A working tool for access coordinators
FOI deadline calculator: the due date under your Act, holidays included
Pick the jurisdiction, enter the date the request arrived, and get the statutory due date — business or calendar days, weekends and public holidays handled, the extension date if the Act allows one, and the deemed-refusal rule — for more than a hundred access, ATIP and public-records regimes.
Statutory due date
—
Holiday calendars are generated by rule for each year from the jurisdiction's statutory and public-service holidays; local and partial-staffing closures are not modelled, so add them above. Extensions are never automatic — most Acts require written notice within the original period. General information, not legal advice: confirm against the statute linked with every result.
How the clock is counted
Three counting rules cover nearly every access statute. Business-day clocks (the US federal FOIA's 20 working days, Ontario's 45 business days from July 2026, British Columbia's 30, the UK's 20) skip Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays as they count, so a request received the Friday before a long weekend loses no days to the weekend at all. Calendar-day clocks (Canada's Access to Information Act, Saskatchewan, Quebec, the Australian Commonwealth Act) count every day, and the Interpretation Acts move a deadline that lands on a holiday to the next day that is not one. Month clocks (the GDPR and UK GDPR's one month for subject access) run to the corresponding date in the following month, or the last day of that month where there is none.
Two details trip up more offices than the arithmetic. The first is what starts the clock: receipt by the institution in most Acts, but receipt by the access office in Canada's federal Act, the request's activation date in Yukon, and acknowledgment in Alabama. The second is what stops or extends it: a clarification request pauses the clock in some regimes and not others, a fee estimate or deposit stops it in most Canadian Acts, and every extension has grounds, a notice requirement and, in several jurisdictions, a cap that only the commissioner can lift. The calculator prints the rule for the jurisdiction you select beside the date; the statutory deadline math guide works four regimes through by hand.
Response deadlines by jurisdiction
The reference table behind the calculator. Every row is cited to the statute; the packs AccessPoint ships carry the same rules as configured deadlines, with the holidays of the jurisdiction applied automatically.
| Jurisdiction | Act | Response clock | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | ||||
| CACanada — Access to Information Act | Access to Information Act R.S.C. 1985, c. A-1, s. 7 |
30 calendar days; extension for a reasonable period under s. 9 | Section 9: a reasonable period, having regard to the volume, the consultations or third-party notice. The requester must be told within the first 30 days, and the Commissioner if the extension is longer than 30 days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| CACanada — Privacy Act (personal information requests) | Privacy Act R.S.C. 1985, c. P-21, s. 14 |
30 calendar days; up to 30 more under s. 15 | Section 15: a maximum of 30 further days where the volume or consultations make the original time unreasonable, or a reasonable period where translation or conversion is needed. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| ONOntario — FIPPA (provincial institutions) | Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act R.S.O. 1990, c. F.31, s. 26 (as amended by Bill 97, in force July 1, 2026) |
45 business days from July 1, 2026 (30 calendar days before); reasonable extension under s. 27 | Section 27: a reasonable period where the request is for a large number of records or consultations are needed that cannot reasonably be completed within the time limit; the requester is told the length and reason. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| ONOntario — MFIPPA (municipalities and local boards) | Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56, s. 19 (as amended by Bill 97, in force July 1, 2026) |
45 business days from July 1, 2026; reasonable extension under s. 20 | Section 20: a reasonable period where the request is for a large number of records or consultations are needed; the requester is told the length and reason. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| BCBritish Columbia — FIPPA | Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 165, s. 7 |
30 business days; up to 30 more under s. 10 | Section 10: the head may extend by up to 30 days where the request lacks detail, a large number of records is involved, or consultation is needed; longer only with the Commissioner's permission. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| ABAlberta — Access to Information Act | Access to Information Act S.A. 2024, c. A-1.4, s. 13 (extension s. 16; deemed refusal s. 13(2)); in force June 11, 2025 |
30 business days from a complete request; up to 30 more under s. 16 | Section 16(1): up to 30 further business days where the applicant agrees, a large number of records is involved, or consultation is needed; s. 16(2) allows additional reasonable periods on the same grounds. The applicant may ask the Commissioner to review an extension. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| SKSaskatchewan — FOIP / LA FOIP | The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act S.S. 1990-91, c. F-22.01, s. 7 |
30 calendar days; up to 30 more under s. 12 | Section 12: a maximum of 30 further days for volume, consultations or third-party notice — 60 days in all, with no route beyond. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| MBManitoba — FIPPA | The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act C.C.S.M. c. F175, s. 11 |
