Open Records Laws › Croatia

Croatia

Zakon o pravu na pristup informacijama (Right of Access to Information Act)

Zakon o pravu na pristup informacijama (Right of Access to Information Act), Narodne novine br. 25/13, 85/15, 69/22

RTI Rating: 126 (source)

Response Timeline

Initial Response
15 days
Extension
15 days
Residency Required
None

15 calendar days from receipt of request (Art. 20). Extension of 15 additional days permitted when: (1) information must be sought outside headquarters, (2) request involves numerous items, (3) ensuring completeness requires additional time, or (4) proportionality and public interest testing is needed. Authority must notify requester of extension within 8 days, stating reasons. Incomplete requests: authority invites correction within 5 days.

How to Submit a Request

Accepted Methods

  • {'notes': 'By post or hand delivery', 'method': 'written'}
  • {'notes': 'Electronic submission treated as written request', 'method': 'email'}
  • {'notes': 'Oral request in person, documented by information officer', 'method': 'in_person'}
  • {'notes': 'Oral request by telephone, documented via official note', 'method': 'phone'}

Requests may be submitted orally (in person or by telephone) or in writing (including electronically). No reason for the request is required (Art. 18). Each public authority must designate an information officer (Sluzbenik za informiranje) to assist requesters.

Required Elements

  • Name and seat/location of the public authority
  • Requester name and address (natural person) or company name and seat (legal entity)
  • Sufficient description to identify the requested information

Fees

Access to information is free of administrative and court fees. Only permissible charges are actual material costs of reproducing the information and delivery costs, as determined by centralized criteria set by the Information Commissioner.

Exemptions

  • Classified information (Art. 15(2)(1))
    Information classified under the Data Secrecy Act
  • Business or professional secret (Art. 15(2)(2))
    Information constituting a trade or professional secret as defined by law
  • Tax secret (Art. 15(2)(3))
    Information constituting a tax secret under the General Tax Law
  • Personal data (Art. 15(2)(4))
    Information protected under GDPR and national data protection law
  • Intellectual property (Art. 15(2)(5))
    Information protected by IP rights where the rights holder has not consented
  • International relations (Art. 15(2)(6))
    Information restricted by international treaties or relating to diplomatic relations
  • Criminal proceedings (Art. 15(1))
    Information relating to ongoing preliminary and criminal investigation proceedings. This is the only absolute (non-discretionary) restriction.
  • Deliberative process (Art. 15(4))
    Information from inter-agency deliberation where premature disclosure could seriously undermine decision-making
  • Inspection and legal supervision (Art. 15(3))
    Information whose disclosure might prevent efficient, independent conduct of inspection or supervisory proceedings

All discretionary exemptions under Art. 15(2)-(4) are subject to a mandatory harm test and public interest override (proportionality test, Art. 16). The only absolute restriction is for ongoing criminal proceedings (Art. 15(1)). RTI Rating: 26/30 on exceptions.

Appeal Process

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Croatia has a strong two-tier appeal system (RTI Rating: 29/30). The Information Commissioner is an independent body appointed by Parliament for a 5-year term with broad powers including inspection, ordering disclosure, and issuing misdemeanor orders. No internal review step -- complaints go directly to the Commissioner.

Records Retention

Retention Law
Zakon o arhivskom gradivu i arhivima (Law on Archival Material and Archives)
Authority
Hrvatski državni arhiv (Croatian State Archives)

NN 105/1997; pročišćeni tekst: NN 61/18, 98/19, 114/22, 36/24

View retention law →

Sources & References