VIENNA CONVENTION ON CONSULAR RELATIONS
AND OPTIONAL PROTOCOLS

U.N.T.S. Nos. 8638-8640, vol. 596, pp. 262-512
 

DONE AT VIENNA, ON 24 APRIL 1963
 

The States Parties to the present Convention,
 

Recalling that consular relations have been established between peoples

since ancient times,
 

Having in mind the Purposes and Principles of the Charter of the United

Nation concerning the sovereign equality of States, the maintenance of

international peace and security, and the promotion of friendly relations

among nations,
 

Considering that the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse

and Immunities adopted the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which

was opened for signature on 18 April 1961,
 

Believing that an international convention on consular relations,

privileges and immunities would also contribute 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

benefit individuals but to ensure the efficient performance of functions by

consular posts on behalf of their respective States,
 

Affirming that the rules of customary international law continue to govern

matters not expressly regulated by the provisions of the present

Convention,
 

Have agreed as follows:
 

Article 1
 

DEFINITIONS
 

1. For the purposes of the present Convention, the following expressions

shall have the meanings hereunder assigned to them:
 

(a) "consular post" means any consulate-general, consulate,

vice-consulate or consular agency;

(b) "consular district" means the area assigned to a consular post for

the exercise of consular functions;

(c) "head of consular post" means the person charged with the duty of

acting in that capacity;

(d) "consular officer" means any person, including the head of a consular

post, entrusted in that capacity with the exercise of consular

functions;

(e) "consular employee" means any person employed in the administrative

or technical service of a consular post;

(f) "member of the service staff" means any person employed in the

domestic service of a consular post;

(g) "members of the consular post" means consular officers, consular

employees and members of the service staff;

(h) "members of the consular staff" means consular officers, other than

the head of a consular post, consular employees and members of the

service staff;

(i) "member of the private staff" means a person who is employed

exclusively in the private service of a member of the consular post;
 

(j) "consular premises" means the buildings or parts of buildings and the

land ancillary thereto, irrespective of ownership, used exclusively

for the purposes of the consular post;

(k) "consular archives" includes all the papers, documents,

correspondence, books, films, tapes and registers of the consular

post, together with the ciphers and codes, the card-indexes and any

article of furniture intended for their protection or safekeeping.
 

2. Consular officers are of two categories, namely career consular officers

and honorary consular officers. The provisions of Chapter II of the present

Convention apply to consular posts headed by career consular officers; the

provisions of Chapter III govern consular posts headed by honorary consular

officers.
 

3. The particular status of members of the consular posts who are nationals

or permanent residents of the receiving State is governed by Article 71 of

the present Convention.
 

CHAPTER I
 

CONSULAR RELATIONS IN GENERAL
 

Section I
 

ESTABLISHMENT AND CONDUCT OF CONSULAR RELATIONS
 

Article 2

ESTABLISHMENT OF CONSULAR RELATIONS
 

1. The establishment of consular relations between States takes place by

mutual consent.
 

2. The consent given to the establishment of diplomatic relations between

two States implies, unless otherwise stated, consent to the establishment

of consular relations.
 

3. The severance of diplomatic relations shall not ipso facto involve the

severance of consular relations.
 

Article 3

EXERCISE OF CONSULAR FUNCTIONS
 

Consular functions are exercised by consular posts. They are also exercised

by diplomatic missions in accordance with the provisions of the present

Convention.
 

Article 4

ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONSULAR POST
 

1. A consular post may be established in the territory of the receiving

State only with that State's consent.
 

2. The seat of the consular post, its classification and the consular

district shall be established by the sending State and shall be subject to

the approval of the receiving State.
 

3. Subsequent changes in the seat of the consular post, its classification

or the consular district may be made by the sending State only with the

consent of the receiving State.
 

4. The consent of the receiving State shall also be required if a

consulate-general or a consulate desires to open a vice-consulate or a

consular agency in a locality other than that in which it is itself

established.
 

5. The prior express consent of the receiving State shall also be required

for the opening of an office forming part of an existing consular post

elsewhere than at the seat thereof.
 

