Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations The States Parties to the present Convention, Recalling that peoples of all nations

from ancient times have recognized the status of diplomatic agents, Having in mind the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations concerning the sovereign equality of States, the maintenance of international peace and security, and the promotion of friendly relations among nations, Believing that an international convention on diplomatic intercourse, privileges and immunities would contri ute to the development of friendly relations among nations, irrespective of their differing constitutional and social systems, Realizing that the purpose of such privileges and immunities is not to enefit individuals ut to ensure the efficient performance of the functions of diplomatic missions as representing States, Affirming that the rules of customary international law should continue to govern questions not e!pressly regulated y the provisions of the present Convention, Have agreed as follows" #rticle $ %or the purpose of the present Convention, the following e!pressions shall have the meanings hereunder assigned to them" $& the 'head of the mission' is the person charged y the sending State with the duty of acting in that capacity( )& the 'mem ers of the mission' are the head of the mission and the mem ers of the staff of the mission( *& the 'mem ers of the staff of the mission' are the mem ers of the diplomatic staff, of the administrative and technical staff and of the service staff of the mission( +& the 'mem ers of the diplomatic staff' are the mem ers of the staff of the mission having diplomatic ran,( -& a 'diplomatic agent' is the head of the mission or a mem er of the diplomatic staff of the mission( .& the 'mem ers of the administrative and technical staff' are the mem ers of the staff of the mission employed in the administrative and technical service of the mission( /& the 'mem ers of the service staff' are the mem ers of the staff of the mission in the domestic service of the mission(

0& a 'private servant' is a person who is in the domestic service of a mem er of the mission and who is not an employee of the sending State( 1& the 'premises of the mission' are the uildings or parts of uildings and the land ancillary thereto, irrespective of ownership, used for the purposes of the mission including the residence of the head of the mission& #rticle ) 2he esta lishment of diplomatic relations etween States, and of permanent diplomatic missions, ta,es place y mutual consent& #rticle * $& 2he functions of a diplomatic mission consist inter alia in" $& representing the sending State in the receiving State( )& protecting in the receiving State the interests of the sending State and of its nationals, within the limits permitted y international law( *& negotiating with the 3overnment of the receiving State( +& ascertaining y all lawful means conditions and developments in the receiving State, and reporting thereon to the 3overnment of the sending State( -& promoting friendly relations etween the sending State and the receiving State, and developing their economic, cultural and scientific relations& )& Nothing in the present Convention shall e construed as preventing the performance of consular functions y a diplomatic mission& #rticle + $& 2he sending State must ma,e certain that the agr4ment of the receiving State has een given for the person it proposes to accredit as head of the mission to that State& )& 2he receiving State is not o liged to give reasons to the sending State for a refusal of agr4ment& #rticle $& 2he sending State may, after it has given due notification to the receiving States concerned, accredit a head of mission or assign any mem er of the diplomatic staff, as the case may e, to more than one State, unless there is e!press o 5ection y any of the receiving States& )& 6f the sending State accredits a head of mission to one or more other States it may esta lish a diplomatic mission headed y a charge d7affaires ad interim in each State where the head of mission has not his permanent seat&

*& # head of mission or any mem er of the diplomatic staff of the mission may act as representative of the sending State to any international organization& #rticle . 2wo or more States may accredit the same person as head of mission to another State, unless o 5ection is offered y the receiving State& #rticle / Su 5ect to the provisions of #rticles -, 0, 1 and $$, the sending State may freely appoint the mem ers of the staff of the mission& 6n the case of military, naval or air attaches, the receiving State may require their names to e su mitted eforehand, for its approval& #rticle 0 $& 8em ers of the diplomatic staff of the mission should in principle e of the nationality of the sending State& )& 8em ers of the diplomatic staff of the mission may not e appointed from among persons having the nationality of the receiving State, e!cept with the consent of that State which may e withdrawn at any time& *& 2he receiving State may reserve the same right with regard to nationals of a third State who are not also nationals of the sending State& #rticle 1 $& 2he receiving State may at any time and without having to e!plain its decision, notify the sending State that the head of the mission or any mem er of the diplomatic staff of the mission is persona non grata or that any other mem er of the staff of the mission is not accepta le& 6n any such case, the sending State shall, as appropriate, either recall the person concerned or terminate his functions with the mission& # person may e declared non grata or not accepta le efore arriving in the territory of the receiving State& )& 6f the sending State refuses or fails within a reasona le period to carry out its o ligations under paragraph $ of this #rticle, the receiving State may refuse to recognize the person concerned as a mem er of the mission& #rticle $9 $& 2he 8inistry for %oreign #ffairs of the receiving State, or such other ministry as may e agreed, shall e notified of" $& the appointment of mem ers of the mission, their arrival and their final departure or the termination of their functions with the mission( )& the arrival and final departure of a person elonging to the family of a mem er of the mission and, where appropriate, the fact that a person ecomes or ceases to e a mem er of the family of a mem er of the mission(

