SHENZHEN LAW GUIDE
Practical legal information, official starting points and a preparation pack
for a more useful conversation with the appropriate service or PRC-qualified lawyer.
Outside mainland China, use the emergency service where you are.
You do not need to know the legal-field label. One problem may involve more than one route.
Recover deposits, repairs and moving out.
See optionsGoods, services, refunds and contract disputes.
See optionsUnpaid wages, dismissal, contracts and benefits.
See optionsReporting, questioning or protection.
See optionsDivorce, custody, support and safety planning.
See optionsVisas, residence permits and work permissions.
See optionsBusiness contracts, partnerships and debt.
See optionsNotices from authorities and how to respond.
See optionsFind possible starting points for your situation.
General information, not legal advice.
No names, case narratives or file uploads.
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If someone is in immediate danger in mainland China, call police (110) and seek medical help for injuries.
Call 110 for police help.
Seek medical help for injuries.
Seek appropriate legal help promptly and ask about interpretation.
Keep the notice, envelope and proof of delivery. Do not assume an enquiry pauses a deadline.
Public legal-service starting point 12348. Ask about scope, language and eligibility.
Everyday problems · practical responses
Start with a familiar situation. Each subsection explains what to do first, which records to keep and which route to check.
Starting points for pay, purchases and private debts in mainland Shenzhen. Covered employment disputes follow their own labour process; consumer and ordinary civil claims use different routes.
Start with the lease, payment trail and condition records. The 2025 Housing Rental Regulation covers housing on urban state-owned land; confirm which rules apply to your home and tenancy.
Start with safety and prompt reporting, then identify your role and the procedure being used.
Separate immediate protection, divorce paperwork and decisions about children so each reaches the right authority.
Check your exact status, the filing deadline and which authority handles each permission.
Organize the transaction records, check the contract and choose the correct commercial dispute route.
Illustrative situations, not reported judgments or a claim about how often they occur. Mainland Shenzhen; the response depends on the facts and applicable procedure.
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Driving permissions, road restrictions, e-bikes, penalties and collision procedures now have their own guide. Choose a topic or open the complete subsection.
Organise your information so you can have a clearer and more efficient conversation.
What happened, when and where.
Contracts, messages, payments, photos and official records.
What outcome are you seeking and what do you need to ask?
Downloading or completing a checklist does not open a case, preserve a deadline or appoint a lawyer.
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These routes serve different purposes. One problem can require more than one, in the right order.
| Route | What it does | Check before acting |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer complaint | A consumer asks the regulator to help resolve a trader dispute; a report of a suspected violation is a different channel. | Prepare the trader’s identity, transaction, clear request and records. Acceptance and mediation rules are not court claim deadlines. |
| Voluntary settlement or mediation | Parties may try a documented settlement if it is safe and appropriate. A mediator does not act as your lawyer. | Check consent, the full terms, signing authority and how an agreement can be enforced. Do not assume discussions preserve every deadline. |
| Labour arbitration | A separate statutory process for covered employment disputes; eligibility and the employer/workplace jurisdiction need checking. | Identify the employer, employment status, wages and termination records. Check whether arbitration is required before court action and which post-award route applies. Labour Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law · Arts 2, 5–6, 21, 27–29, 47–50, 53. Effective 1 May 2008. Labour arbitration is distinct from commercial arbitration. ↗Shenzhen labour-arbitration guidance · Current official index, including city/district jurisdiction allocation dated 30 July 2025 and the official arbitration service-platform link. ↗ |
| Commercial arbitration | Depends on a valid applicable arbitration agreement and an arbitrable dispute. It is separate from labour arbitration. | Check the clause, institution, seat, scope and objection stage. For an award, have its receipt date and the applicable law checked immediately. |
| Court proceedings | The court must have jurisdiction and the correct claim/procedure must be used. Some matters require a prior process. | Prepare parties, requested relief, facts and an evidence index. Read filing, fee, service and evidence directions; filing does not guarantee acceptance or recovery. |
| Administrative or immigration procedure | Use the authority handling the actual permission or decision. A general civil or consumer route may not apply. | Keep the complete written decision and remedy instructions. Verify the permitted process and deadline instead of assuming an online complaint extends permission. |
Different procedures have different purposes, requirements and timelines. One route does not automatically preserve deadlines in another.
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Identify the exact promise, the correct party and the result you seek. A complaint, a payment claim and a report of wrongdoing are different routes.
