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---
title: "Article 86 — Processing and public access to official documents"
type: regulation
legal_status: in_force
source: "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02016R0679-20160504"
source_retrieved: 2026-09-28
shortTitle: "Article 86 — Processing and public access to official documents"
instrument_type: level1_regulation
authority: Commission
binding: true
binding_character: binding
mica_level2: false
legal_basis: "Regulation (EU) 2016/679"
instrument: gdpr
celex: "32016R0679"
regulation: GDPR
regulation-full: "Regulation (EU) 2016/679"
article: 86
status: in_force
object_id: eu.gdpr.legal_text.article.86
text_version: "Consolidated version of 4 May 2016"
source_url: "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02016R0679-20160504"
check_status: matched
verified: true
last_checked: 2026-10-26
---

*In force · Consolidated version of 4 May 2016 · Checked against EUR-Lex on 26 Oct 2026 · [Official source](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02016R0679-20160504)*

[Personal data](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/gdpr/personal-data) in official documents held by a public authority or a public body or a private body for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest may be disclosed by the authority or body in accordance with Union or Member State law to which the public authority or body is subject in order to reconcile public access to official documents with the right to the protection of personal data pursuant to this Regulation.

***

[Chapter IX — Provisions relating to specific processing situations](../chapters/ix.md) · [← Article 85](85.md) · [Article 87 →](87.md)