What are the similarites and differences between an Embassy and a Consulate?

Answer 1

An Embassy is a representation of a country's government in another country. While a Consulate is an office of a country in another country that issues passports, visas and other national documents to both citizen and non-citizens.

Similarities:
Both function as a representative of a country's governemnt

Both protect nationals of their country overseas

Both issues travel documents and other documents to citizens and non-citizens

Differences:
An embassy main function is representation rather than protection. Protection is carried out primarly by the consulate. this does not take away the function of protection from the embassy in times of crises or war.

A conuslate is basically an office that issues passports and visas and may also issue birth, marriage and death certificates. It's main function is to record and register the number of nationals of its country in another country.

I would know this because this question nearly do me over in an interview to work at my country's embassy in Washington so I went and learnt the differences and simialrities. Lucky I was turn down for the job because I was too qualified for the available position (secretary / CSA) rather than answering the question incorectly.

Answer 2

An Embassy is in the country's capital and holds the Ambassador, who basically is that countries rep. While a consulate is a local office for that country in the smaller cities. They both do the same jobs really, you can get asylum in either, and get passport and visas etc.

Answer 3

This question has been asked a few times already:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=AsiVR3Sd9lGX2J0djuQwGwcjzKIX?qid=1006011301358

Abby is basically right, except for the asylum part. We do not accept walk-in asylum applicants.