Open Records Laws › Slovakia

Slovakia

Act on Free Access to Information (Zákon o slobodnom prístupe k informáciám)

211/2000 Z.z.

Open Records Transparency: 44/100 (moderate) Transparency Score: 44/100

RTI Rating: 66 (source)

Response Timeline

Initial Response
8 days
Extension
8 days

8 working days initial deadline (not calendar days). Extendable by up to 8 additional working days (maximum 16 working days total). For special circumstances such as providing information to visually impaired persons, extension can be up to 15 additional working days (23 total). Extensions must be justified and communicated before the initial deadline expires.

No residency or citizenship requirement. The law grants access to 'everybody' without qualification.

How to Submit a Request

Accepted Methods

  • Email
  • Mail
  • In person
  • Phone
  • Fax

Requests may be submitted by email, mail, in person, phone, or fax. Applicants should indicate their preferred method of receiving disclosed information. Electronic submission via slovensko.sk e-government portal also available at some agencies.

Required Elements

  • Description — Description of the information sought.
  • Preferred delivery — Preferred method of receiving the information (oral, postal, email, etc.).

Optional Elements

  • Preferred format — Preferred format for receiving information

Fees

No application fee. Reproduction costs may be charged but are limited to actual cost and can be waived at the agency's discretion.

Fee Waivers

  • Agency discretion

Agencies may waive reproduction fees at their discretion.

Exemptions

  • Classified Information
    State secrets and classified information under Act No. 215/2004 Coll.
  • Professional Secrets
    Information protected by professional confidentiality obligations.
  • Personal Information
    Data protected under privacy and data protection laws.
  • Trade Secrets
    Commercial confidential information, except environmental pollution data and anything related to public funds.
  • Intellectual Property
    Copyright and related rights.
  • Judicial Deliberations
    Decision-making power of courts and criminal proceeding bodies.
  • Protected Habitats
    Environmental locations requiring protection.
  • Third-Party Information
    Information obtained from persons not required by law to provide it, where that person declines to release it.

Trade secret exemption does not apply to environmental pollution data or information related to public funds. A 2004 amendment broadened classified information categories, which has been criticized for weakening transparency.

Appeal Process

1

Internal Appeal

Appeal to the same body; must be decided within 30 days by the superior or special commission.

2

Minister's Commission

If the ministry does not fully resolve the appeal, it is forwarded to a special commission that prepares a recommendation for the Minister.

3

Administrative Court

Judicial review under Article 46(2) of the Constitution. Supreme Administrative Court established in 2021.

Three-tier system: internal appeal (15-day filing, 30-day decision), Minister's commission review, then judicial review through administrative courts. Constitutional right to challenge public administration decisions in court.

Request Templates

Slovensko.sk →

Slovak e-government portal for electronic communication with authorities.

Records Retention

Retention Law
Zákon o archívoch a registratúrach (Law on Archives and Registries)
Authority
Ministerstvo vnútra SR — Odbor archívov a registratúr / Slovenský národný archív

Zákon č. 395/2002 Z.z. zo dňa 17. mája 2002 (v znení neskorších predpisov)

View retention law →

Sources & References