levied for information requested by the information solicitor, if this information: a) influences directly the rights and freedoms of the information solicitor; b) is presented verbally; c) is solicited for examination on the institution's premises; d) contributes to the transparency of the public institution and is in the interest of society. (5) If the information provided to the information solicitor contains inaccuracies or incomplete data, the public institution is under the obligation to make the corresponding corrections and additions free of charge, except for cases when such corrections require considerable efforts and costs not planned for and not taxed when the information was first provided. (6) The public institution will inform the applicant in the most appropriate and detailed way possible about the rules for fees calculation for the information released. | Fees are set by "representative bodies" which presumably means a central body. However, fees can cover costs incurred during the search for and processing of the information, as well as for copies and sending. No mention of free pages. |
| Mongolia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 4.1. The terms found in this law shall bear the following meanings: 4.1.8. “expenses for information release” means expenses of photocopying, copying, and delivering through mail, and other required expenses for the purpose of releasing information to citizens and legal entities; 16.1. The service fee shall apply for citizens and legal entities receives information. 16.2. The amount of service fee specified in the article 16.1 of this Law shall be established by the management of the organization in commensurate with the expenses to be incurred in relation to the release of such information, and the calculation methodology and procedures for the payment of such fees, its discount and waiver shall be approved by the Government of Mongolia. 16.3. The service fees specified in article 16.1 of this Law shall not be imposed at the same time with other service fees. 16.4. The amount of service fees shall not exceed the direct expenses related to release of such information such as copying and delivery through mail. | 4.1.8 refers to "other required expenses" beyond copying and delivery |
| Montenegro | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 19: "Any applicant shall bear the costs of the procedure for exercising the right of access to the information, in harmony with the separate regulation. The costs of such procedure shall be in connection only to actual costs incurred by a government agency with respect to transcribing, photocopying, translating and delivering any required information." | |
| Morocco | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 5(2) Toutefois, le demandeur de l'information prend en charge, le cas échéant, le coût de reproduction ou de traitement des informations demandées et le coût de leur envoi jusqu'à lui. | Not clear what is covered ("le cout de reproduction ou de traitement … et le coût de leur envoi jusqu'à lui"). Fees are not set centrally and there are no free pages. |
| Mozambique | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | ARTIGO 17 (Gratuitousness) The disclosure of information is free, except for the reproduction, certified declaration, emission of certificates, where a fee is required. Right to Information Law Regulation ARTIGO 12 (Acceptance of the Request) 1. The applicant has the right to be informed on the acceptance of the request, the notification includes the fees for the reproduction, when necessary, and the form of the disclosure. ARTIGO 19 (Gratuitousness) The disclosure of information is free, except for the reproduction, certified declaration, emission of certificates, where a fee is required. | No free pages |
| Namibia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates - ... “reasonable reproduction cost” means the minimum market rate of reproduction; 46(1) A requester is not required to pay any fee - (a) on lodging a request; or (b) in relation to time spent by an information holder - (i) searching for the information requested; or (ii) examining the information to determine whether it contains exempted information or severing the exempted part of the information from the information granted. (2) Subject to subsection (3), an information holder may charge the requester a reproduction fee consisting of the reasonable reproduction costs incurred by the information holder. (3) A reproduction fee is not payable - (a) for reproduction of personal information of the requester; (b) if the request is made on behalf of another person for the personal information of the person on whose behalf the request is made; (c) for reproduction of information which is in the public interest; (d) if an information holder fails to respond to a request within - (i) the period required under section 37; or (ii) the extended period, where an extension of the period has been made under section 39; or (e) if the requester is indigent as may be prescribed. (4) An information holder may recover the prescribed translation fee or transcription fee from a requester if the requester makes a request to the information holder that - (a) the information released under this Act be made available in a language other than the official language in which it is held; or (b) a written transcription of information released under this Act be produced. 85. The Minister may make regulations relating to any or all of the following - (b) the fees that may be charged under this Act; | No reference to free pages. |
| Nicaragua | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Not centrally set, but limited to cost of reproduction. | |
| Nigeria | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 8 Fees shall be limited to standard charges for document duplication and transcription where necessary. | S. 8 limits them to "standard charges for document duplication and transcription where necessary." |
