Your name and address are usually required, and it’s a good idea to give your e-mail address if you want the information electronically or if you live outside the country where you are requesting the information so that the public officials can be in touch with you.

It’s also a good idea to give a phone number in case the public official wishes to contact you to clarify your request: that could speed up the process of getting the information.

In some countries there is no obligation to identify yourself with a real name (anonymous requests), although we advise you to provide a  name and some address or contact details so that there is no obstacle to receive the information or documents requested or in case the public authority needs any clarification  to answer your request.

TIP! If you live near where the information is held (for example you live in the capital where the documents are kept), you can also ask to inspect original documents. This can be helpful when researching information that might be held in a large number of documents and you’d like to have a look through them. Such inspection should be free of charge and should be arranged at a time that is reasonable and convenient for you.