Access to official documents

Access to official documents reflects the transparency principle in public administration. In Switzerland, federal and many cantonal rules allow individuals to request documents held by authorities without having to prove a special interest. Access may be refused, limited or delayed to protect personal data, internal deliberations, commercial secrets, security, foreign relations or effective decision-making. Authorities must balance transparency against competing interests and may anonymise or redact documents. Disputes can lead to mediation or appeal, depending on the applicable law.