Consular office

From Wikinfo

A consular office (or consulate) is a typical part of a diplomatic mission in charge of anything outside of regular inter-governmental diplomacy. The charge includes issuing passports and offering legal assistance to citizens of the sending country; and issuing visas to foreigners. It is usually headed by a consul.

In some large cities (other than the capital, in which the embassy would be deployed) of the receiving State, this office may be called consulate-general, and the head consul-general.

Usually consulate staff do not enjoy full diplomatic immunity.

References

• Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Consular office" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consular_office January 3, 2004