What are honorary consuls?
Honorary consuls are volunteers nominated for a 5-year period that can be renewed and are essential bridges for the consulate. They are carrying out their representative duties locally as well as provide a global support mission to France’s diplomatic, cultural and economic action.
Can a country have more than one Embassy in another country?
Technically, an Embassy is where an “Ambassador” is based. As there can only be one Ambassador for a specific country, there can only be (at most) one Embassy.
Do honorary consuls get diplomatic passports?
Diplomatic passport and honorary consuls The ability to obtain a diplomatic passport or an appointment as an honorary consulate is an honor that is reserved for a very select few. Diplomatic passports and honorary consul appointments both offer multiple benefits.
How much does an honorary consul make?
Honorary consuls pay the office expenses and entertaining bills out of their own pockets – they spend between $1,000 and $15,000 each year, depending on how lavishly they entertain.
What are the benefits of being an honorary consul?
Honorary Consuls enjoy almost the same Diplomatic Immunity and Privileges as Career Diplomats like Ambassadors and Consuls during the time they engage in their official duties, but enjoy much lesser privileges when not performing their duties.
What is the difference between honorary consul and consul general?
The officials appointed as consuls are diplomats of the country, so they are paid by the government. The honorary consul members are not diplomats by career, so they are not paid by the government. Can help the citizens with things such as issuing visas and issuing passports.
What is the difference between consul and ambassador?
A consul is distinguished from an ambassador, the latter being a representative from one head of state to another, but both have a form of immunity. A less common usage is an administrative consul, who takes a governing role and is appointed by a country that has colonised or occupied another.
Do honorary consuls pay taxes?
Unlike career consular officers who are exempt from customs duties and taxes at all times on articles imported for official and personal use, honorary consular officers (who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents as per the above definition) are exempt from customs duties and taxes on goods for official use, i.e. …
Do honorary consuls get diplomatic immunity?
This does not extend to any of their dependents who may also be dual UK Commonwealth nationals. Criminal immunity is only afforded to the Service Staff at foreign diplomatic or foreign London-based consular missions in respect of the acts performed in the course of their duties. However, such staff are not inviolable.
Can honorary consuls issue Visa?
Besides helping to promote German-US relations in their region, honorary consuls are also able to assist US and German citizens in some legal and consular issues related to Germany. However, they are not authorized to provide all services, e.g. they are not allowed to issue visas.
How many honorary consuls are there in the US?
Sichinga is one of 1,144 honorary consuls in the United States. Especially prized by small or poorer nations without full-fledged diplomatic missions, honoraries represent foreign nations for a fraction of the cost of a salaried member of the diplomatic corps.
Can a country have more than one consul general?
A country may appoint more than one consul-general to another nation. Consuls of various ranks may have specific legal authority for certain activities, such as notarizing documents. As such, diplomatic personnel with other responsibilities may receive consular letters patent (commissions).
How to appoint an honorary consular officer to a consular post?
Embassies must submit a diplomatic note to request approval from OFM to: appoint a new honorary consular officer to replace another at an existing consular post; relocate and accredit an existing honorary consular officer as staff at a consular post headed by a career consular officer; or,
Can a vice consul head a consular post in another city?
However, the Department does not permit the establishment of a consular post headed by an honorary vice consul, irrespective of whether it is in the same or different metropolitan area of an existing consular or diplomatic post. All criteria mentioned above apply equally to the nomination of an honorary consul and an honorary vice consul.