Key practical points:
• A grievance can be submitted in writing, via online platforms, by phone, or by visiting the competent body in person.
• It must go to the competent body or the one directly above it under the rules, not by jumping arbitrarily between agencies.
• The body must register the grievance and respond within set deadlines (usually accept within 15 days and decide within a defined period).
• A petition does not replace a lawsuit or administrative reconsideration where that is the legally correct channel.
• Retaliation against a petitioner is prohibited, as is disrupting public order during a visit.
• A citizen may learn the outcome of their grievance and seek review within defined limits.
Regulations on Letters and Visits (Petitions) · Yalla China
信访工作条例 / Regulations on Letters and Visits (Petitions)
Enacted: 2022-02-25 ✅ Effective: 2022-05-01
📝 Overview
These regulations govern the 'letters and visits' (xinfang) system, letting individuals submit suggestions, complaints, or grievances to government and Party bodies. The goal is a formal channel to resolve problems. The current version took effect in 2022.
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.
The letters-and-visits system is a channel for suggestions and complaints, but it does not replace a lawsuit where the dispute is legal in nature. Submit to the correct body and stay calm and orderly during any visit. This is general orientation, not legal advice.
📎 Official source
CPC Central Committee & State Council / gov.cn
🕒 Updated: 16 March 2026