Nominal tasks of the institution include promotion of the recovery and restoration of historically important documents, provision of the proper storage and deposit, standard development in archival work, domestic and foreign cooperation as well as the provision of access to scholars and to general public.

[1] The National Records and Archives Services Section (NARAS) was established in 1999 as a part of the UNTAET, with three international employees.

[1] The body was transformed into a section of the general Department of Civil Service and Public Employment and in July 2000 first local staff were recruited to work on the collection activities.

[4] The agreement included participation of the university in efforts to preserve and promote the collection of Max Stahl, the English journalist who filmed the Santa Cruz massacre.

[5] As of 2018, the National Archive of Timor-Leste has 56 employees, with 30 permanent and 26 contracted staff, 31 males and 21 females.