Sweden
Freedom of the Press Act (Tryckfrihetsförordningen)
SFS 1949:105, Chapter 2 (as amended)
RTI Rating: 101 (source)
Response Timeline
Sweden requires disclosure "immediately" (skyndsamt) or "as soon as possible." There is no fixed statutory deadline in days — authorities must act without delay. The Parliamentary Ombudsman (JO) has criticized agencies taking more than a few days for straightforward requests. Complex requests requiring secrecy review may take longer, but unreasonable delay can be reported to the JO. This "immediacy" standard is the strongest in the world and predates all other FOI laws.
The Freedom of the Press Act grants the right to access official documents to "every Swedish citizen" (Chapter 2, Article 1). However, Chapter 14, Article 5 extends equivalent rights to foreign nationals. In practice, any person — Swedish or foreign, natural or legal — may request official documents without providing their name, identification, or purpose. Anonymity is constitutionally protected: an authority may not inquire about the requester's identity or purpose except to the limited extent necessary to assess a secrecy claim.
How to Submit a Request
Accepted Methods
Requests can be made orally (in person or by phone), in writing (letter or email), or via online platforms such as Handlingar.se. There is no prescribed form — a request can be as simple as asking verbally. The requester has the constitutional right to remain anonymous and is never required to state the purpose of the request. Authorities must allow on-site inspection free of charge. The platform Handlingar.se (https://handlingar.se) provides a centralized way to file and track requests to Swedish public authorities.
Required Elements
- {'note': 'Sufficient description to identify the official document sought. No formal application form is required.', 'field': 'description'}
Optional Elements
- {'note': 'Whether you want to inspect the document on-site or receive a copy', 'field': 'preferred_format'}
- {'note': 'Whether you want a paper copy, electronic copy, or to view on premises', 'field': 'delivery_method'}
Fees
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Copies (per page) | SEK2.00 | First 9 pages free First 9 pages free, 10th page SEK 50, then SEK 2 per additional page. Only pages with text count. |
On-site inspection of documents is always free of charge — this is a constitutional right. For copies, the standard government fee schedule (Avgiftsförordningen, SFS 1992:191) applies: the first 9 pages are free, the 10th page costs SEK 50, and each additional page costs SEK 2. Only pages containing text count (a page with text on both sides counts as two pages). Some agencies, particularly municipalities, may have slightly different fee schedules. Electronic delivery fees vary by agency.
No formal fee waiver system exists because on-site access is always free and copy fees are minimal. The first 9 pages of copies are provided free of charge under the standard fee ordinance.
Exemptions
-
National Security (Chapter 15)Information concerning Sweden's defense capability, military planning, intelligence activities, and relations with other states where disclosure could harm national security.
-
Foreign Relations (Chapter 15)Information that if disclosed would harm Sweden's relations with other states or international organizations.
-
Central Fiscal Policy (Chapter 17)Information concerning central government fiscal policy, monetary policy, or currency policy where disclosure could cause significant economic harm.
-
Law Enforcement and Crime Prevention (Chapter 18)Information relating to crime prevention, criminal investigations, intelligence activities by the police and prosecution, and correctional services, where disclosure could hinder law enforcement.
-
Public Safety (Chapter 19)Information concerning public safety, rescue services, and inspection activities where disclosure could endanger persons or undermine safety measures.
-
Personal Integrity (Chapter 21)Information about an individual's health, sexual life, addictions, sexual orientation, or similar personal matters where disclosure would cause serious detriment to the individual or their close relatives. This is a general provision supplemented by sector-specific rules.
-
Healthcare Confidentiality (Chapter 25)Patient information in healthcare settings is subject to strict confidentiality. Disclosure requires that it is clear that no harm will result (reversed burden of proof).
-
Social Services (Chapter 26)Information held by social services regarding individuals' personal circumstances is subject to strong secrecy.
-
Commercial and Business Secrets (Chapter 30)Business information and trade secrets provided to authorities where disclosure would harm the commercial interests of the entity concerned.
-
Research Data (Chapter 24)Data from psychological research and similar studies where disclosure could cause harm to individuals. Unless it is clear that disclosure causes no harm, the information remains secret.
The Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (Offentlighets- och sekretesslagen, SFS 2009:400) contains over 100 secrecy provisions organized into chapters by subject area. Each provision specifies the domain (e.g., healthcare, defense), the interest protected (e.g., personal integrity, national security), and the applicable "harm test." Three secrecy levels exist: (1) Absolute secrecy — no disclosure regardless of harm assessment; (2) Strong presumption of secrecy — secret unless it is "clear" disclosure causes no harm (reversed burden); (3) Weak presumption of secrecy — public unless disclosure can "reasonably be assumed" to cause harm. When only part of a document is secret, the public portions must be released with the secret parts redacted.
Appeal Process
1
2
3
4
Sweden has a robust appeal system with free access at every level. Denials are appealed to administrative courts (not separate administrative tribunals), ensuring judicial review. The Parliamentary Ombudsman (JO) provides an additional oversight mechanism — JO complaints are particularly effective for addressing delays and procedural failures. Notably, there are no court fees in Swedish administrative courts, making the entire appeal process free of charge.
Request Templates
Handlingar.se
Riksdag - Official Documents
Records Retention
Arkivlag (1990:782), SFS 1990:782
Riksarkivet has authority under the Archives Act (1990:782) to prescribe how public authority records are produced, organised, stored, and transferred. The Archives Ordinance (1991:446) provides supplementary rules.