| Pakistan | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 15 Prescribed fee may be charged for the cost of reproducing information and sending it to the applicant.; 27(b) The Information Commission may make regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of the rules made under section 26, regarding its internal procedures and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it may make regulations regarding- (b) fee that may be charged for requests. Right of Access to Information Rules, 20195. Procedure for the disposal of information requests.— (1) The designated officer of a public body shall—(a) not charge any cost for provision of information relating to life and liberty of any person. | Not as clear as it could be but may be implied from power of Commissioner to set fees. No free copies. |
| Panama | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Artículo 4: El acceso público la información será gratuito en tanto no se requiera la reproducción de esta. Los costos de reproducción de la información estarán a cargo del solicitante. En todo caso, las tarifas cobradas por la institución deberán incluir únicamente los costos de reproducción. La información será suministrada en copia simple, o en su reproducción digital, sonora, fotográfica, cinematográfica o videográfica, según se peticione y sea técnicamente factible. Para los efectos de prestar el servicio de acceso por medio de Internet, las instituciones deberán prever una oficina de consulta que tenga los medios electrónicos indispensables para ofrecer un servicio de acceso de calidad. Esto se podrá lograr también por medio de kioscos de información que hayan previsto las distintas instituciones. Parágrafo: En caso de que la información solicitada sea requerida de manera certificada, el peticionario deberá cumplir, para los efectos de las formalidades y de los costos, con las disposiciones legales que rigen la materia. | Nothing on fees being centrally set and no free pages. |
| Qatar | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | مادة 19: للجهة المعنية أن تُقرر مقابلاً للحصول على المعلومات لا يجاوز تكلفة إعدادها وتسليمها بصورتها النهائية 19. The concerned authority may determine a fee for obtaining the information that does not exceed the cost of preparing and delivering it in its final form |
Fees are limited to reproduction and delivery costs but not set centrally, and there are no free pages. |
| Romania | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 9(1) If the request for information implies reproduction of the documents held by the public authority or organisation, the petitioner shall bear the cost of the reproduction, in compliance with the law. | The fees are limited to the cost of reproducing the pretended copies. No mention about the other aspects. Local authorities enjoy autonomy, under the constitution, so they might be able to impose their own fees. |
| San Marino | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 28(1)(b)...The cost of the copy shall be borne by the applicant and may not exceed the cost of reproduction. At the request of the interested party, copies shall be certified; c) by free electronic mail if the document is available in an electronic format that guarantees the un-modifiability of its content. 28(3). A special regulation will establish the fees for the reproduction and copying of the documents referred to in letter b) of paragraph 1, as well as for any authentication. | No provision for first 20 pages to be free of charge. |
| Saudi Arabia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 7.4(5) The public entity shall set the necessary standards for determining the fees for processing requests to access or obtain public information based on the nature of the data, its size, the effort spent, and the time taken - in accordance with the Data Revenue Framework Interim Regulation. The development of the Data Revenue Framework Interim Regulations is in progress. | While the public entity sets standards for fees, it must do so in line with the centralised Data Revenue Framework Interim Regulation. It is not clear whether fees will be limited to repreoduction and delivery. No pages are provided for free. |
| Serbia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 17 [...] A copy of the document containing the requested information shall be issued and the applicant shall be obliged to reimburse the necessary costs of duplication, and also in the event of sending, the costs of sending. The government shall sign the list of expenditures on the basis of which the public authority shall calculate the costs referred to in the previous Para. [...] The Commissioner shall follow the practice of reimbursement of costs and exemption from reimbursement and issue recommendations to the public authorities with the aim of standardizing the practice. | Rules are set centrally. The fees are limited to the cost of reproduction and sending. The Decree of Government regulating charges provides for possibility not to charge at all if the price would be below 50 dinars (16 copies) (1 point loss). Some categories of request are free of charge (e.g. journalist, human rights, related to the safety of people and environment). |
| Seychelles | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 19. (1) A requester is not required to pay any fee - (a) in relation to time spent by an information holder searching for the information requested; or (b) in relation to time spent by the information holder examining the information to determine whether it contains exempt information or deleting exempt information from a document. (2) An information holder may charge the requester a reproduction fee as may be prescribed. . (3) Where a request is made that a written transcription be produced of any information provided to the requester, the information holder may recover the costs of such transcription at such rate as maybe prescribed from the requester. 74(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the regulations made may provide for— (a) term of office, salary and allowances of the Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, (b) fee for request for information and the manner of payment, (c) fee for reproduction or transcription of information and the manner of payment (d); manner of publication under the Act. | No fee generally for time but there is a fee for transcription; the Minister may regulate fees. |
