Honorary Consular Officers/Posts

Pursuant to Article 68 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR), the United States receives honorary consular officers. The Department of State’s Office of Foreign Missions (OFM) holds the authority and responsibility for approving the establishment of consular posts in the United States, including those headed by honorary consular officers, as well as the appointment of honorary consular officers.

The following information addresses the Department’s rules regarding the appointment of honorary consular officers, and the opening of a consular post headed by an honorary consular officer. This information supersedes the Department’s note No. 16-1281, dated August 23, 2016, and diplomatic circular note dated August 6, 2003, regarding this topic.

The requirements stated herein are consistent with the VCCR and promulgated to ensure the Department that the proposed honorary consular officer will (1) exercise meaningful consular functions on a regular basis and (2) come under the supervision of, and be accountable to, the government which he or she represents.

Questions concerning honorary consuls or posts headed by an honorary consular officer should be directed to honoraryconsul@state.gov.

Requesting OFM Approval to Appoint an Honorary Consular Officer

Embassies must submit a diplomatic note to request approval from OFM to:

establish a new consular post headed by an honorary consular officer;
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,
appoint an honorary vice consul as additional staff at an existing consular post headed by an honorary consular officer.

The note must contain a detailed justification for the request, to include, at a minimum, the following:

The city and state of the proposed consular post.
1. Include both the address of the proposed consular premises and the residence of the proposed honorary consular officer, respectively.
The consular district for the proposed consular post
Describe in detail the primary and secondary responsibilities of the proposed honorary consular officer
The duties which the proposed honorary consular officer is not permitted by the sending State to perform
The mission (embassy or consular post headed by a career consular officer) responsible for supervising and providing assistance as needed for the proposed honorary consular officer.
The number of hours per week the honorary consular officer is expected to perform consular duties.
The location of the consular archives and premises, e.g.:
1. at the honorary consular officer’s private residence;
2. at the honorary consular officer’s commercial office space; or.
3. at a separate premises to be used exclusively for the exercise of consular functions.
Provide any addition information that should be taken into account by the Department of State when reviewing this application.

OFM does not permit the establishment of a consular post headed by an honorary consular officer in any metropolitan area where the sending State already has an existing diplomatic mission or consular post.

Information Required Regarding the Proposed Honorary Consular Officer

The Department retains the discretion to determine whether an individual is acceptable to the United States as an honorary consular officer, whether as the head of a post, or as additional staff at a consular post headed by another honorary consular officer, or as additional staff at a consular post headed by a career consular officer.

Proposed appointees may not perform consular functions or present themselves as an honorary consular officer until OFM has admitted the individual to the exercise of functions. Furthermore, proposed appointees may not contact OFM directly to inquire about the status of the review process.

To be eligible for appointment as an honorary consular officer, and to retain such status, a person must:

be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR);
not hold an office of profit or trust with the U.S. Government or a position with a state, county, or other municipality of the United States and which is considered by such entity to be incompatible with the duties of an honorary consular officer;
obtain permission from the Secretary of the Department concerned, if he or she holds a commission as a Reserve Officer in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces;
reside full-time within the boundaries of the metropolitan area where the embassy is requesting representation; and
be age 21 or over.

Consequently, in addition to the information requested concerning the location and duties of the proposed honorary consular officer, the embassy must submit to OFM

proof of the appointee’s U.S. citizenship (i.e., copy of U.S. passport) or LPR status (i.e., copy of permanent residence card) and,
the appointee’s current resume or CV. The embassy is also encouraged to highlight the connection that the proposed appointee has had with the country.

OFM expects that foreign governments will seek to nominate individuals of good standing and reputation in the community.

Missions may submit a request to accredit an honorary vice consul at a consular post headed by an honorary consular officer. 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.

Department Review

The Department will review the complete application package as described above and provide its approval or denial in a diplomatic note to the Embassy.

Upon OFM Approval

If approved, OFM will request the Embassy submit a Notification of Appointment (NoA), along with a passport-sized color photo with a light background, via eGov for the proposed honorary consular officer. The Embassy should not submit a NoA until after OFM has given its approval to do so.

Once accepted, the individual will be accredited as an honorary consular officer and admitted to the exercise of functions.

OFM accredits honorary consular officers with the title of “Honorary Consul” or “Honorary Vice Consul”. The use of other titles to describe an honorary consular officer is strictly prohibited. Honorary consular officers must observe the distinction in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR) between “career” and “honorary” consular officers by using the correct title, letterhead, business cards, and submissions to local consular directories in order to avoid confusing constituents and to avoid the appearance of deliberate misrepresentation of their status under the VCCR.

OFM will mail an identification card to the residential address of the newly appointed honorary consular officer. The reverse of the card confirms that as an honorary consular officer, the individual enjoys immunity from the jurisdiction of the judicial or administrative authorities of the United States in respect to official acts performed in the exercise of consular functions.

The term of recognition for an honorary consular officer is 3 years. Please see section titled “Renewing Appointment” for procedures regarding renewing the honorary consul’s appointment.

To facilitate protection of the consular premises in accordance with Article 59 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR), appropriate signs must clearly designate which area is being used exclusively for the purposes of the consular post. Further, in accordance with Article 61 of the VCCR, the consular archives and documents shall be inviolable, provided they are kept separate from other papers and documents and, in particular, from the private correspondence of the head of the consular post and of any person working with him, and from the materials, books, or documents relating to their profession or trade.

Renewing Appointment

At a minimum of 30 days prior to the expiration of the identification card, the Embassy should submit a request to renew the honorary consul’s identification card, and attach in eGov the following:

a diplomatic note that that reaffirms the honorary consular officer’s duties;
an updated resume or CV, but not limited to current employment;
an updated passport-sized color photo with a light background; and,
confirmation of both the residence and duty addresses. Enclosing a copy of the driver’s license or other documentation to confirm the current residential address is encouraged.

Identification card renewal requests may be made up to three months prior to the card’s expiration. If an identification card renewal request is not made within six months of the card’s expiration, OFM will withdraw the status of the honorary consular officer, consider the consular post closed, and notify the embassy accordingly.

Changes to Premises or Consular District

Changes in the address for the premises of a consular post are subject to approval by OFM prior to performing consular functions from a new location. Such changes must be requested by the Embassy via diplomatic note to OFM. (Please note that submission of a “Notification of Change – Duty” through eGov is not sufficient for these purposes and will be rejected]. Please include the proposed address, as well as the full name and the residence address of the honorary consular officer in the diplomatic note to OFM requesting to relocate the premises.

Other Staff Members

If the embassy wishes to post a U.S. citizen or LPR as support staff at a consular post headed by an honorary consular officer, it must notify OFM by submitting a notification of appointment via eGov, accompanied by a diplomatic note attached to the NoA, outlining the expected duties of the individual. Staff other than Honorary Consuls and Honorary Vice Consuls will not enjoy official acts immunity and will not receive an identification card.

Termination of Appointment

The embassy must submit a notification of termination upon the termination of the appointment by the sending State. The embassy may contemporaneously propose a replacement for the honorary consular officer, following instructions in the section titled “Requesting OFM Approval to Appoint an Honorary Consular Officer”. If a replacement is not proposed within six months of termination, the consular post will be deemed closed by OFM.

Honorary Consular Officers/Posts