Article 5

CONSULAR FUNCTIONS
 

Consular functions consist in:
 

(a) protecting in the receiving State the interests of the sending State

and of its nationals, both individuals and bodies corporate, within

the limits permitted by international law;

(b) furthering the development of commercial, economic, cultural and

scientific relations between the sending State and the receiving

State and otherwise promoting friendly relations between them in

accordance with the provisions of the present Convention;

(c) ascertaining by all lawful means conditions and developments in the

commercial, economic, cultural and scientific life of the receiving

State, reporting thereon to the Government of the sending State and

giving information to persons interested;

(d) issuing passports and travel documents to nationals of the sending

State, and visas or appropriate documents to persons wishing to

travel to the sending State;

(e) helping and assisting nationals, both individuals and bodies

corporate, of the sending State;

(f) acting as notary and civil registrar and in capacities of a similar

kind, and performing certain functions of an administrative nature,

provided that there is nothing contrary thereto in the laws and

regulations of the receiving State;

(g) safeguarding the interests of nationals, both individuals and bodies

corporate, of the sending State in cases of succession mortis causa

in the territory of the receiving State, in accordance with the laws

and regulations of the receiving State;

(h) safeguarding, within the limits imposed by the laws and regulations

of the receiving State, the interests of minors and other persons

lacking full capacity who are nationals of the sending State,

particularly where any guardianship or trusteeship is required with

respect to such persons;

(i) subject to the practices and procedures obtaining in the receiving

State, representing or arranging appropriate representation for

nationals of the sending State before the tribunals and other

authorities of the receiving State, for the purpose of obtaining, in

accordance with the laws and regulations of the receiving State,

provisional measures for the preservation of the rights and interests

of these nationals, where, because of absence or any other reason,

such nationals are unable at the proper time to assume the defence of

their rights and interests;

(j) transmitting judicial and extrajudicial documents or executing

letters rogatory or commissions to take evidence for the courts of

the sending State in accordance with international agreements in

force or, in the absence of such international agreements, in any

other manner compatible with the laws and regulations of the

receiving State;

(k) exercising rights of supervision and inspection provided for in the

laws and regulations of the sending State in respect of vessels

having the nationality of the sending State, and of aircraft

registered in that State, and in respect of their crews;

(l) extending assistance to vessels and aircraft mentioned in

sub-paragraph (k) of this Article and to their crews, taking

statements regarding the voyage of a vessel, examining and stamping

the ship's papers, and, without prejudice to the powers of the

authorities of the receiving State, conducting investigations into

any incidents which occurred during the voyage, and settling disputes

of any kind between the master, the officers and the seamen in so far

as this may be authorized by the laws and regulations of the sending

State;

(m) performing any other functions entrusted to a consular post by the

sending State which are not prohibited by the laws and regulations of

the receiving State or to which no objection is taken by the

receiving State or which are referred to in the international

agreements in force between the sending State and the receiving

State.
 

Article 6

EXERCISE OF CONSULAR FUNCTIONS OUTSIDE THE CONSULAR DISTRICT
 

A consular officer may, in special circumstances, with the consent of the

receiving State, exercise his functions outside his consular district.
 

Article 7

EXERCISE OF CONSULAR FUNCTIONS IN A THIRD STATE
 

The sending State may, after notifying the States concerned, entrust a

consular post established in a particular State with the exercise of

consular functions in another State, unless there is express objection by

one of the States concerned.
 

Article 8

EXERCISE OF CONSULAR FUNCTIONS ON BEHALF OF A THIRD STATE
 

Upon appropriate notification to the receiving State, a consular post of

the sending State may, unless the receiving State objects, exercise

consular functions in the receiving State on behalf of a third State.
 

Article 9

CLASSES OF HEADS OF CONSULAR POSTS
 

1. Heads of consular posts are divided into four classes, namely:

(a) consuls-general;

(b) consuls;

(c) vice-consuls;

(d) consular agents.
 

2. Paragraph 1 of this Article in no way restricts the right of any of the

Contracting Parties to fix the designation of consular officers other than

the heads of consular posts.
 

Article 10

APPOINTMENT AND ADMISSION OF HEADS OF CONSULAR POSTS
 

1. Heads of consular posts are appointed by the sending State and are

admitted to the exercise of their functions by the receiving State.
 

2. Subject to the provisions of the present Convention, the formalities for

the appointment and for the admission of the head of a consular post are

determined by the laws, regulations and usages of the sending State and of

the receiving State respectively.
 

Article 11

THE CONSULAR COMMISSION OR NOTIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT
 

1. The head of a consular post shall be provided by the sending State with

a document, in the form of a commission or similar instrument, made out for

each appointment, certifying his capacity and showing, as a general rule,

his full name, his category and class, the consular district and the seat

of the consular post.
 

2. The sending State shall transmit the commission or similar instrument

through the diplomatic or other appropriate channel to the Government of

the State in whose territory the head of a consular post is to exercise his

functions.
 

3. If the receiving State agrees, the sending State may, instead of a

commission or similar instrument, send to the receiving State a

notification containing the particulars required by paragraph 1 of this

Article.
 

Article 12

THE EXEQUATUR
 

1. The head of a consular post is admitted to the exercise of his functions

by an authorization from the receiving State termed an exequatur, whatever

the form of this authorization.
 

2. A State which refuses to grant an exequatur is not obliged to give to

the sending State reasons for such refusal.
 