45 calendar days; up to 30 more under s. 15 | Section 15: up to 30 further days where a large number of records is involved or consultations are needed. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| QCQuébec — Loi sur l'accès (public bodies) | Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information CQLR c. A-2.1, s. 47 |
20 calendar days; one 10-day extension | Section 47: one extension of not more than 10 days, on written notice within the initial 20 days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NBNew Brunswick — RTIPPA | Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act S.N.B. 2009, c. R-10.6, s. 11 |
30 business days; up to 30 more | Section 11: up to an additional 30 business days where the request lacks detail, is voluminous, or needs consultation. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NSNova Scotia — FOIPOP (current Act) | Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act S.N.S. 1993, c. 5, s. 7 |
30 calendar days until March 31, 2027; up to 30 more under s. 9 | Section 9: up to 30 further days where the request lacks detail, is voluminous, or needs consultation; longer with the Review Officer's permission. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NSNova Scotia — new FOIPOP Act (from April 1, 2027) | Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (2025) S.N.S. 2025, c. 13 (Bill 150), ss. 20–22; effective April 1, 2027 (s. 171) |
30 business days from April 1, 2027; up to 30 more under s. 21 | Section 21(1): up to an additional 30 business days where supplementary information is needed, the number of records is large, third-party notice is required, or consultations are needed; s. 21(2): a further extension for any period with the Commissioner's approval. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| PEPrince Edward Island — FOIPP | Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. F-15.01, s. 9 |
30 calendar days; up to 30 more | Section 12: up to 30 further days where the request lacks detail, is voluminous, or needs consultation; longer with the Commissioner's permission. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NLNewfoundland and Labrador — ATIPPA, 2015 | Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 S.N.L. 2015, c. A-1.2, s. 16 |
20 business days; extensions only with the Commissioner's approval | Section 23: no self-serve extension — every extension needs the Commissioner's approval, ruled on within three business days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| YTYukon — ATIPP Act | Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act S.Y. 2018, c. 9, s. 50 |
30 business days from activation; up to 15 more (30 by consent) | Sections 62–63: the access officer may extend by up to 15 business days (30 with the applicant's consent); longer only with the Commissioner's approval. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NTNorthwest Territories — ATIPP Act | Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act S.N.W.T. 1994, c. 20, s. 8 |
20 business days; up to 20 more | Sections 11 and 11.1: the public body may extend by up to 20 business days on defined grounds; longer needs the Commissioner's authorization. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NUNunavut — ATIPP Act | Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act C.S.Nu., c. A-20, s. 8 |
25 business days; reasonable extension under s. 11 | Section 11(1): a reasonable period where the request lacks detail, a large number of records is involved, consultation or a third-party review request is needed, or translation is required. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| CACanada — PIPEDA (access to one's own information) | Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act S.C. 2000, c. 5, s. 8(3) |
30 calendar days; one extension of up to 30 days | Section 8(4): a single extension of up to 30 more days where the time limit would unreasonably interfere with the organization's activities or consultations are needed, or the time needed to convert the information; notice within the first 30 days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| United States | ||||
| USUnited States — federal FOIA | Freedom of Information Act 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A) |
20 working days; up to 10 more in unusual circumstances | § 552(a)(6)(B): up to 10 more working days in unusual circumstances (searching other facilities, voluminous records, consultation), on written notice. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| WAWashington — Public Records Act | Public Records Act RCW 42.56.520 |
5 business days to respond; then a reasonable estimate | No fixed final deadline: after the five-day response, the agency works to its own reasonable estimate of the time needed, which can be revised on notice. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| TXTexas — Public Information Act | Public Information Act Tex. Gov't Code § 552.221 and § 552.301 |
10 business days to produce or certify; 10 business days to seek an AG ruling | No general extension: if the information cannot be produced within 10 business days the body certifies that in writing and sets a reasonable date; to withhold, it must ask the attorney general for a decision within 10 business days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| CACalifornia — Public Records Act | California Public Records Act Cal. Gov. Code § 7922.535 |
