Consular officer

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A consular officer is an official (mostly a diplomat ) who is responsible for the perception, implementation and organization of administrative and economic contacts between the sending state and the receiving state.

He does not have the position of a (political) envoy , but is an intergovernmental representative below the level of government. As a rule, he deals with individual issues relating to trade, the economy, transport and, last but not least, establishing contact and protecting the interests of individual citizens of the home country, as well as issues relating to travel permits ( visa issues ). He can also be involved in the implementation of international mutual legal assistance , for example in the delivery of official documents from one state to another.

A distinction must be made between the consular officer of the embassy (head of the consular section) and any professional or honorary consuls in the receiving state.

status

In some countries, such as Switzerland, the consular service and the diplomatic service represent separate careers. The legal status differs accordingly.

The tasks and powers of the German consular officers are regulated in the Consular Act. A distinction is made between professional consular officers ( § 18 KonsG) and honorary consular officers ( § 20 KonsG).

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