Open Records Laws › Costa Rica

Costa Rica

Constitución Artículos 27 y 30 + Decreto Ejecutivo N° 40200-MP-MEIC-MC

Constitución Artículos 27 y 30 + Decreto Ejecutivo N° 40200-MP-MEIC-MC (Constitution Articles 27 & 30 + Executive Decree No. 40200 on Transparency)

RTI Rating: 71 (source)

Response Timeline

Initial Response
10 days
Extension
30 days
Residency Required
None

10 business days for standard requests. Extensions up to one additional month (30 days) allowed for complex requests with written justification and notice to requester. Easily obtainable information must be provided immediately.

How to Submit a Request

Accepted Methods

  • {'notes': 'Written or electronic request to public institution', 'method': 'written'}
  • {'notes': 'Email submissions accepted', 'method': 'email'}
  • {'notes': 'Agency web portals (decentralized - no central system)', 'method': 'online'}

Submit written or electronic request to the institution holding the information. Include clear description of requested information and contact method for notifications. No reasons required; no specific forms mandatory. Each institution designates an Official of Access to Information (OAI), typically the internal ombudsman.

Required Elements

  • Clear description of requested information
  • Contact method for notifications

Fees

Only reproduction and delivery expenses may be charged. Authorities must minimize costs and communicate charges to requesters. No free-page guarantee specified.

Exemptions

  • State Secrets (Article 30)
    Information designated as state secrets (definition established by jurisprudence, not statute)
  • Jurisprudential Exemptions
    Exemptions developed through Constitutional Court case law (underdeveloped statutory regime)

CRITICAL WEAKNESS: Costa Rica does NOT have a standalone FOI law. Exemptions regime is underdeveloped and relies on broad Constitutional Court jurisprudence rather than clear statutory definitions. Article 30 excludes "state secrets" but definition is vague. No public interest override. No harm test requirements.

Appeal Process

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2

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Two-tier process: internal administrative appeal, then constitutional amparo writ. No independent administrative oversight body exists. Constitutional Court has extensively interpreted access rights through jurisprudence, but lack of statutory detail creates uncertainty.

Sources & References