Archive transfer, access and retention periods: directory

• Public Records Act 1958, section 3(4) ¹

  Jurisdiction

  United Kingdom ¹

  Period

  No later than 20 years after creation ¹

  What it covers

  Transfer of records selected for permanent preservation to The National Archives or a place of deposit ¹

• Public Records Act 1958, section 3 ¹

  Jurisdiction

  United Kingdom ¹

  Period

  Records created before 1660 ¹

  What it covers

  Must be preserved ¹

• 20-year rule transition ²

  Jurisdiction

  United Kingdom ²

  Period

  2013 to 2022 ²

  What it covers

  Two years of records transferred each year, from 1983 and 1984 records to 2001 and 2002 records ²

• FOISA 2002, section 57(1A) ³

  Jurisdiction

  Scotland ³

  Period

  15 years from 1 January after creation ³

  What it covers

  When a record becomes a historical record ³

• FOISA 2002, section 57(1B) ³

  Jurisdiction

  Scotland ³

  Period

  30 years ³

  What it covers

  Historical record point for records with information exempt under section 36 ³

• Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011, section 5 ⁴

  Jurisdiction

  Scotland ⁴

  Period

  Not earlier than 5 years after agreement ⁴

  What it covers

  Earliest review date the Keeper can set for a records management plan ⁴

• National Archives Act 1986, section 8(1) ⁵

  Jurisdiction

  Ireland ⁵

  Period

  More than 30 years old ⁵

  What it covers

  Departmental records transferred to the National Archives and made available for inspection ⁵

• National Archives (Amendment) Act 2018 ⁶

  Jurisdiction

  Ireland ⁶

  Period

  More than 20 years old ⁶

  What it covers

  Classes of records transferred by ministerial order, or all records from an appointed day ⁶

• National Archives Act 1986, section 8(6) ⁵

  Jurisdiction

  Ireland ⁵

  Period

  At least once every 5 years ⁵

  What it covers

  Review of records kept back in departments ⁵

• National Archives Act 1986, section 10(5) ⁷

  Jurisdiction

  Ireland ⁷

  Period

  At least once every 5 years ⁷

  What it covers

  Review of archives withheld from public inspection ⁷

• 44 U.S.C. § 2107 ⁸

  Jurisdiction

  United States ⁸

  Period

  No later than 30 years after creation or receipt ⁸

  What it covers

  Transfer of records of historical value to the National Archives, with exceptions by written certification ⁸

• 44 U.S.C. § 2107 ⁸

  Jurisdiction

  United States ⁸

  Period

  Until the 30-year period ends ⁸

  What it covers

  Copies of records under 30 years old accepted by the Archivist stay closed ⁸

• GRS 6.1, item 010 ⁹

  Jurisdiction

  United States ⁹

  Period

  Permanent ⁹

  What it covers

  Email and electronic messages of Capstone officials ⁹

• GRS 6.1, item 011 ⁹

  Jurisdiction

  United States ⁹

  Period

  Delete when 7 years old ⁹

  What it covers

  Email and messages of non-Capstone officials ⁹

• GRS 6.1, item 012 ⁹

  Jurisdiction

  United States ⁹

  Period

  Delete when 3 years old ⁹

  What it covers

  Email and messages of support and administrative positions ⁹

• 44 U.S.C. § 2911 ¹⁰

  Jurisdiction

  United States ¹⁰

  Period

  20 days ¹⁰

  What it covers

  Forwarding a record sent from a personal messaging account to an official account ¹⁰

• Archives Act open access period ¹¹

  Jurisdiction

  Australia ¹¹

  Period

  20 years ¹¹

  What it covers

  Most archival records ¹¹

• Archives Act open access period ¹¹

  Jurisdiction

  Australia ¹¹

  Period

  30 years ¹¹

  What it covers

  Cabinet notebooks ¹¹

• Archives Act open access period ¹¹

  Jurisdiction

  Australia ¹¹

  Period

  99 years ¹¹

  What it covers

  Census data ¹¹

• Access applications ¹¹

  Jurisdiction

  Australia ¹¹

  Period

  90 business days ¹¹

  What it covers

  Normal time for the National Archives to decide an access application ¹¹

• National Archives of South Africa Act 1996, section 11 ¹²

  Jurisdiction

  South Africa ¹²

  Period

  20 years in existence ¹²

  What it covers

  Transfer of records with enduring value to an archives repository ¹²

• National Archives of South Africa Act 1996, section 12 ¹²

  Jurisdiction

  South Africa ¹²

  Period

  20 years after the end of the year of creation ¹²

  What it covers

  Public access to records in National Archives custody ¹²

• RTI Act 2005, section 8(3) ¹³

  Jurisdiction

  India ¹³

  Period

  20 years ¹³

  What it covers

  Information on events 20 years old must be provided, subject to some exemptions ¹³

• Regulation 1049/2001, Article 4(7) ¹⁴

  Jurisdiction

  European Union ¹⁴

  Period

  Maximum of 30 years ¹⁴

  What it covers

  Duration of access exceptions, with some exceptions continuing beyond ¹⁴

• Library and Archives of Canada Act, section 12 ¹⁵

  Jurisdiction

  Canada ¹⁵

  Period

  No fixed period ¹⁵

  What it covers

  Written consent of the Librarian and Archivist needed before any disposal ¹⁵

Nothing matches. Clear the search or pick another filter.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@publicrecordgaps.com.