| South Korea | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 17(1) Expenses incurred in disclosing information and mailing disclosed information, etc. shall be borne by applicants within the scope of actual expenses. PD 17(1): Expenses incurred for the information disclosure, postage, etc. under Article 17 (1) of the Act shall be classified into fees and postal charges (limited to where the copy, output, reproduced article, or printed article of the information to be disclosed are forwarded by mail), and the amount of fees shall be prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of the Interior: Provided, That in cases of a local government, the amount of fees shall be prescribed by Municipal Ordinance. (2) Where Information is disclosed in electronic form through the information and communications network pursuant to Article 15 (1) and (2) of the Act, the head of a public institution (excluding a local government and its affiliated agency) may set differing amounts of fees within the fee range prescribed by the main sentence of paragraph (1), in consideration of the burden of work. | Set centrally and some suggestion limited but then it also envisages fees for "burden of work". |
| Sri Lanka | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Section 14. The duties and functions of the Commission shall be, to (c) issue guidelines based on reasonableness, for determining fees to be levied by public authorities for the release of any information under this Act;... (e) prescribe the fee Schedule based on the principle of proactive disclosure, in regard to providing information; Section 25. (1) An information officer shall, as expeditiously as possible and in any case within fourteen working days of the receipt of a request under section 24, make a decision either to provide the information requested for on the payment of a fee determined in accordance with the fee schedule referred to in section 14(e); (4) Notwithstanding the requirement made for the payment of a fee under subsection (1), the Commission may specify the circumstances in which information may be provided by an information officer, without the payment of a fee. Rule 4 contains detailed infomation about fees. Rule 6. Information provided free of charge: (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in Rule 4 above, the Public Authority shall provide information prepared or contained on four pages (A4 size) of photocopies or printing, free of cost. (2) Information that is ordinarily available free of charge shall continue to be provided free of charge. | Act calls for central schedule which must be reasonable and then the Fee Schedule in the Rules elaborates. Only 4 pages for free. |
| Sweden | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Chapter 2, Article 13, Paragraph 1: "A person who wishes to examine an official document is also entitled to obtain a transcript or copy of the document, or such part thereof as may be released, in return for a fixed fee. A public authority is however under no obligation to release material recorded for automatic data processing in any form other than a printout except insofar as follows from an actof law. Nor is a public authority under any obligation to provide copies of maps, drawings, pictures, or recordings under Article 3, paragraph one, other than in the manner indicated above, if this would present difficulty and the document can be made available at the place where it is held." | |
| Tanzania | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Section 21: The information holder from which a request for access to information has been made may charge fees necessary for covering actual costs for production of the requested information. | Refers to "actual costs" but what is covered by this is quite unclear. |
| Thailand | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | N/A | An announcement issued by the OIC on 7 May 1999 sets the fee rate for copying documents and for certifying the documents. Any state agency which wants to charge different rates for the photocopying or duplication fee for other media needs approval from the OIC. The announcement does not provide for free of charge for the first 20 pages. |
| Togo | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 9 : L'accès à une information ou à un document d'un organisme public est gratuit sauf si la transcription, la reproduction, ou la transmission du document entraînent des frais. | Fees not set centrally. |
| Tunisia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Art. 23- Toute personne a gratuitement droit d’accès à l’information. Toutefois, si la fourniture de l’information nécessite des frais supportés par l’organisme concerné, le demandeur sera pré-informé de la nécessité de payer un montant à condition qu’il ne dépasse pas les coûts réels supportés par l’organisme concerné. L’information demandée ne sera fournie qu’après justification du paiement du montant dû. | Fees are limited but the law is unclear as to what exactly might be charged and there are no free pages. |