*& the arrival and final departure of private servants in the employ of persons referred to in su :paragraph ;a< of this paragraph and, where appropriate, the fact that they are leaving the employ of such persons( +& the engagement and discharge of persons resident in the receiving State as mem ers of the mission or private servants entitled to privileges and immunities& )& =here possi le, prior notification of arrival and final departure shall also e given& #rticle $$ $& 6n the a sence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission e ,ept within limits considered y it to e reasona le and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission& )& 2he receiving State may equally, within similar ounds and on a nondiscriminatory asis, refuse to accept officials of a particular category& #rticle $) 2he sending State may not, without the prior e!press consent of the receiving State, esta lish offices forming part of the mission in localities other than those in which the mission itself is esta lished& #rticle $* $& 2he head of the mission is considered as having ta,en up his functions in the receiving State either when he has presented his credentials or when he has notified his arrival and a true copy of his credentials has een presented to the 8inistry for %oreign #ffairs of the receiving State, or such other ministry as may e agreed, in accordance with the practice prevailing in the receiving State which shall e applied in a uniform manner& )& 2he order of presentation of credentials or of a true copy thereof will e determined y the date and time of the arrival of the head of the mission& #rticle $+ $& >eads of mission are divided into three classes, namely" $& that of am assadors or nuncios accredited to >eads of State, and other heads of mission of equivalent ran,( )& that of envoys, ministers and internuncios accredited to >eads of State( *& that of charges d7affaires accredited to 8inisters for %oreign #ffairs& )& ?!cept as concerns precedence and etiquette, there shall e no differentiation etween heads of mission y reason of their class& #rticle $-

2he class to which the heads of their missions are to e assigned shall e agreed etween States& #rticle $.
1. >eads of mission shall ta,e precedence in their respective classes in the order of the date

and time of ta,ing up their functions in accordance with #rticle $*& )& #lterations in the credentials of a head of mission not involving any change of class shall not affect his precedence& *& 2his article is without pre5udice to any practice accepted y the receiving State regarding the precedence of the representative of the >oly See& #rticle $/ 2he precedence of the mem ers of the diplomatic staff of the mission shall e notified y the head of the mission to the 8inistry for %oreign #ffairs or such other ministry as may e agreed& #rticle $0 2he procedure to e o served in each State for the reception of heads of mission shall e uniform in respect of each class& #rticle $1 $& 6f the post of head of the mission is vacant, or if the head of the mission is una le to perform his functions, a charge d7affaires ad interim shall act provisionally as head of the mission& 2he name of the charge d7affaires ad interim shall e notified, either y the head of the mission or, in case he is una le to do so, y the 8inistry for %oreign #ffairs of the sending State to the 8inistry for %oreign #ffairs of the receiving State or such other ministry as may e agreed& )& 6n cases where no mem er of the diplomatic staff of the mission is present in the receiving State, a mem er of the administrative and technical staff may, with the consent of the receiving State, e designated y the sending State to e in charge of the current administrative affairs of the mission& #rticle )9 2he mission and its head shall have the right to use the flag and em lem of the sending State on the premises of the mission, including the residence of the head of the mission, and on his means of transport& #rticle )$ $& 2he receiving State shall either facilitate the acquisition on its territory, in accordance with its laws, y the sending State of premises necessary for its mission or assist the latter in o taining accommodation in some other way&

