Open Records Laws › Tunisia

Tunisia

القانون الأساسي عدد 22 لسنة 2016 المتعلّق بالحق في النّفاذ الى المعلومة / Loi organique n° 2016-22 du 24 mars 2016

القانون الأساسي عدد 22 لسنة 2016 المتعلّق بالحق في النّفاذ الى المعلومة / Loi organique n° 2016-22 du 24 mars 2016 relative au droit d'accès à l'information (Organic Law No. 2016-22 of March 24, 2016, on the Right of Access to Information)

Law and practice

Law
79 of 100
How strongly the law protects the right to request government records.
From the RTI Rating, 119 of 150 (Access Info Europe and the Centre for Law and Democracy). Its rating · How it is scored
Practice
Repressed 34 of 100
How freely people can associate, gather peacefully and speak out, in law and in day-to-day practice.
Rated by the CIVICUS Monitor, 2025, shown unchanged under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Two separate measures, shown side by side.

Drafted with AI

Drafted with AI from the cited sources under the direction of UnGovr staff. UnGovr holds editorial responsibility for this page. How this site is made

Response Timeline

Initial Response
20 days
Extension
10 days
Residency Required
Not required

20 days from receipt of request (standard). 10 days for on-site consultation requests only. Extension of 10 additional days permitted when requests involve multiple documents or units, with notification to requester.

How to Submit a Request

Accepted Methods

  • Written — Written requests in Arabic or French
  • Electronic — Electronic submission accepted

Both natural and legal persons, citizens and non-citizens, may submit written requests without providing reasons. Requests may be submitted in Arabic or French.

Required Elements

  • Description of information sought
  • Contact information

Fees

Access to information is free. Reproduction fees may apply if providing copies or delivery requires actual costs, but fees must not exceed organization actual costs. Requesters receive advance notice of any charges.

Exemptions

  • National Security
    Information affecting national security
  • National Defence
    Information affecting national defence
  • International Relations
    Information affecting international relations
  • Privacy and Personal Data
    Personal information and privacy protection
  • Intellectual Property
    Intellectual property rights protection
  • Serious Harm
    Information causing serious harm to protected interests

All exemptions require demonstrating serious harm and are subject to public interest override. Disclosure is MANDATORY when revealing human rights violations, war crimes, or threats to health, safety, or environment, even if protected interests are harmed. Strong public interest override provision (RTI Rating strength).

Appeal Process

1

Internal Appeal to Agency Head

File with agency head within 20 days. Response required within 10 days.

2

Instance d'Accès à l'Information (INAI)

Appeal to independent INAI. Reviews refusals within 45 days with binding authority. INAI has investigative powers and submits annual reports to President, Parliament, and Government.

3

Administrative Courts

May review INAI decisions within 30 days.

Two-tier administrative process: (1) internal agency review (10-day response), (2) independent INAI review (45-day binding decision). Judicial review available as third tier. INAI is independent oversight authority with investigative powers, binding decision authority, and reporting obligations to highest government levels.

Sources & References