| United Kingdom | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Section 9.3: "2) Where a fees notice has been given to the applicant, the public authority is not obliged to comply with section 1(1) unless the fee is paid within the period of three months beginning with the day on which the fees notice is given to the applicant." Section 13: "(1) A public authority may charge for the communication of any information whose communication-- (a) is not required by section 1(1) because the cost of complying with the request for information exceeds the amount which is the appropriate limit for the purposes of section 12(1) and (2), and (b) is not otherwise required by law, such fee as may be determined by the public authority in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State. (2) Regulations under this section may, in particular, provide-- (a) that any fee is not to exceed such maximum as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with, the regulations, and (b) that any fee is to be calculated in such manner as may be prescribed by the regulations. (3) Subsection (1) does not apply where provision is made by or under any enactment as to the fee that may be charged by the public authority for the disclosure of the information." | Fees are set centrally by the Secretary of State. There are some cases that this fee is not payable, but are not mentioned and there is a photocopying charge (1 point loss). |
| United States | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Fees are centrally set according to the the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Uniform Freedom of Information Act Fee Schedule and Guidelines - which includes charges for time spent searching, but no fees for 2 hours search time or first 100 pages of duplication. | |
| Uruguay | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Artículo 17. (Acceso).- En caso que los sujetos obligados resuelvan favorablemente las peticiones formuladas, autorizarán la consulta de los documentos pertinentes en las oficinas que determinen o, en su caso, expedirán copia auténtica de los antecedentes que posean relativos a la solicitud. El acceso a la información será siempre gratuito, pero su reproducción en cualquier soporte será a costa del interesado, quien reintegrará al organismo únicamente el precio de costo del soporte, sin ningún tipo de ganancia o arancel adicional. | Art 17 - fees limited to reproduction costs |
| Vanuatu | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | 30. Reproduction fees (1) An applicant must pay the prescribed reproduction fee if his or her request for access to information is granted. (2) An applicant is not required to pay any reproduction fee: (a) when lodging an application; or (b) in relation to time spent by the Right to Information Officer in searching for the information requested; or (c) in relation to time spent by the Right to Information Officer in examining the information to determine whether it contains exempt matter or deleting exempt matter from the information. (7) Reproduction fees charged by Government agency, relevant private entity or private entity must not exceed VT50,000. | Not clear centrally set and no free pages. |
| Vietnam | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | Partially | 1 | Article 12(2): Information requester shall pay the actual cost for printing, copying, capturing, and sending information. The Minister of Ministry of Finance shall provide detailed regulations on this Item. Reg. 13(2): Expenses for access to information shall be paid by information requesters before the information provision and remitted into the state budget. | No free pages. |
| Antigua and Barbuda | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | 14 The information officer of a public authority shall, in each Commissioner financial year, submit to the Commissioner a report on the activities of the public body pursuant to, or to promote compliance with, this Act, which shall include information about: (c) fees charged for requests for information; 16(1) A person is not entitled to obtain, in accordance with the procedure provided for in this Part, access to: (a) a document which contains information that is open to public access, as part of a public register or other document, in accordance with another written law, where that access is subject to a fee or other charge; 20(1) The communication of information pursuant to a request by a public or private body may, subject to subsections (2) and (3), be made conditional upon payment by the person making the request of a reasonable fee, which shall not exceed the actual cost of searching for, preparing and communicating the information. | Art 14(c) - fees are not centrally set. Art 16(1)(a) allows officials to charge separate access fees for some information. 20(1) limits fees to the cost of searching for, preparing and communicating the information. All of these violation international best practicses. |
| Australia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | Freedom of Information (Charges) Regulations 2019 Reg. 6 Charges Subject to this Part, for the purposes of section 94 of the Act: ... (b) the charges set out in Part 2 of Schedule 1 apply in respect of the provision of access to a document of an agency or an official document of a Minister. Reg. 8 If an applicant requests access to a document of an agency or an official document of a Minister, the relevant agency or relevant Minister may make either or both of the following decisions: ... (b) a decision that the applicant is liable to pay a charge in respect of the provision of access to the document. | Schedule 1 to the Regulations lists the charges applicable in respect of the provision of access to a document. Most Items are marked "an amount not exceeding the actual costs incurred by the relevant agency or relevant Minister." However, there is no guarantee of free pages, Items 3 and 8 list an explicit per-page cost, and Items 1 and 2 list a charge for supervised access. Nonetheless, fees are optional under Reg. 8. |
| Belize | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Cook Islands | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | 14. Decisions on requests (...) (3) Any charge fixed shall be reasonable and regard may be had to the cost of the labour and materials involved in making the information available to, and to any costs incurred pursuant to, a request of the applicant to make the information available urgently. | 14(3) says only that charges must be reasonable - does not centrally fix them, nor does it limit it to costs incurred (provides for charges for labour). |
