embassies

An embassy is the permanent diplomatic mission of one country in the capital city of another country. It represents the sending state and serves as the primary channel for diplomatic communication between governments. The head of an embassy is the ambassador, who is accredited to the host state's government. The embassy staff includes counselors, political and economic officers, and attachés, operating from the chancery, the main office that houses administrative and diplomatic work.

Location and duties include maintaining bilateral relations, negotiating treaties, reporting on political and economic developments, and promoting friendly ties. Embassies coordinate cultural and educational exchanges and support cooperation in areas such as trade, science, and security. They also handle some consular functions, citizen assistance, and outreach to civil society, typically in coordination with separate consular posts.

Legal basis and privileges are governed by international law, principally the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961. Embassy premises and diplomats enjoy inviolability and immunity from most local jurisdiction. The host state must protect the mission and allow secure communication with the sending state. A diplomat may be declared persona non grata and expelled if needed.

Relation to other posts: embassies differ from consulates, which focus on citizen services and local affairs outside the capital. In many countries, the resident ambassador is the highest-ranking foreign representative, with a charg d’affaires leading the mission in the absence of an ambassador.

History: the modern embassy emerged from earlier legations, with the term embassy becoming common in the 19th century. Diplomatic norms and privileges were later codified in international treaties, most notably the Vienna Convention, which underpins the operation of embassies worldwide.