Open Records Laws › Bulgaria

Bulgaria

Zakon za dostap do obshtestvena informatsia (Access to Public Information Act)

Zakon za dostap do obshtestvena informatsia (Access to Public Information Act, ZDOI/APIA), SG No. 55/2000

RTI Rating: 92 (source)

Response Timeline

Initial Response
14 days
Extension
10 days
Residency Required
None

14 calendar days from date of registration (Art. 28). May be extended by up to 10 days when requested information is substantial in volume (Art. 30(1)). May be extended by up to 14 days when third-party consent is needed (Art. 31(1)); body must seek consent within 7 days of registration. Once access is granted, applicant has minimum 30 days to obtain the information.

How to Submit a Request

Accepted Methods

  • {'notes': 'Written application in person or by mail', 'method': 'written'}
  • {'notes': 'Verbal requests accepted; body prepares protocol/certificate', 'method': 'oral'}
  • {'notes': 'Electronic requests to designated email; no e-signature required', 'method': 'email'}
  • {'notes': 'Platform for Access to Public Information (pitay.government.bg) -- centralized portal', 'method': 'online_portal'}

Requests may be written, oral, or electronic. Electronic requests are treated as written (Art. 24(2)). No requirement to state reasons. The centralized platform at pitay.government.bg allows tracking and publishes anonymized responses.

Required Elements

  • Full name of applicant (or business name and registered office for legal entities)
  • Description of the information requested
  • Preferred form of access (examination, copy, electronic, etc.)
  • Correspondence address

Fees

Access itself is free (Art. 18). Fees apply only for material costs of providing copies, per Minister of Finance Order No. ZMF-1472 (29 November 2011). Fees may not exceed actual costs (Art. 20(2)). Rates exclude VAT. Proof of payment required before release.

Fee Waivers

  • Examination of originals or copies on premises is free
  • Oral/verbal explanations provided free of charge
  • Information available via internet URL provided at no cost

Exemptions

  • Classified information / state secret (Art. 37(1)(1))
    Information classified under the Classified Information Protection Act. Mandatory -- no public interest override.
  • Commercial / trade secret (Art. 17(2), Art. 37(1)(3))
    Information constituting a trade secret or whose disclosure would result in unfair competition. Subject to overriding public interest test.
  • Personal data (Art. 2(4))
    Personal data as defined by the Personal Data Protection Act. APIA does not apply to personal data access.
  • Third-party interests (Art. 37(1)(2))
    Information affecting interests of a third party who has explicitly refused consent. May be overridden where overriding public interest exists.
  • Preparatory documents (Art. 13(2))
    Administrative information related to preparatory work of an act that has no independent significance. Restriction may not exceed 2 years.
  • Repeated request (Art. 37(1)(3))
    Access may be refused if same information was provided to same applicant within preceding 6 months

Partial access must be granted to non-exempt portions (Art. 37(2)). An "overriding public interest" test applies to commercial secrets, third-party interests, and preparatory documents (Art. 17(2)). Override does not apply to all exemption categories. RTI Rating: 3/30 on exceptions.

Appeal Process

1

1

2

2

Bulgaria has NO independent information commissioner. Primary appeal is judicial review by administrative courts. The 2019 amendment eliminating cassation appeals (Art. 40(3)) means the regional court decision is final. RTI Rating: 3/30 on appeals. The AIP Foundation (est. 1996) serves as primary civil society watchdog but has no enforcement powers.

Records Retention

Retention Law
Закон за Националния архивен фонд (Law on the National Archival Fund)
Authority
Държавна агенция „Архиви" (State Agency for Archives of Bulgaria)

ДВ бр. 57 от 13 юли 2007 г. (с изменения)

View retention law →

Sources & References