| Ecuador | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned |
| Fiji | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | Article 12(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a public agency may impose a charge for the expenses involved in making the requested information available. (3) Pursuant to subsection (2), the public agency must notify the person who made the request of the charge required to be paid and the person must pay such charge in order to access the information. (4) Any charge under subsection (2) must be reasonable and based on - (a) in the case of information contained in documents, the nature and estimated quantity of documents; (b) the estimated expenses involved in making the information available; (c) the estimated time for preparing the information; and (d) in the case of an urgent request under section 11, any expenses incurred pursuant to that urgent request. | Not set centrally, no free pages and not limited to reproduction and delivery costs. |
| Germany | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | Section 10(1) Fees and expenses shall be charged for official acts pursuant to this Act. This shall not apply to the furnishing of basic items of information. (2) With due regard to the administrative expenditure involved, the fees shall be calculated such as to ensure that access to information pursuant to Section 1 can be claimed effectively. (3) The Federal Ministry of the Interior is authorized to assess the facts and circumstances determining the commensurate fee and to fix the scales of fees for official acts pursuant to this Act by means of statutory instruments, without the approval of the Bundesrat. Section 15 (2) of the Administrative Costs Act (VwKG) shall not be applicable. | Fees may be charged for access above and beyond copying costs. |
| Indonesia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | Not mentioned. |
| Iran | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | Article 8. The public institution shall grant requests for access to information in a prompt way and this duration must not exceed 10 days. The executive regulations of this article will be approved by the cabinet in six months from the time this law is enacted considering the recommendations of the commission on publication and free access to information. Article 10. Except in cases of classified information, each public institution shall publish its [own] public information including [the institution's] outcomes and performance for the public interest and promoting citizens' rights. At least once a year, using computer facilities or in a guide book if possible and it shall deliver to the citizens who requested the information charging them the [service] fee and it must include the following: [...] | |
| Ireland | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | Article 27(1) Such amount as may be appropriate having regard to the provisions of this section shall be charged by the FOI body concerned under this subsection and paid by the requester concerned to the body in respect of the grant of an FOI request. The amount of a charge under this subsection shall be equal to the estimated cost of the search for and retrieval and copying of the record concerned by the FOI body concerned for the requester. | There is 5 hours free search and retrieval and a 20 per hour thereafter plus appeals fees. The fees themselves are laid out in a separate supporting law (a statutory instrument), making it more confusing. |
| Malta | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | Art. 9. "(1) Subject to subarticle (2) and to any regulations issued under this Act, a public authority may charge a fee to an applicant for access to a document in accordance with this Act. (2) Any fee set by a public authority shall not exceed the cost of making a document available to the applicant, whereas if regulations issued as aforesaid prescribe a range of standard fees, such fees shall not exceed the average cost of ma king documents available to applicants.(3) Regulations issued as aforesaid may provide for the payment of a fee specifically for the processing of a request for access to documents, and for the payment of such a fee on presentation of the request. (4) Where a public authority decides to charge an applicant a fee, it shall advise him accordingly and inform him that he has the right to complain to the Commissioner under article 23 if he feels that the fee is excessive: Provided that if the fee is a standard fee established by regulations under this Act, the Commissioner may in response to such a complaint inquire only into whether the regulations have been correctly applied.(5) A public authority may waive any fees payable in respect of a particular application if, in the opinion of the authority - (a) the fee payable is so small as to be not worth collecting; or (b) payment of the fee would cause financial hardship to the applicant, bearing in mind the applicant's means and circumstances; or (c) disclosure of the information requested is in the public interest. (6) Where a public authority fail s to meet the time limit set by article 10 or, if applicable, article 11, it shall not charge any fee for access to a document." | The fees are set by public authorities for access. In case there is a regulation for fees it must be applied. |
| Monaco | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | 25(3) L’autorité administrative peut, sur le support le plus approprié, délivrer copie du document administratif consulté, aux frais du demandeur, dans la limite des possibilités techniques du service et à la condition que la reproduction ne nuise pas à la conservation dudit document. 39(3) Les copies sont faites aux frais du demandeur, dans les conditions fixées au troisième alinéa de l’article 25. | No reference to central rules, of limitation to reproduction or of free pages. Same rules for documents from the Archives, as set out in A39. |
| Norway | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | Not mentioned. | |
