2006-08-25 07:13:42 · 8 answers · asked by Conrad 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Embassies & Consulates
An embassy is nation's permanent representation to a nation and it is usually located in the national capital of the host country. For exampl, the Canadian Embassy is in Washington, while vice versa the U.S. Embassy in Canada is in Ottawa. The embassy usually is in the capital in the event the host government needs to have talks with any nation at any hour. For example, before the U.S. invaded Grenada in 1983, President Ronald Reagan requested the presence of ambassadors from such Caribbean nations as Dominica and St. Vincent in the middle of the night as they worked round clock to form a multinational coalition to end Cuban influence on that island. A host nation's head of state must have 24 access with a national embassy in their capital at any time.
A consulate is usually located in a city or cities where a nation has a large expatriate population or has official government business. Every nation in the world (with the exception of a maybe a two or three) has a mission in New York. The main reason is the presence of the United Nations in that city. Every member state therefore must have an office in that city. Some cities have a historical connection with a nation such is the case with France and their consulate in New Orleans, or Mexico and their consulate in Los Angeles. Others have consulates due to large populations of expatriates living in a city. Japan has a consulate in Honolulu due to a large Japanese presence there. Othe nations such as Portugal in Toronto, and Haiti in Montreal also have consulates for the same reasons.
There are cases that an embassy is not in the capital city of a nation due to their small national size and funds. Some nations also have multiple accreditation to various nations from an embassy in one country. Examples include the Embassy of Andorra to the U.S. which is located in New York, but serves as the Embassy to the USA and Canada. The Embassy of Equatorial Guinea was located in Mount Vernon, NY for many years due to their lack of funds. Once oil was discovered in the late 1990s, the nation opened a consulate in New York City and moved their embassy to Washington.
2006-08-25 13:50:17 · answer #1 · answered by The "L" Word 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
What "Luis32789" has written is the best of the answers. I will only add that a High Commission is equivalent to the embassy of a British Commonwealth country in another Commonwealth country, and a Deputy High Commission is the equivalent of a consulate.
And that some subordinate branches of government -- especially in the case of the Commonwealth -- may be given diplomatic status: the representatives of Quebec and Ontario (and any other provinces) have diplomatic status in London but not representatives of American states or the Port Authority of NY & NJ.
There can be -- contrary to what some have said -- a Consulate (or more exactly a Consular Office separate from the embassy of the country) in a capital city. France and Spain have had such offices in London. Depending how the officials in that office are accredited (it could be either way) they may have diplomatic or only consular status. This makes little difference unless an officer gets into personal trouble: a diplomat has immunity for all his actions, personal and private and for personal taxes; a consul (or vice consul, etc.) has immunity only for his/her official acts; and immunity from taxes (other than income taxes) depends on policy of the host government. Many developing countries grant customs immunity only at the consul's first arrival in the country.
2006-08-26 03:21:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
truly is an similar difficulty, notwithstanding the embassy is continually in the capital of the country, and the consulates in different cities. Like there's a US Embassy in Madrid, Spain and a US Consulate in Barcelona, Spain.
2016-11-27 20:57:45 · answer #3 · answered by satornino 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A consulate is the official representative of a state outside its territory and not present in the capital of the host country (which would be called an embassy or High Commission).
An embassy is a permanent diplomatic mission.
2006-08-25 07:24:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a status level. Countries that are more important to the the nations interests have an Embassy. Countries that are less important have consulates.
2006-08-25 21:40:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A consulate is a menthol cigarette, an embassy is a normal filter tip.
2006-08-25 07:26:45 · answer #6 · answered by mushy peas 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Conculate means the "office" of the forgeign country. It can be used interchangeabily with embassy.
2006-08-25 07:20:38 · answer #7 · answered by chenxin1929 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Both mean just about the same thing. They represent the official of a state outside of its territory. Wiki :)
2006-08-25 07:23:09 · answer #8 · answered by Chris S 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