What is the difference between the embassy and the conselate?

Curious1usa

An embassy is a permanent diplomatic mission in a foreign country, usually in the capital city; the head of the mission is known as an ambassador.

A consulate is similar to an embassy, but generally more limited in its size, status and scope of work; the head of the consulate is known as a consul general.

A country may choose to put an embassy and one or more consulates in a foreign country. In that case, the consul general(s) report(s) to the ambassador.

NOTE: Within both embassies and consulates, there is generally a special consular section, which deals with visas and American citizen issues.

LogsemÃ¡n

An Embassy is the highest representation that a country can have in the soil of another one. A consulate is more suitable if the presence of that country is limited to a definite region. However, you can have an embassy and multiple consulates in the same country.

ridingdragon

It is actually consulate. Within the US, they are locations throughout the country that have representatives of other countries. There are more that one location within the US, based in different regions. Just as an example, there is a Swiss consulate in Chicago as well as other cities. An embassy is one location within a country. Consulate deal with individuals and business while an embassy has more of a government focus.

Vijay S

Embassy is a full fledged representation of country, in another. Consulate, is representation for particular thing like 'Trade Consulate.

ashutosh s

Embassy is where the Ambassador of a particular country, who embassy that is, has his office along with other staff and consulars.
Consulate is essentially an extention of the embassy works but without the Ambassador, and other senior staff.
Also the Immigrant visas are granted by Embassy while Consulate grants non immigrant visas like work, student, temporary visas etc
Since you cant have your Ambassador sitting in every corner of a big country where that Ambassador wants to represent, they open th consulates to help offload the rush on the Embassy and to act as a load balance for the Embassy.

Dewhitewolf

An embassy is strictly government to government business. It is that foreign government's representation to the host government. Most embassies have a consular section within. Here in the US, the foreign embassies are located in Washington, DC.

A consulate is foreign government to private affairs business. This is whom you would contact about visa information, immigration, doing business in (the foreign government's nation), or any other situation that involves private citizens or business entities. Consulates are located throughout the country, and each one is responsible for a specific region, with regard to affairs mentioned above.

_______-------_______

Emabassies are always located in the capital of any country. For example, the embassies of several countries are located in Washington D.C. whereas there are several consulates located throughout the country, usually where that particular country has more of its citizens living. The same holds true for American embassies which are only one per country and always located in that country capital. As for the roles, the emabassy usually deals directly with the foreign government and consulates deal with issuing visas and other more "citizen oriented" affairs. Consulates are always subordinated to the embassy.

captmhunt

An Embassy is the official office of the Ambassador and is the center of diplomatic activities. The Consulate is the 'work office' so to speak. It's where the day to day details, such as issuing passports or helping Americans who have a problem, is handled.

Many times they share the same building and, at the least, they usually share the same compound.

BTW... you DO know that, if you are in a foreign country and need help you NEVER go to the American Consulate.. you go to the British Consulate because they still believe in SERVICE. Also, the crowds of protestors are usually smaller in front of the British Consulate and Embassy.

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