The Vienna Convention allows Dutch diplomats to pursue the interests of Dutch citizens and businesses in foreign countries as effectively as possible, even where there are doubts about legal certainty. Dutch diplomats can also use their influence to remind receiving states of their international obligations, for instance to comply with human rights.
Diplomatic immunity only works if every country, including ours, abides by the rules. The way that the Netherlands treats foreign diplomats has an impact on how other countries treat our diplomats. We must treat foreign diplomats in the Netherlands with the same respect and in accordance with the same standards that we expect of others abroad.
The Vienna Convention does not give diplomats carte blanche for misconduct. The key differences between these types of diplomatic offices are outlined in greater detail below.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that many embassies also contain a consular section that deals with administrative matters such as visa processing. Therefore, it is not always necessary to travel across a country to a consulate to apply for a visa if there is an embassy with a consular section closer by. Additionally, if a foreign government only has an embassy in a territory , then this office will be responsible for both diplomatic interactions and administration functions such as visa and passport services.
If you are planning a trip to a foreign country and need to contact a diplomatic mission about visa applications or other matters, you can use our easy-to-use worldwide embassy finder to locate the nearest embassies and consulates of your destination. This site uses cookies for web analytics. By browsing this site, you accept our Cookies Policy.
The most important duties of a consulate are:. To handle the military formalities and control for its own citizens liable to military service. To help its own citizens in distress or other emergency situations. To look after its own citizens in detention or arrest and to watch over the rule of law and fair trials.
To establish entry visas to foreign citizens and to inform them about immigration-, residence- and work permits. The diplomatic representation to an international organization e. A Nunciature ist the name of the embassy of the State of Vatican. Contrary to those who believe embassies have had their day, in my view they are in renaissance, performing a role for which there is no substitute.
If embassies did not exist, they would have to be invented. Firstly, bilateral relations are increasingly complex and volatile. Their propensity to sprawl across a range of subjects and involve multiple state and non-state actors means the field team — the embassy — is the only home entity with a holistic, real-time view of the relationship with the assignment country.
Foreign ministries that understand this have actually thinned out staff in their territorial departments, so as not to duplicate the work done by embassies. That is the experience of Canada, Germany and the UK, among others. This leads us to the second reason for a strengthened raison d'etre: embassies are now more engaged in the day-to-day management of bilateral relationship. Of course, this role will always be subordinate to the MFA, but advice offered by embassies is crucial.
This role carries risk. And while a few would argue modern communications obviate the need for embassies, I would respond they have only enhanced their role. Proposals and ideas are bounced back and forth, and policy execution deployed in a seamless process that was inconceivable even 15 or 20 years back. Secure video conversations are also quotidian, again enhancing MFA-embassy integration. But some communication is an illusion.
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