3. Subject to the provisions of Articles 13 and 15, the head of a consular

post shall not enter upon his duties until he has received an exequatur.
 

Article 13

PROVISIONAL ADMISSION OF HEADS OF CONSULAR POSTS
 

Pending delivery of the exequatur, the head of a consular post may be

admitted on a provisional basis to the exercise of his functions. In that

case, the provisions of the present Convention shall apply.
 

Article 14

NOTIFICATION TO THE AUTHORITIES OF THE CONSULAR DISTRICT
 

As soon as the head of a consular post is admitted even provisionally to

the exercise of his functions, the receiving State shall immediately notify

the competent authorities of the consular district. It shall also ensure

that the necessary measures are taken to enable the head of a consular post

to carry out the duties of his office and to have the benefit of the

provisions of the present Convention.
 

Article 15

TEMPORARY EXERCISE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE HEAD OF A CONSULAR POST
 

1. If the head of a consular post is unable to carry out his functions or

the position of head of consular post is vacant, an acting head of post may

act provisionally as head of the consular post.
 

2. The full name of the acting head of post shall be notified either by the

diplomatic mission of the sending State or, if that State has no such

mission in the receiving State, by the head of the consular post, or, if he

is unable to do so, by any competent authority of the sending State, to the

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the receiving State or to the authority

designated by that Ministry. As a general rule, this notification shall be

given in advance. The receiving State may make the admission as acting head

of post of a person who is neither a diplomatic agent nor a consular

officer of the sending State in the receiving State conditional on its

consent.
 

3. The competent authorities of the receiving State shall afford assistance

and protection to the acting head of post. While he is in charge of the

post, the provisions of the present Convention shall apply to him on the

same basis as to the head of the consular post concerned. The receiving

State shall not, however, be obliged to grant to an acting head of post any

facility, privilege or immunity which the head of the consular post enjoys

only subject to conditions not fulfilled by the acting head of post.
 

4. When, in the circumstances referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, a

member of the diplomatic staff of the diplomatic mission of the sending

State in the receiving State is designated by the sending State as an

acting head of post, he shall, if the receiving State does not object

thereto, continue to enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities.
 

Article 16

PRECEDENCE AS BETWEEN HEADS OF CONSULAR POSTS
 

1. Heads of consular posts shall rank in each class according to the date

of the grant of the exequatur.
 

2. If, however, the head of a consular post before obtaining the exequatur

is admitted to the exercise of his functions provisionally, his precedence

shall be determined according to the date of the provisional admission;

this precedence shall be maintained after the granting of the exequatur.
 

3. The order of precedence as between two or more heads of consular posts

who obtained the exequatur or provisional admission on the same date shall

be determined according to the dates on which their commissions or similar

instruments or the notifications referred to in paragraph 3 of Article 11

were presented to the receiving State.
 

4. Acting heads of posts shall rank after all heads of consular posts and,

as between themselves, they shall rank according to the dates on which they

assumed their functions as acting heads of posts as indicated in the

notifications given under paragraph 2 of Article 15.
 

5. Honorary consular officers who are heads of consular posts shall rank in

each class after career heads of consular posts, in the order and according

to the rules laid down in the foregoing paragraphs.
 

6. Heads of consular posts shall have precedence over consular officers not

having that status.
 

Article 17

PERFORMANCE OF DIPLOMATIC ACTS BY CONSULAR OFFICERS
 

1. In a State where the sending State has no diplomatic mission and is not

represented by a diplomatic mission of a third State, a consular officer

may, with the consent of the receiving State, and without affecting his

consular status, be authorized to perform diplomatic acts. The performance

of such acts by a consular officer shall not confer upon him any right to

claim diplomatic privileges and immunities.
 

2. A consular officer may, after notification addressed to the receiving

State, act as representative of the sending State to any inter-governmental

organization. When so acting, he shall be entitled to enjoy any privileges

and immunities accorded to such a representative by customary international

law or by international agreements; however, in respect of the performance

by him of any consular function, he shall not be entitled to any greater

immunity from jurisdiction than that to which a consular officer is

entitled under the present Convention.
 

Article 18

APPOINTMENT OF THE SAME PERSON BY TWO OR MORE STATES

AS A CONSULAR OFFICER
 

Two or more States may, with the consent of the receiving State, appoint

the same person as a consular officer in that State.
 

Article 19

APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS OF CONSULAR STAFF
 

1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 20, 22 and 23, the sending State

may freely appoint the members of the consular staff.
 

2. The full name, category and class of all consular officers, other than

the head of a consular post, shall be notified by the sending State to the

receiving State in sufficient time for the receiving State, if it so

wishes, to exercise its rights under paragraph 3 of Article 23.
 

3. The sending State may, if required by its laws and regulations, request

the receiving State to grant an exequatur to a consular officer other than

the head of a consular post.
 

