Legal Definitions - Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act

The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) is a federal law that allows individuals to sue foreign governments under certain circumstances. This law applies to private acts of foreign states, not public ones.

For example, if a foreign government owns a business in the United States and that business harms someone, the person can sue the foreign government under the FSIA. However, if the foreign government is acting in its official capacity, such as making a decision about foreign policy, it is protected by sovereign immunity and cannot be sued.

The FSIA was created in 1976 to provide a way for American citizens and companies to resolve disputes with foreign states and their entities. It allows for access to federal and state courts in the United States for plaintiffs asserting claims against foreign states and instrumentalities thereof.