| Palau | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | Section 9(b) All governing bodies shall develop procedures in order to promptly comply with the ten (10) days requirement. The person requesting access to public records shall bear the reasonable cost associated with the production. | Just states that requesters shall bear reasonable costs, which it appears to leave to each public authority to decide (so not set centrally). And it is unclear what "reasonable" might include but "costs associated with the production" of the information would appear to encompass costs beyond copying and sending. |
| Republic of Belarus | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | Not mentioned | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | 12 | No free pages, not limited to reproduction and sending and central schedule is optional |
| South Africa | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | 22. (1) The information officer of a public body to whom a request for access is made, must by notice require the requester, other than a personal requester, to pay the prescribed request fee (if any), before further processing the request. (2) If— (a) the search for a record of a public body in respect of which a request for access by a requester, other than a personal requester, has been made; and (b) the preparation of the record for disclosure (including any arrangements contemplated in section 29(2)(a) and (b)(i) and (ii)(aa)), would, in the opinion of the information officer of the body, require more than the hours prescribed for this purpose for requesters, the information officer must by notice require the requester, other than a personal requester, to pay as a deposit the prescribed portion (being not more than one third) of the access fee which would be payable if the request is granted. (3) The notice referred to in subsection (1) or (2) must state— (a) the amount of the deposit payable in terms of subsection (2), if applicable; (b) that the requester may lodge an internal appeal or an application with a court, as the case may be, against the tender or payment of the request fee in terms of subsection (1), or the tender or payment of a deposit in terms of subsection (2), as the case may be; and (c) the procedure (including the period) for lodging the internal appeal or application, as the case may be. (4) If a deposit has been paid in respect of a request for access which is refused, the information officer concerned must repay the deposit to the requester. (5) The information officer of a public body must withhold a record until the requester concerned has paid the applicable fees (if any). (6 )A requester whose request for access to a record of a public body has been granted must pay an access fee for reproduction and for search and preparation contemplated in subsection (7)(a) and (b), respectively, for any time reasonably required in excess of the prescribed hours to search for and prepare (including making any arrangements contemplated in section 29(2)(a) and (b)(i) and (ii)(aa)) the record for disclosure. (7) Access fees prescribed for the purposes of subsection (6) must provide for a reasonable access fee for— (a) the cost of making a copy of a record, or of a transcription of the content of a record, as contemplated in section 29(2)(a) and (b)(i), (ii)(bb), (iii) and (v) and, if applicable, the postal fee; and (b) the time reasonably required to search for the record and prepare (including making any arrangements contemplated in section 29(2)(a) and (b)(i) and (ii)(aa)) the record for disclosure to the requester. (8) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette— (a) exempt any person or category of persons from paying any fee referred to in this section; (b) determine that any fee referred to in this section is not to exceed a certain maximum amount; (c) determine the manner in which any fee referred to in this section is to be calculated; (d) determine that any fee referred to in this section does not apply to a category of records; (e) exempt any person or record or category of persons or records for a stipulated period from any fee referred to in subsection (6); and (f) determine that where the cost of collecting any fee referred to in this section exceeds the amount charged, such fee does not apply. | Fees are centrally set, per the 2001 Regulations However, authorities can charge a fee for location and collection, and no pages are provided for free. |
| Spain | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | Artículo 22 (Formalización del acceso): 4. El acceso a la información será gratuito. No obstante, la expedición de copias o la transposición de la información a un formato diferente al original podrá dar lugar a la exigencia de exacciones en los términos previstos en la Ley 8/1989, de 13 de abril, de Tasas y Precios Públicos o, en su caso, conforme a la normativa autonómica o local que resulte aplicable. | La ley no establece un número de copias gratuitas. Además, la ley no establece el mismo coste para todo el territorio. |
| Sudan | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | 10(g) g) The public institution can impose fees with the approval of the Commissioner reflecting the cost of providing or preparing the information requested. | Not really centrally set, not limited to reproduction and delivery and no free copies provided for. |
| Switzerland | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | Article 16.2 If the costs are likely to exceed 100 francs, the authority shall inform the applicant of the expected fee amount. If the applicant does not confirm his application for access within ten days, it shall be deemed to be withdrawn. The authority shall inform the applicant accordingly. | In addition to fees for reproduction, they can charge for extensive searching according to annex 1 of the Freedom of Information Ordinance |
| Taiwan | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | Art 22 deals with fees - no limits mentioned. | |