)& 6t shall also, where necessary, assist missions in o taining suita le accommodation for their mem ers& #rticle )) $& 2he premises of the mission shall e inviola le& 2he agents of the receiving State may not enter them, e!cept with the consent of the head of the mission& )& 2he receiving State is under a special duty to ta,e all appropriate steps to protect the premises of the mission against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any distur ance of the peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity& *& 2he premises of the mission, their furnishings and other property thereon and the means of transport of the mission shall e immune from search, requisition, attachment or e!ecution& #rticle )* $& 2he sending State and the head of the mission shall e e!empt from all national, regional or municipal dues and ta!es in respect of the premises of the mission, whether owned or leased, other than such as represent payment for specific services rendered& )& 2he e!emption from ta!ation referred to in this #rticle shall not apply to such dues and ta!es paya le under the law of the receiving State y persons contracting with the sending State or the head of the mission& #rticle )+ 2he archives and documents of the mission shall e inviola le at any time and wherever they may e& #rticle )2he receiving State shall accord full facilities for the performance of the functions of the mission& #rticle ). Su 5ect to its laws and regulations concerning zones entry into which is prohi ited or regulated for reasons of national security, the receiving State shall ensure to all mem ers of the mission freedom of movement and travel in its territory& #rticle )/ $& 2he receiving State shall permit and protect free communication on the part of the mission for all official purposes& 6n communicating with the 3overnment and the other missions and consulates of the sending State, wherever situated, the mission may employ all appropriate means, including diplomatic couriers and messages in code or cipher&

>owever, the mission may install and use a wireless transmitter only with the consent of the receiving State& )& 2he official correspondence of the mission shall e inviola le& @fficial correspondence means all correspondence relating to the mission and its functions& *& 2he diplomatic ag shall not e opened or detained& +& 2he pac,ages constituting the diplomatic ag must ear visi le e!ternal mar,s of their character and may contain only diplomatic documents or articles intended for official use& -& 2he diplomatic courier, who shall e provided with an official document indicating his status and the num er of pac,ages constituting the diplomatic ag, shall e protected y the receiving State in the performance of his functions& >e shall en5oy personal inviola ility and shall not e lia le to any form of arrest or detention& .& 2he sending State or the mission may designate diplomatic couriers ad hoc& 6n such cases the provisions of paragraph - of this #rticle shall also apply, e!cept that the immunities therein mentioned shall cease to apply when such a courier has delivered to the consignee the diplomatic ag in his charge& /& # diplomatic ag may e entrusted to the captain of a commercial aircraft scheduled to land at an authorized port of entry& >e shall e provided with an official document indicating the num er of pac,ages constituting the ag ut he shall not e considered to e a diplomatic courier& 2he mission may send one of its mem ers to ta,e possession of the diplomatic ag directly and freely from the captain of the aircraft& #rticle )0 2he fees and charges levied y the mission in the course of its official duties shall e e!empt from all dues and ta!es& #rticle )1 2he person of a diplomatic agent shall e inviola le& >e shall not e lia le to any form of arrest or detention& 2he receiving State shall treat him with due respect and shall ta,e all appropriate steps to prevent any attac, on his person, freedom or dignity& #rticle *9 $& 2he private residence of a diplomatic agent shall en5oy the same inviola ility and protection as the premises of the mission& 2. >is papers, correspondence and, e!cept as provided in paragraph * of #rticle *$, his property, shall li,ewise en5oy inviola ility #rticle *$

