Requesting public records in Sweden
Sweden’s principle of public access gives you the right to see authorities’ official documents without stating who you are or why you want them. Insyna helps you write a correct request and sends it to the right registrar.
- Legal basis
- Freedom of the Press Act, Chapter 2 (Tryckfrihetsförordningen 1949:105) · Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (Offentlighets- och sekretesslagen 2009:400)
- Response time
- Promptly (often within 1–2 weeks)
- Contact
- The authority’s registrar (registrator)
What is an official document?
A document is "official" (allmän handling) if it is held by an authority and has either arrived there (for example a letter or an email) or been drawn up there (for example a decision or a finalised set of minutes). The right to access official documents is protected by the constitution, in Chapter 2 of the Freedom of the Press Act.
You may read the document on site free of charge, or receive a copy for a fee. The authority must release the document promptly, and may not ask who you are or why you want it — except where a confidentiality assessment requires it.
How Insyna helps you
Tell the AI assistant Chydenius which documents you are after. Chydenius identifies the right authority and registrar, drafts a clear and legally correct request with the relevant legal references, and sends it from a case-specific email address so the authority’s reply lands directly in your case.
If the authority is slow or gives an unclear answer, Insyna helps you follow up, request a written appealable decision, or narrow your request.
How to do it, step by step
Describe the document
Tell Chydenius which document you want — its type, an approximate date or which case it relates to. You do not need the reference number.
We find the right authority
Chydenius identifies which authority holds the document and the right registrar, and drafts a request citing the correct legal basis (Freedom of the Press Act, ch. 2).
Send it anonymously
The request is sent from a case-specific email address. You never have to say who you are or why you want the document.
Get a reply and follow up
The authority must respond promptly. If it delays or refuses, Chydenius helps you send a reminder or request an appealable decision.
What you can request
- Minutes of meetings (once adjusted and finalised)
- Decisions and supporting documentation
- Incoming and outgoing emails and letters
- Final reports and investigations
- Case notes that added factual information to a case
- Registers of documents (diarier)
- Contracts and procurement documents (some parts may be confidential)
- Inspection reports
- Preliminary investigation files (once a prosecution has been brought)
What you cannot request
- Internal working material such as drafts and memos
- Documents in an ongoing preliminary criminal investigation
- Private messages to officials
- Deleted information that only exists in backups
- Documents held by private companies (with some exceptions, e.g. independent schools)
- Confidential information about individuals’ health, finances or personal circumstances
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to say why I want the document?
No. You have the right to remain anonymous, and the authority may not investigate your identity or purpose. The exception is where the information may be confidential and the authority needs to assess whether disclosure could cause harm.
How quickly must the authority respond?
An official document must be released promptly — that is the legal standard, but there is no fixed deadline. In practice, simple requests are often handled the same day or within a few days. If it takes unreasonably long, you can ask for a written decision that can be appealed.
Does it cost anything to request documents?
Viewing documents on site is free. For paper copies the authority may charge a set fee — state authorities follow the national fee ordinance, while municipalities set their own rates. Using Insyna to create and send your request is free.
What do I do if my request is refused?
Ask for a written, reasoned decision. A refusal of a request for an official document can be appealed to the administrative court of appeal. Insyna helps you request the decision and draft an appeal.
Can I write my request in English?
Yes. There is no legal requirement to write in Swedish, and many authorities are used to receiving requests in English. Insyna drafts your request with the correct legal references either way, though writing in Swedish can sometimes speed things up at smaller municipalities.
Do I need a Swedish personal number or address to request a document?
No. The right to request official documents applies to anyone, regardless of nationality, residence or personal number. You do not need to be a Swedish citizen or resident to use it.
The email we send
This is the actual email Chydenius writes and sends to the authority for you — in correct Swedish, anonymously (never in your name), always asking for a reply by email. You don’t need to write Swedish yourself.
Bästa Handläggare, Jag önskar ta del av protokollet och tillhörande beslutsunderlag från kommunstyrelsens senaste sammanträde. Denna begäran grundar sig på offentlighetsprincipen. Jag åberopar tryckfrihetsförordningen (1949:105) 2 kap. samt offentlighets- och sekretesslagen (2009:400) och erinrar om skyndsamhetskravet i TF 2 kap. 12-13 §§. Jag önskar ta del av handlingarna digitalt (via e-post) i första hand. Om ni bedömer att viss information omfattas av sekretess ber jag er maskera dessa delar och lämna ut resten. Vid helt eller delvis avslag begär jag ett skriftligt, överklagbart beslut med besvärshänvisning i enlighet med TF 2 kap. 19 §. I avvaktan på Ert svar, En Medborgare