Save the contract, changes, full chats, order, payment and delivery records. Identify the contracting person or company and record what was promised, paid and missing. Keep originals; a transfer alone may not prove a loan or the full agreement.
State the unresolved obligation, amount or remedy, supporting records and a reasonable response date. Retain delivery proof and replies. Check any dispute-resolution clause and the competent procedure before filing; your chosen reply date does not extend a legal deadline.
Keep the loan terms, acknowledgments, transfers, repayments and agreed due date. Reconcile unpaid principal separately from interest. Identify the borrower and preserve messages explaining the payment’s purpose. A private loan, gift and business payment are not interchangeable; have disputed terms, interest and limitation checked before filing.
The official 12315 consumer route requires identity/contact details, the trader’s name/address, a concrete request and supporting facts. A complaint seeks resolution of a personal-consumption dispute; a violation report asks the regulator to investigate. Administrative mediation is not a court judgment or guaranteed refund.
Faulty-goods remedies differ from no-reason returns for qualifying distance sales. Exclusions and product condition matter. Save the receipt, listing and after-sales terms and act promptly; services, private loans and ordinary private-landlord disputes are not automatically seven-day-return or consumer-complaint cases.
Section references checked 17 October 2026.
Use the lease and a documented handover. The 2025 national regulation covers urban state-owned-land rentals; collective-land housing and subsidised schemes need separate checks.
Keep the lease, deposit receipt, rent/utility ledger, move-in/out photos, inventory and key-handover record. Compare the agreed return date and deduction clauses with an itemised written explanation. Ordinary wear from proper use differs from damage; do not assume a universal deposit cap or return period.
Record the fault, report date and effect on use; retain requests, replies and invoices. Repair duties depend on the Code, agreed terms and tenant fault. Obtain case-specific guidance before deducting costs from rent or treating the lease as terminated.
Send a dated request with amount, lease terms and handover evidence. If unresolved, check suitable mediation, a valid arbitration agreement and the competent court. Rental filing and lease validity are separate. For threats or forced entry, prioritise safety and preserve notices rather than confronting anyone.
Section references checked 17 October 2026.
Preserve the employment record before access disappears. The relationship, workplace, employer and remedy affect the route; wage complaints and labour arbitration do different jobs.
Keep contracts, payslips, bank entries, attendance, overtime instructions and wage messages. List pay period, amount due, deductions and amount received. Shenzhen’s current rule requires personal payslips and payroll tables retained at least three years; that retention duty is not your claim deadline.
Obtain the written notice, reason, proposed settlement and termination certificate; keep the contract and service dates. Dismissal, expiry, resignation and an agreed exit differ. Severance, notice pay and unlawful-dismissal compensation are not one automatic “N+1” formula. Have the basis checked before signing.
Use current Shenzhen HRSS jurisdiction guidance. Prepare the application, employer identity, proof of employment, specific requests and indexed evidence. Workplace and employer location matter; the nearest office is not automatically competent. Labour arbitration itself is free; representation, translation and other expenses are separate.
SPC Interpretation II (2025) addresses recognition of labour relationships for qualifying foreign workers, including permanent residence or a work permit with lawful stay/residence. Keep passport, permit and employer records. Missing, expired or changed status needs individual review; assume neither automatic labour-law coverage nor absence of any remedy.
Section references checked 17 October 2026.
Reference points, not a personal calculation. Preserve notices and proof of service. Limitation, complaint admissibility, appeal periods and court-set evidence dates are different.
The ordinary civil limitation is three years from knowing, or when you should know, the infringement and responsible party. Special rules, a longstop and exceptions exist; some claims are excluded. This is not a universal filing, appeal or contract-cancellation deadline.
The usual period is one year from knowing or being expected to know of the infringement. Wage arrears during an ongoing labour relationship have a specific exception; after it ends, the statutory rule is to apply within one year of termination. Check interruption and suspension too.
A worker challenging a statutory final labour award, or a party challenging a non-final award, generally has 15 days from receipt to sue. An employer’s limited set-aside application for a final award follows a different 30-day route and grounds. Check award type, service date and instructions immediately.
A proven rights demand, acknowledgment, filing or request to an authorised dispute body may have statutory limitation effects. Keep submission/delivery evidence. A generic enquiry, unfinished online form or waiting for a reply is not automatically enough and does not itself extend separate appeal or court-set deadlines.