$& # diplomatic agent shall en5oy immunity from the criminal 5urisdiction of the receiving State& >e shall also en5oy immunity from its civil and administrative 5urisdiction, e!cept in the case of" $& a real action relating to private immova le property situated in the territory of the receiving State, unless he holds it on ehalf of the sending State for the purposes of the mission( )& an action relating to succession in which the diplomatic agent is involved as e!ecutor, administrator, heir or legatee as a private person and not on ehalf of the sending State( *& an action relating to any professional or commercial activity e!ercised y the diplomatic agent in the receiving State outside his official functions& )& # diplomatic agent is not o liged to give evidence as a witness& *& No measures of e!ecution may e ta,en in respect of a diplomatic agent e!cept in the cases coming under su :paragraphs ;a<, ; < and ;c< of paragraph $ of this #rticle, and provided that the measures concerned can e ta,en without infringing the inviola ility of his person or of his residence& +& 2he immunity of a diplomatic agent from the 5urisdiction of the receiving State does not e!empt him from the 5urisdiction of the sending State& #rticle *)
1. 2he immunity from 5urisdiction of diplomatic agents and of persons en5oying immunity

under #rticle */ may e waived y the sending State& )& =aiver must always e e!press&
3. 2he initiation of proceedings y a diplomatic agent or y a person en5oying immunity

from 5urisdiction under #rticle */ shall preclude him from invo,ing immunity from 5urisdiction in respect of any counter:claim directly connected with the principal claim& +& =aiver of immunity from 5urisdiction in respect of civil or administrative proceedings shall not e held to imply waiver of immunity in respect of the e!ecution of the 5udgment, for which a separate waiver shall e necessary& #rticle ** $& Su 5ect to the provisions of paragraph * of this #rticle, a diplomatic agent shall with respect to services rendered for the sending State e e!empt from social security provisions which may e in force in the receiving State& )& 2he e!emption provided for in paragraph $ of this #rticle shall also apply to private servants who are in the sole employ of a diplomatic agent, on condition" $& that they are not nationals of or permanently resident in the receiving State( and

)& that they are covered y the social security provisions which may e in force in the sending State or a third State& *& # diplomatic agent who employs persons to whom the e!emption provided for in paragraph ) of this #rticle does not apply shall o serve the o ligations which the social security provisions of the receiving State impose upon employers& +& 2he e!emption provided for in paragraphs $ and ) of this #rticle shall not preclude voluntary participation in the social security system of the receiving State provided that such participation is permitted y that State& -& 2he provisions of this #rticle shall not affect ilateral or multilateral agreements concerning social security concluded previously and shall not prevent the conclusion of such agreements in the future& #rticle *+ # diplomatic agent shall e e!empt from all dues and ta!es, personal or real, national, regional or municipal, e!cept" $& indirect ta!es of a ,ind which are normally incorporated in the price of goods or services( )& dues and ta!es on private immova le property situated in the territory of the receiving State, unless he holds it on ehalf of the sending State for the purposes of the mission(
3. estate, succession or inheritance duties levied y the receiving State, su 5ect to the

provisions of paragraph + of #rticle *1( +& dues and ta!es on private income having its source in the receiving State and capital ta!es on investments made in commercial underta,ings in the receiving State( -& charges levied for specific services rendered(
6. registration, court or record fees, mortgage dues and stamp duty, with respect to

immova le property, su 5ect to the provisions of #rticle )*& #rticle *2he receiving State shall e!empt diplomatic agents from all personal services, from all pu lic service of any ,ind whatsoever, and from military o ligations such as those connected with requisitioning, military contri utions and illeting& #rticle *.

$& 2he receiving State shall, in accordance with such laws and regulations as it may adopt, permit entry of and grant e!emption from all customs duties, ta!es, and related charges other than charges for storage, cartage and similar services, on" $& articles for the official use of the mission( )& articles for the personal use of a diplomatic agent or mem ers of his family forming part of his household, including articles intended for his esta lishment& )& 2he personal aggage of a diplomatic agent shall e e!empt from inspection, unless there are serious grounds for presuming that it contains articles not covered y the e!emptions mentioned in paragraph $ of this #rticle, or articles the import or e!port of which is prohi ited y the law or controlled y the quarantine regulations of the receiving State& Such inspection shall e conducted only in the presence of the diplomatic agent or of his authorized representative& #rticle */
1. 2he mem ers of the family of a diplomatic agent forming part of his household shall, if