10 calendar days to determine; up to 14 more in unusual circumstances | § 7922.535(b): up to 14 more days in unusual circumstances, on written notice stating the reasons and the date a determination is expected; since January 1, 2026 (AB 370) a cyberattack or a declared emergency is among the grounds. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NYNew York — Freedom of Information Law | Freedom of Information Law N.Y. Public Officers Law § 89(3)(a) |
5 business days to grant, deny or acknowledge; then an approximate date, normally within 20 business days | Within five business days the agency must grant, deny, or acknowledge in writing with an approximate date, which must be reasonable and normally within 20 business days of the acknowledgment; a longer date needs a stated reason and a date certain. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| ILIllinois — Freedom of Information Act | Freedom of Information Act 5 ILCS 140/3(d) |
5 business days; up to 5 more under § 3(e) | § 3(e): one extension of up to 5 business days on the grounds listed in the Act, on written notice; a longer period by written agreement. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| PAPennsylvania — Right-to-Know Law | Right-to-Know Law 65 P.S. § 67.901–.902 |
5 business days; up to 30 calendar days more on notice | § 902: up to 30 more days, on written notice within the first five business days, for legal review, off-site or archived records, redaction, or fee issues. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| MIMichigan — Freedom of Information Act | Freedom of Information Act MCL 15.235 |
5 business days; one 10-business-day extension | MCL 15.235(2)(d): one written notice extending the time by not more than 10 business days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| COColorado — Open Records Act | Colorado Open Records Act C.R.S. § 24-72-203(3)(b) |
3 working days; up to 7 more for extenuating circumstances | Up to seven additional working days where extenuating circumstances exist, on written notice. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| MAMassachusetts — Public Records Law | Public Records Law G.L. c. 66, § 10(a)–(b) |
10 business days | § 10(c): with the requester's agreement, or by petition to the Supervisor of Records, the time for production may be extended — up to 20 business days for agencies and 30 for municipalities from the initial response. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| GAGeorgia — Open Records Act | Open Records Act O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(b)(1)(A) |
3 business days to produce or state the timeline | Where records cannot be produced in three business days, the agency states the timeline and cost for production. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NJNew Jersey — OPRA | Open Public Records Act N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5 |
7 business days | Records in storage or requiring redaction may take longer on notice; no response within seven business days is a deemed denial. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| VAVirginia — FOIA | Virginia Freedom of Information Act Va. Code § 2.2-3704(B) |
5 working days; up to 7 more on notice | Up to seven additional working days where it is not practically possible to respond within five, on written notice. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| MDMaryland — Public Information Act | Public Information Act Md. Code, Gen. Prov. § 4-203 |
30 days to produce; interim notice within 10 working days | § 4-203(d): with the applicant's consent the 30-day limit may be extended by not more than 30 days; if the custodian cannot decide within 10 working days it gives written notice of the reason and the expected date (§ 4-203(b)). | Use → Statute · Pack |
| UTUtah — GRAMA | Government Records Access and Management Act Utah Code § 63G-2-204 |
10 business days (5 if expedited) | Five business days where the requester shows an expedited response benefits the public; extraordinary-circumstances extensions are enumerated and capped in § 63G-2-204. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| DCDistrict of Columbia — FOIA | D.C. Freedom of Information Act D.C. Code § 2-532 |
15 business days; up to 10 more | Up to 10 additional business days in unusual circumstances, on written notice. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| KYKentucky — Open Records Act | Open Records Act KRS 61.880 |
5 business days for a written determination | Where records are in active use, in storage or otherwise unavailable, the agency states the earliest date they will be available. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| TNTennessee — Public Records Act | Tennessee Public Records Act T.C.A. § 10-7-503 |
7 business days to produce, deny or set a time | Within seven business days: produce, deny in writing, or state the time reasonably necessary to produce. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| MOMissouri — Sunshine Law | Missouri Sunshine Law RSMo § 610.023 |
No later than the end of the third business day | If access cannot be provided by the third business day, the custodian gives a detailed explanation and the earliest time and date the record will be available. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| KSKansas — Open Records Act | Kansas Open Records Act K.S.A. 45-218 |
Act on the request by the third business day | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NENebraska — Public Records Statutes | Public Records Statutes Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712(4) |
4 business days | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| CTConnecticut — FOIA | Freedom of Information Act C.G.S. § 1-206(a) |
Promptly; deemed denial after 4 business days | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| OROregon — Public Records Law | Oregon Public Records Law ORS 192.324(2) and 192.329(5) |