Under the rules effective 15 April 2026, the competent regulator ordinarily decides acceptance within seven working days. Unsuccessful mediation ordinarily ends after 60 days from acceptance, with statutory exclusions. A separate three-year complaint-admissibility rule also applies unless law provides otherwise. These are not guarantees of resolution or court limitation calculations.
Courts set evidence deadlines; extension requires a request and court decision. Ordinary first-instance civil appeals generally allow 15 days from service for judgments and 10 for appealable rulings; parties without a PRC domicile have a separate 30-day rule. Nationality alone does not determine domicile.
Section references checked 17 October 2026.
Keep originals safe, organise copies and connect records to facts. Do not send private evidence to an editorial website. A preparation bundle is not a completed filing.
Retain full conversations, account identifiers, dates, attachments and transactions, with original files/devices where available. Make a working copy and note its source. Screenshots help, but cropping, edits or missing context can undermine authenticity; a screenshot alone does not necessarily prove the case.
Use one page for key dates and link each document to the fact it supports. Separate agreed facts, disputed facts, missing records and the result sought. Group contracts, calculations/payments, messages, handover or employment records, notices and proof of receipt.
Check the correct respondent, service details, specific requests, supporting facts and competent procedure. Civil filings and labour applications use different forms. In civil court proceedings, foreign-language written evidence needs a Chinese translation; ask the receiving authority about identity, representation and foreign-document formalities.
Preserve what you can lawfully access, without alteration or safety risks. The Civil Procedure Law provides for evidence preservation where records may be lost or hard to obtain, including urgent pre-proceeding applications. Check the court, requirements and follow-up duties; a private backup is not a court preservation order.
Section references checked 17 October 2026.
Ask whether you are a witness, suspect or subject of an administrative procedure. The safeguards and review routes differ.
A suspect may retain defence counsel from the first interrogation or compulsory measure; during investigation, counsel must be a lawyer. Say clearly if you need interpretation. If you have no defence lawyer, ask about legal aid or the duty lawyer. These are separate services and eligibility is assessed.
Ask for omissions or mistakes to be corrected and for the record to be read to you if you cannot read it. Do not invent facts or coordinate accounts. Mainland procedure does not create a blanket right to refuse every question; ask defence counsel about your position.
Record the authority, case number, measure, document date and place of detention. Ask a lawyer to check notice, custody and review rules immediately. Family-notification rules contain exceptions; neither a 24-hour reference nor consular contact guarantees release. Foreign nationals should ask how applicable consular arrangements work.
Section references checked 17 October 2026.
Use 110 for immediate danger. Reporting, opening a criminal investigation and recovering money are different steps.
Give a dated factual account and preserve original messages, payment records, medical records, photographs of injuries and transaction identifiers. Ask for the acceptance receipt, handling contact and an inventory of evidence handed over. Keep copies and delivery proof. Do not postpone urgent safety or medical help to complete the file.
A complainant should keep the written non-filing notice and its receipt date. Police criminal-procedure rules allow reconsideration with that police authority within seven days of receipt, then review by the next higher police authority within seven days of receipt of the reconsideration decision. Ask promptly about procuratorate supervision too; do not confuse these routes with administrative reconsideration.
Explain ongoing threats and ask how your identity and evidence will be protected. A police report does not guarantee prosecution, refund or suspension of another deadline. Ask a lawyer whether civil recovery, preservation of assets or a separate claim is appropriate; keep the full payment and contract record.
Section references checked 17 October 2026.
Move somewhere safer if possible and call 110 for immediate danger. Seek care for injuries. Use a safe device or trusted support if your communications are monitored.
Ask the basic-level court where either party lives or the violence occurred about a personal-safety protection order. It can be requested separately from divorce. State the respondent, danger and protective measures needed. If you cannot apply because of coercion or specified incapacity, ask which relatives or bodies may apply for you.
Police call-outs, warning notices, medical records, messages, recordings and witness accounts may help. Keep originals and a safe backup; do not put yourself or a child at risk to obtain more. A protection order can restrict contact or require moving out, but the court decides the application and it does not itself settle divorce, property or parenting.
The law requires a decision within 72 hours after the court accepts the application, or 24 hours in an urgent case. These are court decision periods, not police arrival promises or guaranteed approval. An order lasts no more than six months; ask about extension before expiry. Reconsideration may have a five-day deadline.
Section references checked 17 October 2026.
Protect the child now and get individual advice before changing living arrangements, taking documents away or crossing a border.
