Applications for viewing, copying or duplicating archives shall declare the reason(s) in writing. The government agency shall not refuse the applications unless it is based on the law.

The individual agency may deny the application under the preceding article for the following causes:
1.The archives concern national confidentiality.
2.The archives concern criminal information.
3.The archives concern industrial confidentiality.
4.The archives concern technique information and qualification reviews.
5.The archives concern personnel management and salaries.
6.The archives must be kept as confidential under laws or agreements.
7.Other causes to ensure public interest or a third party's due right or interest.

When an application under Article 17 is filed, the government agency shall inform the applicant whether the application is approved or denied in writing within 30 days of its receipt of the application. If the application is denied, the reason(s) for denial shall be given to the applicant.

Viewing and copying archives shall be conducted at the place and time assigned by the government agency. The following actions are not allowed:
1.Adding annotations, altering, changing, removing, marking or damaging the content of the archives;
2.Unpicking the bound archives;
3.Destroying or altering the content of the archives by other methods.

The government agency may charge from those who have been permitted to view, copy or duplicate archives according to the fee standard enacted by the central archives authority-in-charge.

National archives shall be accessed for utilization no later than 30 years after creation. Under special circumstances, a Legislative Yuan's approval is required to delay publication.