Embassies and Consulates

What’s the difference between an embassy and a consulate?

Consulate (or consular office) is a form of diplomatic mission in charge of matters related to individual people and businesses, in other words issues outside inter-governmental diplomacy.

Responsibilities of a consulate include protecting the interests of their citizens in temporary or permanent residence in the host country; issuing passports; issuing visas to foreigners; and public diplomacy. However, the principal role of a consulate lies historically in promoting trade – assisting companies to invest and to import and export goods and services both inwardly to their home country and outward to their host country.

An embassy is the public function of an ambassador; the charge or business intrusted to an ambassador or to envoys; a public message to; foreign court concerning state affairs; hence, any solemn message. In many countries the embassy and consulate-general are combined in one office or structure; however, an embassy implies official diplomatic relations between two countries while a consulate generally does not.

Responsibilities of an Embassy

Embassies provides passport services, registers the birth of children, assists with Federal benefits, offers notarial services, gives information on voting, and provides advice and information. They also provide emergency assistance to citizens in distress: when someone is destitute, arrested, separated from minor children, or sick. In an emergency, the Embassy Duty Officer can be reached at any time.

Embassy World

Embassies Abroad