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What is a Consulate?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A consulate is the home and offices of a consul, a representative of a foreign government who is similar to an ambassador. Consuls assist their countrymen while abroad, and they may issue visas and participate in other activities which are intended to facilitate friendly relations between their home and host nations. Ambassadors, on the other hand, are emissaries between heads of state, working to promote peaceful agreements and acting as official government representatives. A country usually has only one embassy in a foreign country, typically located in that nation's capital, while consulates can be found in numerous cities.

Depending on the nation, varying services are available at a consulate. At a minimum, consular staff assist people from their home nation when in need. A consulate might, for example, recommend local lawyers to someone in legal trouble, or contact someone's next of kin when he or she is involved in an accident. Consulates usually also retain useful information on their host country, such as directories of hotels and money-changing services.

Consulates offer services to countrymen while abroad.
Consulates offer services to countrymen while abroad.

Often, consulates also provide services to citizens of the host country, such as granting visas or providing information about their home nations. This encourages positive relationships between the two countries. Just like an embassy, a consulate may host parties and events to promote its home nation, and the guest lists can sometimes be just as star-studded, especially in major cities. Consulates also work to promote trade between the two countries, and they may hold information sessions to attract business to their home countries.

Unlike an embassy, a consulate does not have power to negotiate diplomatically.
Unlike an embassy, a consulate does not have power to negotiate diplomatically.

Unlike an embassy, a consulate does not have the power to negotiate diplomatically. Consular employees are also not offered diplomatic immunity, although they may act much like ambassadors for their nations. Staff at a consulate may also keep an eye on activities in their host nation, much like embassy staff do. Consular networks can act as a large informal information gathering system which can also be used as an early warning system, alerting their host nations to upcoming issues.

Often, consulates also provide services to citizens of the host country, such as granting visas.
Often, consulates also provide services to citizens of the host country, such as granting visas.

Staffing at a consulate varies. In some cases, some members of the staff may be citizens of the host country, including the consul. These staffers may have ties with the home nation, or a vested interest in promoting good relationships and trade. In a very small consulate, the staff may actually be volunteers, agreeing to help people from the home nation when they are in need, often at their own expense, in much the same way that generous merchants have been assisting visitors for centuries.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

MaPa

It is funny how informal some of these places can be. An Embassy is usually a huge building with a wall, security, and other distinguishing features. A consulate can be a lot less intimidating.

I was walking through a neighborhood in Toronto a few months back and there were consular offices for a few countries mixed in with the storefronts and houses. They had their own property, but you could walk right up to the front door, no security or gates or anything. They were basically just a big house, at least from the outside.

Viktor13

You can also use the consulate of a friendly foreign country sometimes, if your country does not have diplomats or a consul in that area.

I remember reading the book, "Not Without my Daughter", about an American woman stuck in Iran, and she used the Swiss consulate there, which maintained a U.S. interests section to help people in her situation. They weren't able to get her out but they helped her with her planning and gave her a place to use the phone and contact people back in the States.

horsebite

A consulate can be really helpful if you're in another country and there is not an embassy available there, or perhaps if the embassy is in another part of the country far from where you are.

I was in Turkey a few years ago and I had to visit the American consulate there to take care of some passport issues. They were really helpful and saved me a trip to the capital city to visit the embassy.

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    • Consulates offer services to countrymen while abroad.
      By: auremar
      Consulates offer services to countrymen while abroad.
    • Unlike an embassy, a consulate does not have power to negotiate diplomatically.
      By: Alex3
      Unlike an embassy, a consulate does not have power to negotiate diplomatically.
    • Often, consulates also provide services to citizens of the host country, such as granting visas.
      By: yossarian6
      Often, consulates also provide services to citizens of the host country, such as granting visas.