Law-ref.org Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
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... Affirming that the rules of customary international law continue to govern matters not expressly regulated by the provisions of the present Convention, ...


ARTICLE-5: CONSULAR FUNCTIONS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... (a) protecting in the receiving State the interests of the sending State and of its nationals, both individuals and bodies corporate, within the limits permitted by international law; ...
... (f) acting as notary and civil registrar and in capacities of a similar kind, and performing certain functions of an administrative nature, provided that there is nothing contrary thereto in the laws and regulations of the receiving State; ...
... (g) safeguarding the interests of nationals, both individuals and bodies corporate, of the sending State in cases of succession mortis causa in the territory of the receiving State, in accordance with the laws and regulations of the receiving State; ...
... (h) safeguarding, within the limits imposed by the laws and regulations of the receiving State, the interests of minors and other persons lacking full capacity who are nationals of the sending State, particularly where any guardianship or trusteeship is required with respect to such persons; ...
... (i) subject to the practices and procedures obtaining in the receiving State, representing or arranging appropriate representation for nationals of the sending State before the tribunals and other authorities of the receiving State, for the purpose of obtaining, in accordance with the laws and regulations of the receiving State, provisional measures for the preservation of the rights and interests of these nationals, where, because of absence or any other reason, such nationals are unable at the proper time to assume the defence of their rights and interests; ...
... (j) transmitting judicial and extrajudicial documents or executing letters rogatory or commissions to take evidence for the courts of the sending State in accordance with international agreements in force or, in the absence of such international agreements, in any other manner compatible with the laws and regulations of the receiving State; ...
... (k) exercising rights of supervision and inspection provided for in the laws and regulations of the sending State in respect of vessels having the nationality of the sending State, and of aircraft registered in that State, and in respect of their crews; ...
... (l) extending assistance to vessels and aircraft mentioned in sub-paragraph (k) of this Article and to their crews, taking statements regarding the voyage of a vessel, examining and stamping the ship's papers, and, without prejudice to the powers of the authorities of the receiving State, conducting investigations into any incidents which occurred during the voyage, and settling disputes of any kind between the master, the officers and the seamen in so far as this may be authorized by the laws and regulations of the sending State; ...
... (m) performing any other functions entrusted to a consular post by the sending State which are not prohibited by the laws and regulations of the receiving State or to which no objection is taken by the receiving State or which are referred to in the international agreements in force between the sending State and the receiving State. ...


ARTICLE-10: APPOINTMENT AND ADMISSION OF HEADS OF CONSULAR POSTS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 2. Subject to the provisions of the present Convention, the formalities for the appointment and for the admission of the head of a consular post are determined by the laws, regulations and usages of the sending State and of the receiving State respectively. ...


ARTICLE-17: PERFORMANCE OF DIPLOMATIC ACTS BY CONSULAR OFFICERS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 2. A consular officer may, after notification addressed to the receiving State, act as representative of the sending State to any inter-governmental organization. When so acting, he shall be entitled to enjoy any privileges and immunities accorded to such a representative by customary international law or by international agreements; however, in respect of the performance by him of any consular function, he shall not be entitled to any greater immunity from jurisdiction than that to which a consular officer is entitled under the present Convention. ...


ARTICLE-19: APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS OF CONSULAR STAFF     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 3. The sending State may, if required by its laws and regulations, request the receiving State to grant an exequatur to a consular officer other than the head of a consular post. ...
... 4. The receiving State may, if required by its laws and regulations, grant an exequatur to a consular officer other than the head of a consular post. ...


ARTICLE-29: USE OF NATIONAL FLAG AND COAT-OF-ARMS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 3. In the exercise of the right accorded by this Article regard shall be had to the laws, regulations and usages of the receiving State. ...


ARTICLE-30: ACCOMMODATION     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 1. The receiving State shall either facilitate the acquisition on its territory, in accordance with its laws and regulations, by the sending State of premises necessary for its consular post or assist the latter in obtaining accommodation in some other way. ...


ARTICLE-32: EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION OF CONSULAR PREMISES     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 2. The exemption from taxation referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall not apply to such dues and taxes if, under the law of the receiving State, they are payable by the person who contracted with the sending State or with the person acting on its behalf. ...


ARTICLE-34: FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT     [go to this ARTICLE]
... Subject to its laws and regulations concerning zones entry into which is prohibited or regulated for reasons of national security, the receiving State shall ensure freedom of movement and travel in its territory to all members of the consular post. ...


ARTICLE-36: COMMUNICATION AND CONTACT WITH NATIONALS OF THE SENDING STATE     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 2. The rights referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be exercised in conformity with the laws and regulations of the receiving State, subject to the proviso, however, that the said laws and regulations must enable full effect to be given to the purposes for which the rights accorded under this Article are intended. ...
... 2. The rights referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be exercised in conformity with the laws and regulations of the receiving State, subject to the proviso, however, that the said laws and regulations must enable full effect to be given to the purposes for which the rights accorded under this Article are intended. ...