they are not nationals of the receiving State, en5oy the privileges and immunities specified in #rticles )1 to *.& 2. 8em ers of the administrative and technical staff of the mission, together with mem ers of their families forming part of their respective households, shall, if they are not nationals of or permanently resident in the receiving State, en5oy the privileges and immunities specified in #rticles )1 to *-, e!cept that the immunity from civil and administrative 5urisdiction of the receiving State specified in paragraph $ of #rticle *$ shall not e!tend to acts performed outside the course of their duties& 2hey shall also en5oy the privileges specified in #rticle *., paragraph $, in respect of articles imported at the time of first installation&
3. 8em ers of the service staff of the mission who are not nationals of or permanently

resident in the receiving State shall en5oy immunity in respect of acts performed in the course of their duties, e!emption from dues and ta!es on the emoluments they receive y reason of their employment and the e!emption contained in #rticle **& +& Arivate servants of mem ers of the mission shall, if they are not nationals of or permanently resident in the receiving State, e e!empt from dues and ta!es on the emoluments they receive y reason of their employment& 6n other respects, they may en5oy privileges and immunities only to the e!tent admitted y the receiving State& >owever, the receiving State must e!ercise its 5urisdiction over those persons in such a manner as not to interfere unduly with the performance of the functions of the mission& #rticle *0 $& ?!cept insofar as additional privileges and immunities may e granted y the receiving State, a diplomatic agent who is a national of or permanently resident in that State shall en5oy only immunity from 5urisdiction, and inviola ility, in respect of official acts performed in the e!ercise of his functions&

)& @ther mem ers of the staff of the mission and private servants who are nationals of or permanently resident in the receiving State shall en5oy privileges and immunities only to the e!tent admitted y the receiving State& >owever, the receiving State must e!ercise its 5urisdiction over those persons in such a manner as not to interfere unduly with the performance of the functions of the mission& #rticle *1 $& ?very person entitled to privileges and immunities shall en5oy them from the moment he enters the territory of the receiving State on proceeding to ta,e up his post or, if already in its territory, from the moment when his appointment is notified to the 8inistry for %oreign #ffairs or such other ministry as may e agreed& )& =hen the functions of a person en5oying privileges and immunities have come to an end, such privileges and immunities shall normally cease at the moment when he leaves the country, or on e!piry of a reasona le period in which to do so, ut shall su sist until that time, even in case of armed conflict& >owever, with respect to acts performed y such a person in the e!ercise of his functions as a mem er of the mission, immunity shall continue to su sist& *& 6n case of the death of a mem er of the mission, the mem ers of his family shall continue to en5oy the privileges and immunities to which they are entitled until the e!piry of a reasona le period in which to leave the country& +& 6n the event of the death of a mem er of the mission not a national of or permanently resident in the receiving State or a mem er of his family forming part of his household, the receiving State shall permit the withdrawal of the mova le property of the deceased, with the e!ception of any property acquired in the country the e!port of which was prohi ited at the time of his death& ?state, succession and inheritance duties shall not e levied on mova le property the presence of which in the receiving State was due solely to the presence there of the deceased as a mem er of the mission or as a mem er of the family of a mem er of the mission& #rticle +9 $& 6f a diplomatic agent passes through or is in the territory of a third State, which has granted him a passport visa if such visa was necessary, while proceeding to ta,e up or to return to his post, or when returning to his own country, the third State shall accord him inviola ility and such other immunities as may e required to ensure his transit or return& 2he same shall apply in the case of any mem ers of his family en5oying privileges or immunities who are accompanying the diplomatic agent, or traveling separately to 5oin him or to return to their country& )& 6n circumstances similar to those specified in paragraph $ of this #rticle, third States shall not hinder the passage of mem ers of the administrative and technical or service staff of a mission, and of mem ers of their families, through their territories& *& 2hird States shall accord to official correspondence and other official communications in transit, including messages in code or cipher, the same freedom and protection as is

