Response Timeline
Decisions must be made "as soon as possible" (Article 17). If the request cannot be processed promptly, the authority must inform the requester within 7 days of the reasons and expected timeline. If no decision is made within 30 working days, the requester may appeal directly to the Information Committee (úrskurðarnefnd um upplýsingamál) — the silence is treated as a deemed refusal.
No residency, citizenship, or nationality requirement. Article 5 grants the right to "almenningi" (the public/everyone). No requirement to state reasons for the request.
How to Submit a Request
Accepted Methods
No prescribed form — requests can be made in writing or orally. Email, letter, and in-person requests are all accepted. The Information Committee accepts appeals via electronic form on the government website.
Required Elements
- {'note': 'Sufficient identification of the documents or matter sought (Article 15). The authority must offer guidance to help narrow vague requests before rejecting them.', 'field': 'description'}
Optional Elements
- {'note': 'Preferred format for receiving documents', 'field': 'preferred_format'}
- {'note': 'Contact information for response delivery', 'field': 'contact_info'}
Fees
Inspection of documents is free. Electronic copies are generally free if the documents are already available electronically. For extensive copying, fees cover actual costs. An advance deposit is required if costs are estimated to exceed ISK 10,000 (~USD 70). No application fee.
No explicit fee waiver categories. Authorities have general discretion under Article 11 to provide broader access (which could include waiving fees). Already-published materials may be provided at no cost.
Exemptions
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Cabinet & Council of State (Art. 6(1))Minutes and preparatory documents for Cabinet meetings and meetings of the Council of State.
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Legal Privilege (Art. 6(3))Correspondence between an authority and its legal counsel relating to legal disputes or potential disputes.
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Employment Information (Art. 7)Individual employment records are generally exempt. However, applicant names, employee names/titles, base salaries, and senior executive compensation must be disclosed.
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Working Documents (Art. 8)Documents prepared for internal decision-making, except final decisions, factual information unavailable elsewhere, and descriptions of procedures followed.
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Private Interests (Art. 9)Personal and financial information of individuals, and commercially sensitive business information. Access may be granted with the data subject's consent.
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State Security & Defence (Art. 10(1))Information relating to state security and defence.
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International Relations (Art. 10(2))Information concerning foreign relations and international matters.
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State Economic Interests (Art. 10(3))Information concerning the economic or financial interests of the state.
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Pending Government Measures (Art. 10(5))Information about pending government measures, policies, inspections, or tests where disclosure would compromise their effectiveness.
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Endangered Environmental Features (Art. 10(6))Information about endangered species or habitats where disclosure could compromise protection.
Exemptions are in Articles 6-10. Most exemptions under Articles 6(2)-6(5) and Article 10 expire after 8 years (Article 12) — a relatively aggressive sunset clause. Article 11 requires authorities to consider granting broader access than the minimum when denying requests. Article 31 provides an absolute right to environmental pollution information regardless of all other exemptions (implementing the Aarhus Convention). No general public interest override exists for other categories.
Appeal Process
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Iceland has a quasi-judicial Information Committee as its primary appeals body — free, independent, and directly enforceable. The 30-working-day deemed refusal provision ensures requesters are not left waiting indefinitely. The Committee's 150-day decision target is codified in statute. The Althingi Ombudsman (Umboðsmaður Alþingis) provides additional oversight.