Acknowledge in 5 business days; complete within 15 | After acknowledging within five business days, the body completes the request, or gives a written estimate, within 10 more business days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NVNevada — Public Records Act | Public Records Act NRS 239.0107 |
Act by the end of the fifth business day | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| AKAlaska — Public Records Act | Alaska Public Records Act 2 AAC 96.325 |
10 working days; up to 10 more | A further 10 working days on notice, or longer by agreement or Attorney General direction. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| DEDelaware — FOIA | Freedom of Information Act 29 Del. C. § 10003 |
15 business days | More time only for voluminous records, records requiring legal advice, or archived records, with a good-faith estimate. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| RIRhode Island — APRA | Access to Public Records Act R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-3(e) |
10 business days; up to 20 more | Up to 20 additional business days on a written explanation particularized to the request and showing undue burden. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| SCSouth Carolina — FOIA | Freedom of Information Act S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30 |
10 business days to determine; production within 30 calendar days after | 20 business days for records 24 months or older; records are then furnished within 30 calendar days of the determination (35 for older records). | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NHNew Hampshire — Right-to-Know Law | Right-to-Know Law RSA 91-A:4(IV) |
5 business days, or a written time estimate | A written statement of the time reasonably needed where the request cannot be met within five business days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| VTVermont — Public Records Act | Public Records Act 1 V.S.A. § 318 |
3 business days; up to 10 from receipt in unusual circumstances | In unusual circumstances the time may be extended to not more than ten business days from receipt, on written notice. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| WVWest Virginia — FOIA | Freedom of Information Act W. Va. Code § 29B-1-3(d) |
5 days excluding weekends and holidays | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| ARArkansas — FOIA | Freedom of Information Act Ark. Code Ann. § 25-19-105 |
Immediately, or 3 working days if in use, in storage or being redacted | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| HIHawaii — UIPA | Uniform Information Practices Act HAR § 2-71-13 |
10 business days for the notice; 20 in extenuating circumstances | A Notice to Requester within 10 business days, extendable to 20 in extenuating circumstances. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| INIndiana — APRA (written requests) | Access to Public Records Act IC 5-14-3-9 |
7 days for mailed or faxed requests; 24 hours in person or by telephone | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| MEMaine — Freedom of Access Act | Freedom of Access Act 1 M.R.S. § 408-A |
Acknowledge and any denial within 5 working days | Production within a reasonable time after acknowledgment; a good-faith estimate of the time and cost is given. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| MSMississippi — Public Records Act | Public Records Act of 1983 Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-5 |
At most 7 working days; 14 with a written explanation | Up to 14 working days in all, with a written explanation for the delay. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NMNew Mexico — IPRA | Inspection of Public Records Act NMSA 1978, § 14-2-8 |
Inspection within 15 days; written explanation after 3 business days | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| SDSouth Dakota — open records | South Dakota public records law SDCL § 1-27-37 |
10 business days | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| WYWyoming — Public Records Act | Public Records Act Wyo. Stat. § 16-4-202 |
Notice within 7 business days; release within 30 calendar days | All records are released within 30 calendar days of acknowledged receipt unless good cause exists. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| ALAlabama — Public Records Law | Public Records Law (Act 2024-278) Ala. Code § 36-12-44 (Act 2024-278) |
15 business days after acknowledgment; 15-day increments | Extendable in 15-business-day increments, or up to 45 business days for time-intensive requests. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| PRPuerto Rico — Ley de Transparencia | Ley de Transparencia y Procedimiento Expedito para el Acceso a la Información Pública Ley 141-2019, art. 7, as amended by Ley 80-2021 and Ley 156-2025 |
20 business days (30 for regional offices or larger and older files); one 20-day extension | One extension of up to 20 business days, on notice with reasons within the initial term; requests for records held in regional offices, or for larger or older files, run on 30 business days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| GUGuam — Sunshine Reform Act | Sunshine Reform Act of 1999 5 GCA § 10103(d)–(e) |
4 working days; up to 10 days more | Up to ten more days in unusual circumstances with written notice. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| FLFlorida — public records (Chapter 119) | Florida Public Records Act Fla. Stat. § 119.07(1)(c) |
No fixed day count (see note) | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| OHOhio — Public Records Act | Ohio Public Records Act R.C. 149.43(B)(1) |
No fixed day count (see note) | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| AZArizona — Public Records Law | Arizona Public Records Law A.R.S. § 39-121.01(D) |
