What's the difference between an embassy, consulate, and a high commission?

Answer 1

Actually the above answers have slight errors.

First the size of the mission has nothing to do with it, but rather the status.

Embassies are the official representation in the capital, headed by an Ambassador. High Commissions are simply embassies and diplomatic representation among British commonwealth countries.

Consulates are not headed by an Ambassador and are usually regional "branch offices" of the Embassy within the given country.

But any of them could be virtually any size. For example the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt, Germany is much larger than the U.S. Embassy in Berlin.

Answer 2

A consulate or a high commission is like a smaller version of an embassy. It takes care of issuing visas and there's a Consul or a High Commissioner who takes care of trade relations and expats from that country.
Embassies are larger and more powerful and house an Ambassador (higher-ranking than Consuls or High Commissioners. Embassies take care of the same administrative duties as consulates, but they also represent their governments abroad. The Ambassador is often called upon as a spokesperson and can also represent Presidents and Prime Ministers at important official functions

Answer 3

A high commission is the Commonwealth version of an embassy. For example, in every Commonwealth country, Singapore has a high commission, like Australia. In other countries, it would be an embassy. A consulate is when there is no Ambassador on board in that mission.

Answer 4

Good question!

Great answers so far!!!

:)