Anyone may report risks or infringements affecting a minor to police, civil affairs, education or another competent department. Specified public bodies and organisations working closely with children must report suspected harm or danger immediately when encountered through their work. For immediate danger call 110; do not rely only on a school or private negotiation.
Bring existing orders or agreements, the child’s identity and birth documents, school/medical records and a dated account of who provides care. Tell the adviser about all nationalities, usual residences and proposed travel. A passport, parental status or foreign order alone does not resolve the right to relocate or take a child across a border.
Section references checked 17 October 2026.
Use the actual visa, entry stamp, residence document and work-permission record. Do not calculate status from a job offer or a general online checklist.
The law generally requires a visa-stay extension application at least seven days before expiry and residence extension at least 30 days before expiry. Where the visa requires residence after entry, apply within 30 days of entry. Confirm the document type, receipt and local procedure early; submitting a request does not guarantee approval.
For ordinary employment, check both the work permit and work-type residence permission, including the authorised employer and work scope. A business, family, study or new visa category is not blanket permission to take any job. Ask before changing employer or taking paid side work; student off-campus internships have a separate endorsement route.
Outside a hotel, you or your host must register accommodation with local police within 24 hours of arrival. Residence-permit registered-item changes generally require an application within ten days. Keep receipts, passport copies, employment changes and official notices. Ask 12367 or the competent exit-entry office promptly if a document expires, employment ends or your passport is lost.
Section references checked 17 October 2026.
Keep the exact legal entity, signing authority, full contract and dispute clause together. Governing law, court jurisdiction and an arbitration seat are different questions.
The revised law took effect on 1 March 2026. Ask a lawyer to check the clause, arbitral institution, seat and any objection before the first hearing. The current law sets three months from receipt for an application to set aside an award; historic cases need a transition check. Do not reuse older six-month guidance or treat commercial arbitration as the labour-dispute procedure.
A mainland, Hong Kong or overseas judgment does not automatically collect money elsewhere. Ask which recognition/enforcement arrangement, court, certificate and deadline apply to that type and date of judgment or award. Mainland–Hong Kong commercial, family and arbitration routes differ. If assets or evidence may disappear, ask promptly about preservation rather than assuming negotiation protects them.
Confirm the receiving authority’s accepted document, translation and authentication format. An apostille authenticates the signature/seal, not the contents or automatic court acceptance. Before transferring employee, customer or case data abroad, check the applicable protection duties and transfer route; an exemption from one filing is not an exemption from every duty.
Section references checked 17 October 2026.
Check professional permission, relevant experience and the actual service you are buying. A directory listing is not an endorsement or result guarantee.
Ask for the lawyer’s Chinese name, practising certificate number and firm’s legal name. Compare them with the national practice-information platform, including annual assessment and public sanctions; verify current status with the issuing authority if unclear. An exam pass or overseas bar admission alone does not prove permission to handle your mainland matter. Check any GBA licence’s permitted scope.
Give the firm the parties’ and related entities’ names so it can check conflicts before you send detailed evidence. Confirm who the client is when an employer, spouse or company pays. The other side’s lawyer and a mediator are not your personal adviser. Ask who will handle the work, language needs and how confidential records will be exchanged.
The firm should accept the instruction through a written engagement. Specify advice, negotiation, filing, preservation, hearing, appeal and enforcement separately; do not assume one fee covers every stage. Confirm the responsible lawyer, authority to settle, documents needed and who tracks each deadline. Keep a signed copy, payment records and agreed reporting arrangements.
Section references checked 17 October 2026.
Ask for a written quote and receipts. Legal fees, court or arbitration fees, translation and other expenses are different costs.
Confirm the fee basis, stages, taxes, payment schedule, expense approvals and what happens if the instruction ends. Use the firm’s documented collection process and request proper receipts. Ask about restrictions before agreeing any success or risk fee: criminal and marriage/inheritance cases, among others, cannot use that arrangement.
No adviser can guarantee a court result, permit, release or recovery. Do not pay supposed judge, police or arbitrator relationship fees. Preserve the proposal, engagement, invoice and communications. If concerned, ask the firm for a written response and consult the competent justice authority or lawyers’ association about the appropriate complaint route.
A professional complaint is not an appeal, court filing or automatic refund. Keep case deadlines running and obtain independent advice on replacement counsel, file return and any fee dispute. Use an official complaint channel; sending evidence to LifeShenzhen does not file a report or establish a lawyer–client relationship.