No fixed day count (see note) | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| WIWisconsin — Public Records Law | Wisconsin Public Records Law Wis. Stat. § 19.35(4) |
No fixed day count (see note) | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| MNMinnesota — Government Data Practices Act | Minnesota Government Data Practices Act Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 2 |
No fixed day count for public data (appropriate and prompt manner); a data subject is shown data about themselves within 10 days. (see note) | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NCNorth Carolina — Public Records Act | North Carolina Public Records Act G.S. 132-6 |
No fixed day count (see note) | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| IAIowa — Open Records Law | Iowa Open Records Law Iowa Code § 22.8(4) |
No fixed day count (see note) | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| OKOklahoma — Open Records Act | Oklahoma Open Records Act 51 O.S. § 24A.5 |
No fixed day count (see note) | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NDNorth Dakota — open records | North Dakota open records law N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18 |
No fixed day count (see note) | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| United Kingdom & Europe | ||||
| UKUnited Kingdom — Freedom of Information Act 2000 | Freedom of Information Act 2000 c. 36, s. 10 |
20 working days; reasonable extension for the public-interest test only | Section 10(3): where the public-interest test applies, such time as is reasonable in the circumstances; the ICO expects normally no more than a further 20 working days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| SCOScotland — FOISA 2002 | Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 asp 13, s. 10 |
20 working days | No general extension; the 20 working days run from receipt or from clarification. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| UKUnited Kingdom — Environmental Information Regulations 2004 | Environmental Information Regulations 2004 SI 2004/3391, reg. 5 and reg. 7 |
20 working days; up to 40 for complex and voluminous requests | Regulation 7: up to 40 working days in all where the volume and complexity make it impracticable to respond within 20. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| UKUnited Kingdom — subject access under UK GDPR | UK GDPR Article 12(3), read with Article 12A |
One month; up to two months more if complex | Article 12A(3)–(4): a further two months where requests are complex or numerous, on notice within the first month. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| IEIreland — Freedom of Information Act 2014 | Freedom of Information Act 2014 No. 30 of 2014, s. 13 |
4 weeks (20 working days); up to 4 weeks more | Section 14: up to four further weeks where the number of records or the need for consultation makes it impracticable to decide within four weeks. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| EUEU institutions — Regulation 1049/2001 | Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 Article 7 |
15 working days from registration; up to 15 more; confirmatory application 15 + 15 | Article 7(3): a further 15 working days in exceptional cases — very long or very numerous documents — on notice with detailed reasons. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| EUEuropean Union — subject access under the GDPR | General Data Protection Regulation Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Article 12(3) |
One month; up to two months more | Article 12(3): a further two months where necessary, taking into account the complexity and number of requests, on notice within the first month. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| EUEU institutions — data-subject rights under Regulation 2018/1725 | Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 Article 14(3) |
One month; up to two months more | Article 14(3): extendable by two further months where justified by complexity or volume. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| DEGermany — IFG | Informationsfreiheitsgesetz § 7(5) IFG |
Access should be provided within one month. | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| FRFrance — access to administrative documents | Code des relations entre le public et l'administration art. R311-13 |
Silence for one month is an implied refusal (refus tacite). | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NLNetherlands — Wet open overheid | Wet open overheid art. 4.4 |
As soon as possible and within four weeks. | Extendable by two weeks on notice. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| ESSpain — Ley 19/2013 | Ley 19/2013 de transparencia art. 20 |
One month from receipt by the competent body. | Extendable by a further month for volume or complexity, on notice. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| ITItaly — accesso civico generalizzato | D.Lgs. 33/2013 art. 5, comma 6 |
An express, reasoned decision within 30 days. | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| PLPoland — access to public information | Ustawa o dostępie do informacji publicznej art. 13 |
Without undue delay and no later than 14 days. | Up to two months in all, with notice of the reason and the new date within the original 14 days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| PTPortugal — LADA | Lei n.º 26/2016 art. 15 |
10 working days. | Art. 15(4): in exceptional cases, for volume or complexity, the period may be extended up to a maximum of two months, with reasons given to the requester within 10 days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| BEBelgium — federal openness of administration | Loi du 11 avril 1994 art. 6 |
