How long does a company typically have to respond to a subject access request (SAR)?

A company typically has one month to respond to a subject access request (SAR). This timeframe is established under data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU, which mandates that individuals have the right to access their personal data held by organizations. This timeframe is designed to ensure that individuals can efficiently obtain information about how their data is being used, while also allowing organizations enough time to process the request.

While one week, two months, and three months are not accurate timeframes for responding to a SAR, it is essential for organizations to adhere strictly to the one-month deadline in order to remain compliant with legal obligations and to maintain trust with customers regarding their data rights.