Section references checked 17 October 2026.
Information, neutral mediation, legal aid and your own lawyer have different roles.
| Option | Purpose | Access | Cost | Representation | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public legal information | General guidance and official information | Ask the service | Public information is free | Not representation | 12348 |
| People’s mediation | Voluntary resolution through mediation | Willing parties; suitable dispute | Free through People’s Mediation Committees | Mediator, not your lawyer | Public legal services |
| Legal aid | Support for eligible cases and applicants | Statutory conditions apply | Free when granted | May include a lawyer | Legal-aid office |
| Private legal representation | Advice and representation for your case | Subject to acceptance and conflicts checks | Fees vary; agree in writing | Within the agreed engagement | Prepare your questions → |
These are different services. Neither an information call nor this finder opens a case or appoints a lawyer.
Verify the professional and agree the work before sharing a full case file or paying fees.
Use the detailed guide for your subject. Employment starting points are also provided above.
No. National laws supply much of the framework. Applicable Guangdong and Shenzhen rules and local administrative procedures add detail. Check which authority and version apply.
Official referenceNo. A police report, consumer complaint, mediation and a civil claim are different processes. The outcome depends on the facts and applicable procedure.
Official referenceNo. General information and legal-aid representation are different services. Legal aid depends on statutory conditions and review by the responsible institution.
Official referenceDo not assume so. Ask about interpretation, accepted translations and documents required in Chinese. Language preference in this finder does not book an interpreter.
Official referenceSeek individual advice promptly for detention, police questioning, significant property or family decisions, threatened loss of evidence, or any legal deadline. Ask about experience, qualifications, scope, fees and conflicts before agreeing to an engagement.
Official referenceApplicable law, jurisdiction, service and recognition can differ. Check translations and any authentication requirements for the actual document and procedure; there is no single rule for every cross-border case.
Official referenceConfirm current requirements, opening arrangements and language support before a visit.
Legal-aid information, contacts and consultation.
Visit official hubProvincial public legal information and service routes.
Open platformCivil filing, court services and information.
Go to court servicesShenzhen market-regulation complaint channels.
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Official police guidanceEntry, visas, residence and immigration procedures.
Immigration informationConsult the current official Chinese text, effective date and local procedure. Each detailed guide has its own review date.
State Council English website, sourced from the National People's Congress
State Administration for Market Regulation, official full-text republication
National People's Congress
National People's Congress; reproduced by Shenzhen Justice Bureau
Shenzhen Municipal People's Congress; reproduced by Shenzhen Administration for Market Regulation
State Council / Shenzhen Housing Bureau
State Council; Shenzhen Civil Affairs Bureau official full-text republication
National People's Congress; reproduced by the State Administration for Market Regulation
National Immigration Administration
Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court
Shenzhen Justice Bureau
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government
National People's Congress; reproduced by the Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice
NPC legislation; Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice official republication
Ministry of Justice
National People’s Congress / SAMR
National People’s Congress / SAMR
State Administration for Market Regulation
National People’s Congress / SAMR
Shenzhen HRSS
Shenzhen HRSS
Shenzhen HRSS
Shenzhen HRSS
Shenzhen Government Gazette
Supreme People’s Court
Supreme People’s Court
Supreme People’s Court
Supreme People’s Court
NPC legislation, republished by the State Administration for Market Regulation
Ministry of Public Security; official Ministry of Justice republication
Shenzhen Public Security Bureau / Shenzhen Government Online
NPC legislation; Beijing Government official republication
Supreme People’s Court
NPC legislation; State Administration for Market Regulation official republication
National Immigration Administration
State Council regulations, republished by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration
National Immigration Administration
NPC legislation; Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice official republication
NPC Standing Committee decision; Ministry of Justice official republication
All China Lawyers Association; information supplied by judicial-administration authorities
Ministry of Justice, National Development and Reform Commission and State Administration for Market Regulation
Ministry of Justice
NPC legislation; Supreme People’s Court China International Commercial Court
Hong Kong SAR Department of Justice
Ministry of Foreign Affairs / China Consular Service
Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court
Cyberspace Administration of China
Supreme People’s Court
National People’s Congress; Shenzhen Justice Bureau republication
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Border clearance · Mainland China + Hong Kong
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This section was checked on 1 Nov 2026. Follow the authority’s current document, checkpoint and enrolment instructions for your route.