Embassies and consulates

The embassy is a diplomatic representation. Its ambassador is the representative in residence by one government or sovereign to another and is in charge of the bilateral relations from one State to another. On the other hand, the consulate has an administrative role. Its role is to defend the people and their interests in respect to the local legislation and public order. The consul's role is therefore to administrate the community under his circumscription, as a mayor would do for his commune. In the case of a lost or stolen passport, the traveller should report the incident to the local police station, and then report to your consulate in order to obtain new documents which will enable you to leave the country. The role of the consul is to protect its nationals from any form of abuse, exaction or discrimination. The consulate will intervene in their favour by contacting the local authorities, in the case of incarceration (the choice of a lawyer are at the cost of the expatriate), in the case of illness (recommended doctors) and of serious accident. In this particular case, the consulate can inform the family and the Foreign Affairs department and together envisage the measures to be taken: hospitalisation, repatriation. In the case of a deceased, the consulate will contact the family in order to proceed, if the family wishes so, with the legal formalities concerning the repatriation of the body. One must know that: the consul will not repatriate an expatriate at the expense of the State, except in the case of a serious situation and subject to future repayment; it does not pay hotel bills; if an expatriate has financial problems, he may receive money from the consul if someone has pronounced themselves as his guarantor at the Foreign Affairs in his home country. In the case of a person travelling to an isolated or a politically unstable region, it is advised to inform the local embassy of your whereabouts. The embassy will offer shelter if the local political situation is critical and can proceed to evacuation if decided so by the government. In many countries, there are no consulates, but consulate services attached to and within the embassy. Certain embassies will offer information on the visited country or somwhere to find national newspapers.