accorded y the receiving State& 2hey shall accord to diplomatic couriers, who have een granted a passport visa if such visa was necessary, and diplomatic ags in transit the same inviola ility and protection as the receiving State is ound to accord& +& 2he o ligations of third States under paragraphs $, ) and * of this #rticle shall also apply to the persons mentioned respectively in those paragraphs, and to official communications and diplomatic ags, whose presence in the territory of the third State is due to force ma5eure& #rticle +$ $& =ithout pre5udice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons en5oying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State& 2hey also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State& )& #ll official usiness with the receiving State entrusted to the mission y the sending State shall e conducted with or through the 8inistry for %oreign #ffairs of the receiving State or such other ministry as may e agreed& *& 2he premises of the mission must not e used in any manner incompati le with the functions of the mission as laid down in the present Convention or y other rules of general international law or y any special agreements in force etween the sending and the receiving State& #rticle +) # diplomatic agent shall not in the receiving State practice for personal profit any professional or commercial activity& #rticle +* 2he function of a diplomatic agent comes to an end, inter alia" $& on notification y the sending State to the receiving State that the function of the diplomatic agent has come to an end( 2. on notification y the receiving State to the sending State that, in accordance with paragraph ) of #rticle 1, it refuses to recognize the diplomatic agent as a mem er of the mission& #rticle ++ 2he receiving State must, even in case of armed conflict, grant facilities in order to ena le persons en5oying privileges and immunities, other than nationals of the receiving State, and mem ers of the families of such persons irrespective of their nationality, to leave at the earliest possi le moment& 6t must, in particular, in case of need, place at their disposal the necessary means of transport for themselves and their property& #rticle +-

6f diplomatic relations are ro,en off etween two States, or if a mission is permanently or temporarily recalled" $& the receiving State must, even in case of armed conflict, respect and protect the premises of the mission, together with its property and archives( )& the sending State may entrust the custody of the premises of the mission, together with its property and archives, to a third State accepta le to the receiving State( *& the sending State may entrust the protection of its interests and those of its nationals to a third State accepta le to the receiving State& #rticle +. # sending State may with the prior consent of a receiving State, and at the request of a third State not represented in the receiving State, underta,e the temporary protection of the interests of the third State and of its nationals& #rticle +/ $& 6n the application of the provisions of the present Convention, the receiving State shall not discriminate as etween States& )& >owever, discrimination shall not e regarded as ta,ing place" $& where the receiving State applies any of the provisions of the present Convention restrictively ecause of a restrictive application of that provision to its mission in the sending State( )& where y custom or agreement States e!tend to each other more favora le treatment than is required y the provisions of the present Convention& #rticle +0 2he present Convention shall e open for signature y all States 8em ers of the United Nations or of any of the specialized agencies or Aarties to the Statute of the 6nternational Court of Bustice, and y any other State invited y the 3eneral #ssem ly of the United Nations to ecome a Aarty to the Convention, as follows" until *$ @cto er $1.$ at the %ederal 8inistry for %oreign #ffairs of #ustria and su sequently, until *$ 8arch $1.), at the United Nations >eadquarters in New Cor,& #rticle +1 2he present Convention is su 5ect to ratification& 2he instruments of ratification shall e deposited with the Secretary:3eneral of the United Nations& #rticle -9

2he present Convention shall remain open for accession y any State elonging to any of the four categories mentioned in #rticle +0& 2he instruments of accession shall e deposited with the Secretary:3eneral of the United Nations& #rticle -$ $& 2he present Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of the twenty:second instrument of ratification or accession with the Secretary: 3eneral of the United Nations& )& %or each State ratifying or acceding to the Convention after the deposit of the twenty: second instrument of ratification or accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after deposit y such State of its instrument of ratification or accession& #rticle -) 2he Secretary:3eneral of the United Nations shall inform all States elonging to any of the four categories mentioned in #rticle +0"
1. of signatures to the present Convention and of the deposit of instruments of

ratification or accession, in accordance with #rticles +0, +1 and -9( 2. of the date on which the present Convention will enter into force, in accordance with #rticle -$& #rticle -* 2he original of the present Convention, of which the Chinese, ?nglish, %rench, Russian and Spanish te!ts are equally authentic, shall e deposited with the Secretary:3eneral of the United Nations, who shall send certified copies thereof to all States elonging to any of the four categories mentioned in #rticle +0& 6N =62N?SS =>?R?@% the undersigned Alenipotentiaries, eing duly authorized thereto y their respective 3overnments, have signed the present Convention& D@N? at Vienna, this eighteenth day of #pril one thousand nine hundred and si!ty:one&