| Tajikistan | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | N/A | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | 12. A person is not entitled to obtain, in accordance with the procedure provided for in this Part, access to - (a) a document which contains information that is open to public access, as part of a public register or otherwise, in accordance with another written law, where that access is subject to a fee or other charge; 17. (5) The fees payable by the applicant shall be commensurate with the cost incurred in making documents available. | 12(a) allows for general access fees to some categories of documents. Fees are also not centrally set, s. 17(5) restricts them to the cost incurred in making the documents available – this allows authorities to charge for searching time. |
| Turkey | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | Article 10.3: "The applied institution, will charge the applicant for the cost of the procedure, to be added as an income to the budget." | No clear rules about fees, only the mention that the requester must pay in order to get the information. |
| Uganda | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | 47. Regulations. (1) The Minister may, by statutory instrument, make regulations for - (a) any matter which is required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; (b) any matter relating to the fees including the procedures and guidelines for determining when such fees should be waived or reduced (...) (2) The fee for access to be prescribed by regulations under this section shall be a fee representing the actual cost of retrieval and reproduction of the information. Access to Information Regulations, 2011, 9. Limitation on production of record (2) Where a person is granted access to a record, the head of the public body which has control of the record shall, where necessary, inform the person— (...) (c) of any amount required to be paid as a deposit before the search or production of the record is undertaken or the record is prepared for disclosure; (d) of the estimated total cost of the search for the record and preparation of the record for disclosure; and (e) of any amount required to be paid before access is given to the record including the cost of production or reproduction. 10. Retrieval and reproduction costs (1) The requester shall pay to the relevant public body the cost for retrieval and reproduction of the record. (2) The retrieval and reproduction costs are set out in Schedule 3. | S. 47 - the minister may regulate fees, 47(2) limits such fees to the cost of retrieval and reproduction. However, the 2011 Regulations seem to contradict s. 47(2). Reg. 9(2)(c) implies that requesters may need to pay a deposit on top of the access fee before any search is undertaken. Moreover, Reg. 9(2)(d) implies that costs may be charged for the search and preparation of the record, and 9(2)(e) does not limit these costs to production and reproduction ("including"). Finally, Schedule 3 appears to prescribe a fee for "digital data transfer," i.e. electronic access. |
| Uzbekistan | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | 9(9) Information may be provided on a commercial basis in accordance with the established procedure. | No proper system of fees or limitation of what might be charged. |
| Venezuela | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | 6. El ejercicio del derecho de acceso a la información de interés público comprende:....2. Recibir la información de manera completa, oportuna y gratuita o con un costo que no exceda del costo de búsqueda y reproducción de la documentación, siempre que la información se encuentre a disposición del sujeto obligado.... | Allows fees for cost of searching; fees not set centrally; no free pages. |
| Zambia | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | Not really mentioned but some reference to fees in 12(2)(a)(ii) and 18(4) and then for the minister to set fees in 40(2)(b) | |
| Zimbabwe | There are clear rules relating to access fees, which are set centrally, rather than being determined by individual public authorities. These include a requirement that fees be limited to the cost of reproducing and sending the information (so that inspection of documents and electronic copies are free) and that a certain initial number of pages (at least 20) are provided for free. | Score 1 point for fees being limited to reproduction and delivery costs and set centrally, 1 point for at least 20 pages free of charge or for fees being optional | 2 | NO | 0 | 17 (3) An applicant shall pay, in addition to the access fees prescribed in terms of this section, an additional fee for any time reasonably required in excess of the prescribed hours to search for and prepare the information requested. (4) Fees prescribed in terms of this section may reasonably allow for— (a) the cost of making a copy of the information in any form referred to in section 13; (b) the time reasonably required to search for information and preparation of information; (c) the costs of translation where a request is made that information released be made available in a language other than a language in which it is already held by the entity; (d) payment for the inspection of any records. (5) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette— (a) exempt any person or class of persons from paying any fee referred to in this section; (b) determine that any fee referred to in this section is not to exceed a certain maximum amount; (c) determine the manner in which any fee referred to in this section is to be calculated; (d) determine that any fee referred to in this section does not apply to a particular class of information or records. | According to 17(3), fees can be charged for time "in excess of the prescribed hours", but the Law does not prescribe any hours; 17(4) also allows for fees for searching and preparing and even for inspection; there is no mention of free pages; s. 17(5) provides for the Minister to set fees while s. 40(2)(a) calls for the Commission to set rules regarding the levying of fees. |
