Open Records Laws › Colombia

Colombia

Ley 1712 de 2014

Ley 1712 de 2014, Ley de Transparencia y del Derecho de Acceso a la Información Pública Nacional (Law on Transparency and Access to Public Information)

RTI Rating: 103 (source)

Response Timeline

Initial Response
10 days
Extension
10 days
Residency Required
None

10 business days for document/information requests; 15 business days for general petitions; 30 business days for consultation matters requiring expert analysis. Extensions cannot exceed double the original deadline.

How to Submit a Request

Accepted Methods

  • {'notes': 'In-person verbal requests accepted', 'method': 'oral'}
  • {'notes': 'Physical written submissions', 'method': 'mail'}
  • {'notes': 'Online/email submissions via entity portals', 'method': 'email'}

Requests cannot be rejected for inadequate or incomplete reasoning (Article 25). Any person may request information with no citizenship or residency requirement. Principle of facilitation requires entities to remove barriers to access.

Optional Elements

  • Identity of requester
  • Contact information for response
  • Description of information sought
  • Preferred format for response

Fees

Decreto 103 de 2015 implements the gratuidad (free access) principle. Agencies may only charge actual direct costs of reproduction (photocopies, media, printing), not staff time. Electronic delivery via email must be provided free of charge.

Exemptions

  • Privacy/Intimacy
    Right to privacy and intimacy, with limitations for public servants
  • Life, Health, Security
    Information whose disclosure could harm life, health, or security of any person
  • Commercial Secrets
    Commercial, industrial, and professional secrets
  • National Defense and Security
    Defense and national security matters (max 15 years)
  • Public Security
    Public safety and security (max 15 years)
  • International Relations
    International relations (max 15 years)
  • Crime Prevention/Investigation
    Prevention, investigation, and prosecution of crimes until charges filed (max 15 years)
  • Due Process
    Due process and equality of parties in judicial proceedings (max 15 years)
  • Justice Administration
    Effective administration of justice (max 15 years)
  • Children's Rights
    Rights of children and adolescents (max 15 years)
  • Economic Stability
    Macroeconomic and financial stability of the country (max 15 years)
  • Public Health
    Public health (max 15 years)

Distinguishes "classified" (Art. 18, unlimited, private rights) from "reserved" (Art. 19, max 15 years, public interests). Article 21: mandatory public interest override — agencies may not deny access when harm to protected interest is greater than public interest. Exemptions do not apply in cases of human rights violations or crimes against humanity. Burden of proof on agency.

Appeal Process

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Four-tier process: (1) recurso de reposición with denying authority, (2) optional recurso de queja to superior, (3) judicial review in administrative courts, (4) tutela (constitutional protection action). If no response within deadline, request deemed accepted and documents must be delivered within 3 days.

Records Retention

Retention Law
Ley 594 de 2000 — Ley General de Archivos
Authority
Archivo General de la Nación Jorge Palacios Preciado (Colombia)

Ley 594 del 14 de julio de 2000 (Diario Oficial N.° 44.084)

View retention law →

Sources & References