Key practical points:
• It lets an individual or company sue a government body over an administrative decision (license refusal, fine, confiscation).
• The 'defendant' is the administrative body, and the court reviews the decision's legality.
• There is a deadline to file (usually six months from learning of the decision).
• It is often preceded or paralleled by 'administrative reconsideration' as a faster option.
• A foreigner harmed by an administrative decision in China can use this route.
• The burden of proving the decision was lawful mainly falls on the government body.
⚖️ Dispute resolution
Administrative Litigation Law · Yalla China
中华人民共和国行政诉讼法 / Administrative Litigation Law
Enacted: 1989-04-04 ✅ Effective: 2015-05-01
📝 Overview
A law letting people sue government bodies in court over unlawful administrative decisions.
This is general information only, not legal advice. For your specific case, consult a licensed lawyer.
📜 The law text / key provisions
💬 Practical reading
💬 This is a general reading/opinion for orientation — not the official legal text nor legal advice.
If a government body makes a decision against you that you believe is unlawful (license refusal, fine, confiscation), you have the right to sue it in court, as a foreigner too. But mind the deadline (usually 6 months). It is often easiest to start with administrative reconsideration first. General orientation, not legal advice.
📎 Official source
npc.gov.cn / Supreme People's Court
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026