30 days to decide at federal level; regional regimes differ. | Extendable by 15 days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| ATAustria — Informationsfreiheitsgesetz | Informationsfreiheitsgesetz § 8 |
Four weeks, in force since September 1, 2025. | Extendable by a further four weeks where justified. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| CHSwitzerland — Transparency Act | Federal Act on Freedom of Information in the Administration SR 152.3, art. 12 |
20 days for the authority's position. | Extendable by 20 days for complex or voluminous requests. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| DKDenmark — Offentlighedsloven | Offentlighedsloven Offentlighedsloven § 36, stk. 2 |
Seven working days as the expectation, with notice where more time is required. | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| FIFinland — Act on the Openness of Government Activities | Julkisuuslaki § 14 |
Without delay, and at the latest within two weeks. | One month for large or complex requests. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| Australia, New Zealand & rest of world | ||||
| AUAustralia — FOI Act 1982 (Commonwealth) | Freedom of Information Act 1982 s 15(5) |
30 days; extensions by agreement, OAIC approval, or 30 days for consultation | By agreement with the applicant (s 15AA), for complex requests with the OAIC's approval (s 15AB), or an automatic 30 days where third-party consultation is required (s 15(6)). | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NSWNew South Wales — GIPA Act 2009 | Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 s 57 |
20 working days; extension for consultation or by agreement | Section 57: up to 10 further working days for third-party consultation or archive retrieval (15 in all where both apply), or a longer period by agreement with the applicant. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| QLDQueensland — RTI Act 2009 | Right to Information Act 2009 s 18 |
25 business days | Extendable where the Act allows, including by agreement with the applicant. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| VICVictoria — FOI Act 1982 | Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) s 21 |
30 days | Section 21: up to 15 further days for third-party consultation, or up to 30 by agreement with the applicant. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| WAWestern Australia — FOI Act 1992 | Freedom of Information Act 1992 (WA) s 13(1) |
45 days as the permitted period | Extendable by agreement with the applicant. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| SASouth Australia — FOI Act 1991 | Freedom of Information Act 1991 (SA) s 14 |
30 days | Extendable where the Act permits. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| TASTasmania — RTI Act 2009 | Right to Information Act 2009 (Tas) s 15 |
20 working days | Extendable where the Act allows. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| ACTAustralian Capital Territory — FOI Act 2016 | Freedom of Information Act 2016 (ACT) s 40 |
30 working days; 15 more for third-party consultation | Section 40(2): 15 further working days where a relevant third party is consulted; days spent awaiting the applicant's clarification, fee-waiver processing and the Christmas shutdown (27–31 December) are added to the period. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NTNorthern Territory — Information Act 2002 | Information Act 2002 (NT) s 19(1) |
30 days | Section 26: more time may be taken, with no fixed cap, where the notice states the reasons (a large amount of information, extensive searches, interference with operations, third-party views) and the period within which a further notice will issue. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NZNew Zealand — Official Information Act 1982 | Official Information Act 1982 s 15 |
As soon as reasonably practicable, and no later than 20 working days | Section 15A: a reasonable extension where the request is for a large quantity of information or consultation is necessary, on notice within the original 20 working days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| NZNew Zealand — LGOIMA 1987 | Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 s 13 |
No later than 20 working days | Section 14: a reasonable extension where the request is large or consultation is necessary, on notice within the original 20 working days. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| ZASouth Africa — PAIA | Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 s 25 |
30 days; one extension of up to 30 days | Section 26: a single extension of up to 30 more days for large volume, a wide search, or third-party consultation. | Use → Statute · Pack |
| INIndia — Right to Information Act, 2005 | Right to Information Act, 2005 s 7(1) |
30 days from receipt by the PIO | None stated | Use → Statute · Pack |
| BRBrazil — Lei de Acesso à Informação | Lei nº 12.527/2011 art. 11 |
Immediate where possible, otherwise 20 days; 10 more with justification | A further 10 days with express written justification. | Use → Statute · Pack |
Where AccessPoint fits
A calculator answers one request at a time. A program needs the same arithmetic applied to every request the day it arrives, re-run when the clock is paused for a fee estimate or a clarification, and surfaced to whoever owns the file before the date passes. That is what the jurisdiction packs do: each carries its Act's response period, day type, holiday calendar, extension grounds and deemed-refusal rule, so the due date on a request is computed from the legislation and every change to it is in the audit trail.
