Puerto Rico
Transparency and Expedited Access to Public Information Act
Law 141-2019 (Ley de Transparencia)
Transparency Score: 49/100
RTI Rating: 73 (source)
Response Timeline
10 business days for initial response. Agency may extend for one additional period of 10 business days if the Information Officer notifies the applicant within the initial period and explains why additional time is required. Each agency must designate at least three Information Officers responsible for receiving and processing requests. Note: Law 141-2019 replaced the earlier Law 73-2015. As of late 2025, Senate Bill 63 proposed increasing the response time to 20 business days with a 20-day extension, which drew opposition from press freedom organizations.
No residency requirement. Any person may request public information from Puerto Rico government entities.
How to Submit a Request
Accepted Methods
Requests should be directed to the agency's designated Information Officers. Each agency is required to designate at least three Information Officers. The Department of State maintains a central email for transparency requests.
Required Elements
- Requester name and contact information
- Description of requested information or documents
- Preferred delivery method
Optional Elements
- Preferred format (electronic or paper)
- Purpose of request (not required but may expedite processing)
Fees
Fees are limited to the actual cost of reproduction. Some categories of requesters may receive the first 25 pages free of charge. Agencies may not charge for search or review time. Electronic delivery of already-digital records should be provided at no cost.
Fee Waivers
- First 25 pages free for some categories of requesters
- No charge when records are already in electronic format and delivered electronically
Limited fee waiver provisions. Some categories of requesters receive the first 25 pages at no cost.
Exemptions
-
Information related to national security or defense
-
Trade secrets and confidential commercial information
-
Privileged communications including attorney-client privilege
-
Personal information where disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
-
Law enforcement investigatory records that could interfere with enforcement proceedings
-
Deliberative process materials - inter-agency or intra-agency communications that are part of decision-making process
-
Records of financial institutions regulated by the government
-
Medical and health records of identifiable individuals
-
Educational records protected under applicable privacy laws
-
Records sealed by court order or protected by judicial privilege
Exemptions are modeled after the U.S. federal FOIA exemptions. Agencies must cite the specific legal basis when denying access. The law requires agencies to disclose any reasonably segregable non-exempt portions of otherwise exempt records.
Appeal Process
1
Request reconsideration from the head of the agency that denied the request
2
File judicial appeal before the Court of First Instance of the Judicial Region of San Juan. The court reviews the denial de novo.
Denials must be in writing and must specify the legal grounds for withholding. Requesters may file an appeal before the Court of First Instance (Tribunal de Primera Instancia) of the Judicial Region of San Juan. The court reviews the agency's decision de novo.
Request Templates
PR Department of State - Transparency Request Portal →
Puerto Rico Department of State
MuckRock Puerto Rico Guide →
MuckRock
NFOIC Sample Request Letters →
National Freedom of Information Coalition
Records Retention
Act No. 5 of December 8, 1955; Laws of Puerto Rico Annotated Title 3, Chapter 41, Sections 1001-1023
The General Archives is the official repository for all public documents, receiving records from approximately 130 government agencies and 73 municipalities. Each agency must appoint a Document Administrator. The Department of Justice coordinates retention schedules with government agencies.