Open Records Laws › Portugal

Portugal

Lei de Acesso aos Documentos Administrativos (LADA)

Lei n.o 26/2016, de 22 de agosto

RTI Rating: 73 (source)

Response Timeline

Initial Response
10 days
Extension
60 days
Residency Required
False

10 business days from receipt (Art. 15(1)). Extension of up to 2 months for exceptional complexity (Art. 15(4)). Non-response treated as tacit refusal, triggering appeal rights to CADA. Manifestly abusive or systematic requests exempt from response obligation (Art. 15(3)).

No residency or citizenship requirement. The right extends to all persons (todos) without the need to state any interest (Art. 5(1)).

How to Submit a Request

Accepted Methods

  • {'method': 'Written Request', 'details': 'Standard written request to the entity holding the documents. Must include name, identification, contact info, signature, and description of documents sought (Art. 12).'}
  • {'method': 'Email', 'details': 'Accepted by most entities. Some provide specific email addresses or online forms.'}
  • {'method': 'In Person', 'details': "At the relevant entity's offices."}
  • {'method': 'Mail', 'details': 'Postal mail to the entity.'}

Fees

Exemptions

  • State Secrets
    Classified documents (segredo de Estado) (Art. 6(1))
  • Judicial Secrecy
    Documents under judicial secrecy (segredo de justica) (Art. 6(1))
  • Copyright
    Documents protected by copyright/intellectual property (Art. 6(2))
  • Preparatory Documents
    Documents preparatory to a decision (Art. 6(3))
  • Audit Reports
    Audit and inspection reports (Art. 6(4))
  • Personal Data
    Nominative documents containing personal data (Art. 6(5))
  • Commercial Secrets
    Commercial and industrial secrets (Art. 6(6))
  • Supervisory Effectiveness
    Documents whose disclosure would impair supervisory functions (Art. 6(7)(a))
  • Operational Security
    Documents whose disclosure would compromise operational/installation security (Art. 6(7)(b))
  • Grave Irreversible Damage
    Documents whose disclosure would cause damage exceeding benefits of access (Art. 6(7)(c))

Appeal Process

1

Step 1

Complaint to Comissao de Acesso aos Documentos Administrativos within 20 calendar days of refusal or non-response (Art. 16(1)). CADA issues advisory opinion (parecer) within 40 days (Art. 16(4)). Not legally binding but carries significant persuasive authority. Entity must respond within 10 days of CADA opinion (Art. 16(5)).

2

Step 2

Judicial appeal via special expedited procedure (intimacao para prestacao de informacoes) under CPTA. Judge decides via order with minimal hearing formalities. Court may award damages (Art. 42).

3

Step 3

Per saltum appeal to the Supremo Tribunal Administrativo on points of law only (Art. 42).

Request Templates

Standard Request (Pedido de acesso)

Ao abrigo da Lei n.o 26/2016, de 22 de agosto (Lei de Acesso aos Documentos Administrativos), venho requerer o acesso aos seguintes documentos/informacoes: [DESCRICAO]. Formato preferido: [FORMATO]. Dados do requerente: [NOME, MORADA, EMAIL, IDENTIFICACAO].

Records Retention

Retention Law
Decreto-Lei n.º 16/93 — Regime geral dos arquivos e do património arquivístico
Authority
Direção-Geral do Livro, dos Arquivos e das Bibliotecas (DGLAB) / Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo

Decreto-Lei n.º 16/93, de 23 de janeiro (Diário da República n.º 19/1993, Série I-A)

View retention law →

Sources & References