ARTICLE-37: INFORMATION IN CASES OF DEATHS, GUARDIANSHIP OR TRUSTEESHIP, WRECKS AND AIR ACCIDENTS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... (b) to inform the competent consular post without delay of any case where the appointment of a guardian or trustee appears to be in the interests of a minor or other person lacking full capacity who is a national of the sending State. The giving of this information shall, however, be without prejudice to the operation of the laws and regulations of the receiving State concerning such appointments; ...


ARTICLE-38: COMMUNICATION WITH THE AUTHORITIES OF THE RECEIVING STATE     [go to this ARTICLE]
... (b) the competent central authorities of the receiving State if and to the extent that this is allowed by the laws, regulations and usages of the receiving State or by the relevant international agreements. ...


ARTICLE-39: CONSULAR FEES AND CHARGES     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 1. The consular post may levy in the territory of the receiving State the fees and charges provided by the laws and regulations of the sending State for consular acts. ...


ARTICLE-44: LIABILITY TO GIVE EVIDENCE     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 3. Members of a consular post are under no obligation to give evidence concerning matters connected with the exercise of their functions or to produce official correspondence and documents relating thereto. They are also entitled to decline to give evidence as expert witnesses with regard to the law of the sending State. ...


ARTICLE-46: EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION OF ALIENS AND RESIDENCE PERMITS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 1. Consular officers and consular employees and members of their families forming part of their households shall be exempt from all obligations under the laws and regulations of the receiving State in regard to the registration of aliens and residence permits. ...


ARTICLE-47: EXEMPTION FROM WORK PERMITS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 1. Members of the consular post shall, with respect to services rendered for the sending State, be exempt from any obligations in regard to work permits imposed by the laws and regulations of the receiving State concerning the employment of foreign labour. ...


ARTICLE-49: EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 3. Members of the consular post who employ persons whose wages or salaries are not exempt from income tax in the receiving State shall observe the obligations which the laws and regulations of that State impose upon employers concerning the levying of income tax. ...


ARTICLE-50: EXEMPTION FROM CUSTOMS DUTIES AND INSPECTION     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 1. The receiving State shall, in accordance with such laws and regulations as it may adopt, permit entry of and grant exemption from all customs duties, taxes, and related charges other than charges for storage, cartage and similar services, on: ...
... 3. Personal baggage accompanying consular officers and members of their families forming part of their households shall be exempt from inspection. It may be inspected only if there is serious reason to believe that it contains articles other than those referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 of this Article, or articles the import or export of which is prohibited by the laws and regulations of the receiving State or which are subject to its quarantine laws and regulations. Such inspection shall be carried out in the presence of the consular officer or member of his family concerned. ...
... 3. Personal baggage accompanying consular officers and members of their families forming part of their households shall be exempt from inspection. It may be inspected only if there is serious reason to believe that it contains articles other than those referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 of this Article, or articles the import or export of which is prohibited by the laws and regulations of the receiving State or which are subject to its quarantine laws and regulations. Such inspection shall be carried out in the presence of the consular officer or member of his family concerned. ...


ARTICLE-55: RESPECT FOR THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE RECEIVING STATE     [go to this ARTICLE]
... RESPECT FOR THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE RECEIVING STATE ...
... 1. Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State. ...


ARTICLE-56: INSURANCE AGAINST THIRD PARTY RISKS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... Members of the consular post shall comply with any requirement imposed by the laws and regulations of the receiving State in respect of insurance against third party risks arising from the use of any vehicle, vessel or aircraft. ...


ARTICLE-60: EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION OF CONSULAR PREMISES     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 2. The exemption from taxation referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall not apply to such dues and taxes if, under the laws and regulations of the receiving State, they are payable by the person who contracted with the sending State. ...


ARTICLE-62: EXEMPTION FROM CUSTOMS DUTIES     [go to this ARTICLE]
... The receiving State shall, in accordance with such laws and regulations as it may adopt, permit entry of, and grant exemption from all customs duties, taxes, and related charges other than charges for storage, cartage and similar services on the following articles, provided that they are for the official use of a consular post headed by an honorary consular officer: coats-of-arms, flags, signboards, seals and stamps, books, official printed matter, office furniture, office equipment and similar articles supplied by or at the instance of the sending State to the consular post. ...


ARTICLE-65: EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION OF ALIENS AND RESIDENCE PERMITS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... Honorary consular officers, with the exception of those who carry on for personal profit any professional or commercial activity in the receiving State, shall be exempt from all obligations under the laws and regulations of the receiving State in regard to the registration of aliens and residence permits. ...


ARTICLE-70: EXERCISE OF CONSULAR FUNCTIONS BY DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... (b) the central authorities of the receiving State if this is allowed by the laws, regulations and usages of the receiving State or by relevant international agreements. ...
... 4. The privileges and immunities of the members of a diplomatic mission referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article shall continue to be governed by the rules of international law concerning diplomatic relations. ...