Status of Honorary Consuls
The status of Honorary Consuls in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Consular Relations Act 1968 giving effect to Articles 58-68 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR) of 24 April 1963.
Honorary Consuls are entitled to membership of the Consular corps of London and Edinburgh on the same basis as career Consuls.
Diplomatic and Consular privileges and immunities
Honorary Consuls, whether British nationals or permanent residents, only enjoy immunity for acts performed in the course of their official consular duties. They are issued with official identity cards by Protocol Directorate but, except as set out below, are not entitled to diplomatic or consular privileges and immunities. They are also not entitled to diplomatic passports, diplomatic number plates, or the purchase of duty free vehicles.
Under Article 62 of the VCCR, Honorary Consuls are entitled to exemptions of customs duties, taxes and related charges of certain articles, provided that they are for the official use of an Honorary Consular Post. These articles are: “coats-of-arms, flags, signboards, seals and stamps, books, official printed matter, office furniture, office equipment and other similar articles supplied by or at the instance of the sending State to the consular post.” This does not include cartage, storage and other similar services on these articles.
Performing official duties
An Honorary Consul has the same right as a consular officer to visit a national of the sending State who is in prison, custody or detention, to converse and correspond with him and to arrange for his legal representation.
An Honorary Consul may fly the flag of the sending State on the building occupied by the consular post, and on his means of transport when used on official business only.
An Honorary Consul is able to perform social and economic work in an official capacity in the same way as a career consular officer.
If the sending State’s only representation in the UK is an Honorary Consul, then he may be involved in the official and working visits of the sending State’s delegations in the same way as a career consul.
The premises of an Honorary Consulate may qualify for National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) if it is used solely for consular purposes. The local Council must be notified and confirmation must be obtained certifying the consular use and status of the property.