Due dates computed, not typed
The pack sets the statutory period and day type; the request's due date, days remaining and extension dates are calculated on receipt and shown on the record and on My Day.
Holiday calendars per jurisdiction
Each pack carries the jurisdiction's holidays, and an office can add its own closures, so business-day counts match how the Act reads in your province, state or country.
Extensions with their notice
An extension records its ground and length, moves the due date, and produces the notice letter from a template, so the file shows why the clock moved.
Clock stops that are traceable
Fee estimates, deposits and clarification requests pause the clock where the Act allows, and the audit trail records each pause and restart.
Deadline reporting
Annual-statistics reports count on-time and late responses by the same rules, so the year-end return is a query over the data, not a reconstruction.
Deadline questions
When does the FOI clock start?
In almost every regime the day the request is received is day zero and counting starts the next day. Business-day statutes (federal FOIA, Ontario from July 2026, British Columbia, the UK) skip weekends and public holidays as they count; calendar-day statutes (Canada's Access to Information Act, Saskatchewan, Quebec) count every day and, under the Interpretation Acts, move a deadline that lands on a holiday to the next day that is not one. Some Acts add a wrinkle: Washington's model rules make day one the first business day after receipt, and Yukon counts from the request's activation date.
Which holidays does the calculator skip?
The statutory and public-service holidays of the jurisdiction you pick, generated by rule for each year: for Canada the federal Interpretation Act list plus each province's own days (Family Day, Civic Holiday, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation where observed), for the United States the federal holidays with observed-day shifting (California adds César Chávez Day and the day after Thanksgiving), for the UK the bank holidays of England and Wales or Scotland, and national lists for Ireland, the EU institutions, Australia and New Zealand. Where a jurisdiction's holidays are not modelled the page says so and you can add closure days by hand.
Does the extension date assume the extension was taken?
No. The extension date is shown only when you tick the box, and it is the latest date the statute allows if the maximum permitted extension is taken on the grounds the Act names. Where the Act allows only a reasonable period, the calculator shows the rule rather than a date. An extension is never automatic: most Acts require written notice to the requester within the original period, and some require the commissioner's permission.
What is a deemed refusal?
In most Canadian, Australian and several US statutes, a request that is not answered within the time limit is treated as if the head had refused access. The requester can go straight to the commissioner or the court without waiting for a decision, and the public body has lost the ability to rely on some procedural options. The calculator prints the deemed-refusal rule for the jurisdiction you select.
Why is my Ontario due date 45 business days?
Bill 97, the Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2026, amended FIPPA and MFIPPA so that requests received on or after July 1, 2026 run on a 45-business-day clock rather than the old 30 calendar days. Requests received before that date keep the old clock. AccessPoint's Ontario packs carry both rules.
Can I rely on this for a legal deadline?
Treat it as a working tool, not legal advice. The rules are cited to the statute and checked against the official text, and holiday calendars are generated by rule, but Acts change, local closures vary, and your own Act may count from a different event (activation, clarification, receipt of a deposit). Confirm against the statute text linked beside every result, and add any closure day your office observes.
Related reading
The statutory deadline math guide works a single request through four regimes by hand. For the rules of a specific Act, see the guides for Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Washington, Texas, California, New York, Illinois, Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, the United Kingdom and the EU institutions, or browse the jurisdiction packs to see how each regime is configured. If a backlog is the real problem, start with the backlog recovery playbook, or book a demo and watch a request run on your own Act's rules.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Rules are cited to the official statute text; holiday calendars are generated by rule and may not include every local observance. This is general information for access practitioners, not legal advice.