📢 Information from authorities (IFG)
In brief
Under the Freedom of Information Act (IFG), everyone is entitled to access to official information held by federal authorities. You do not need an interest of your own.
The information should be made accessible within one month. Simple information is free of charge. Fees may apply for services requiring more work.
If the request is refused, you can appeal to the Federal Commissioner for Freedom of Information. For state and municipal authorities, state laws apply. Bavaria has no IFG and no transparency act (as of 09/2026); there is only the right of access under Art. 39 BayDSG with a legitimate interest, as well as voluntary municipal bylaws. NRW: IFG NRW, no preconditions. Berlin: IFG Bln (1999); the amendment of 26 March 2026 restricts it (sector exemptions, for example critical infrastructure); the transparency act failed. The statements on the Länder are not checked in full text; 13 Länder not checked. The fees below apply only to federal authorities.
Step by step
- Check the authorityFederal authority? Then the federal IFG applies.
- Make the requestDescribe exactly which information you want.
- Choose the formState information, access to files or another form.
- Wait for the replyAccess should be given within one month.
- If refusedAppeal to the BfDI and consider an objection.
Deadlines
- The federal IFG applies only towards federal authorities (§ 1 Abs. 1 IFG); the same goes for the IFGGebV fees.
- Other legal provisions on access to information take precedence, except certain parts of the VwVfG and the SGB (§ 1 Abs. 3).
- The grounds for refusal are set out in the act; they are not examined in detail here.
- Expenses can also arise with free information (§ 1 IFGGebV).
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Entitlement
§ 1 Abs. 1 IFG: Everyone has, in accordance with the act, a right of access to official information towards federal authorities. The authority can provide information, grant access to files or make information accessible in another way; where the applicant requests a particular form, it may depart from it only for an important reason. Under § 7 Abs. 5 IFG, the information must be made accessible without undue delay, taking the applicant's interests into account; access should be given within one month.
Fees
The following IFGGebV rates apply only to federal authorities; the Länder regulate this themselves (NRW its own VerwGebO, minimum fee from 10 euros; Berlin its own rules; not checked in full text). § 10 IFG: fees and expenses are charged for individually attributable public services; under § 1 IFGGebV they are determined by the schedule of fees and expenses. The fees must be set so that access to information can be effectively exercised.
Under the IFGGebV schedule of fees and expenses: oral and simple written information is free of charge; information with copies costs 30 to 250 euros, 60 to 500 euros where the effort is greater; copies 15 to 125 euros or 30 to 500 euros; inspection 15 to 500 euros; rejection of an objection at least 30 euros; maximum amount 500 euros.
Appeal
§ 12 IFG: Anyone can appeal to the Federal Commissioner for Freedom of Information if they consider that their right of access to information has been violated.
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