4. The receiving State may, if required by its laws and regulations, grant

an exequatur to a consular officer other than the head of a consular post.
 

Article 20

SIZE OF THE CONSULAR STAFF
 

In the absence of an express agreement as to the size of the consular

staff, the receiving State may require that the size of the staff be kept

within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard

to circumstances and conditions in the consular district and to the needs

of the particular post.
 

Article 21

PRECEDENCE AS BETWEEN CONSULAR OFFICERS OF A CONSULAR POST
 

The order of precedence as between the consular officers of a consular post

and any change thereof shall be notified by the diplomatic mission of the

sending State or, if that State has no such mission in the receiving State,

by the head of the consular post, to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of

the receiving State or to the authority designated by that Ministry.
 

Article 22

NATIONALITY OF CONSULAR OFFICERS
 

1. Consular officers should, in principle, have the nationality of the

sending State.
 

2. Consular officers may not be appointed from among persons having the

nationality of the receiving State except with the express consent of that

State which may be withdrawn at any time.
 

3. The receiving State may reserve the same right with regard to nationals

of a third State who are not also nationals of the sending State.
 

Article 23

PERSONS DECLARED "NON GRATA"
 

1. The receiving State may at any time notify the sending State that a

consular officer is persona non grata or that any other member of the

consular staff is not acceptable. In that event, the sending State shall,

as the case may be, either recall the person concerned or terminate his

functions with the consular post.
 

2. If the sending State refuses or fails within a reasonable time to carry

out its obligations under paragraph 1 of this Article, the receiving State

may, as the case may be, either withdraw the exequatur from the person

concerned or cease to consider him as a member of the consular staff.
 

3. A person appointed as a member of a consular post may be declared

unacceptable before arriving in the territory of the receiving State or, if

already in the receiving State, before entering on his duties with the

consular post. In any such case, the sending State shall withdraw his

appointment.
 

4. In the cases mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 3 of this Article, the

receiving State is not obliged to give to the sending State reasons for its

decision.
 

Article 24

NOTIFICATION TO THE RECEIVING STATE OF APPOINTMENTS,

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
 

1. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the receiving State or the authority

designated by that Ministry shall be notified of:
 

(a) the appointment of members of a consular post, their arrival after

appointment to the consular post, their final departure or the

termination of their functions and any other changes affecting their

status that may occur in the course of their service with the

consular post;

(b) the arrival and final departure of a person belonging to the family

of a member of a consular post forming part of his household and,

where appropriate, the fact that a person becomes or ceases to be

such a member of the family;

(c) the arrival and final departure of members of the private staff and,

where appropriate, the termination of their service as such;

(d) the engagement and discharge of persons resident in the receiving

State as members of a consular post or as members of the private

staff entitled to privileges and immunities.
 

2. When possible, prior notification of arrival and final departure shall

also be given.
 
 

Section II
 

END OF CONSULAR FUNCTIONS
 

Article 25

TERMINATION OF THE FUNCTIONS OF A MEMBER OF A CONSULAR POST
 

The functions of a member of a consular post shall come to an end inter

alia:
 

(a) on notification by the sending State to the receiving State that his

functions have come to an end;

(b) on withdrawal of the exequatur;

(c) on notification by the receiving State to the sending State that the

receiving State has ceased to consider him as a member of the

consular staff.
 

Article 26

DEPARTURE FROM THE TERRITORY OF THE RECEIVING STATE
 

The receiving State shall, even in case of armed conflict, grant to members

of the consular post and members of the private staff, other than nationals

of the receiving State, and to members of their families forming part of

their households irrespective of nationality, the necessary time and

facilities to enable them to prepare their departure and to leave at the

earliest possible moment after the termination of the functions of the

members concerned. In particular, it shall, in case of need, place at their

disposal the necessary means of transport for themselves and their property

other than property acquired in the receiving State the export of which is

prohibited at the time of departure.
 

Article 27

PROTECTION OF CONSULAR PREMISES AND ARCHIVES AND OF THE INTERESTS OF THE

SENDING STATE IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES
 

1. In the event of the severance of consular relations between two States:
 

(a) the receiving State shall, even in case of armed conflict, respect

and protect the consular premises, together with the property of the

consular post and the consular archives;

(b) the sending State may entrust the custody of the consular premises,

together with the property contained therein and the consular

archives, to a third State acceptable to the receiving State;

(c) the sending State may entrust the protection of its interests and

those of its nationals to a third State acceptable to the receiving

State.
 

2. In the event of the temporary or permanent closure of a consular post,

the provisions of sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 1 of this Article shall

apply. In addition,
 

(a) if the sending State, although not represented in the receiving State

by a diplomatic mission, has another consular post in the territory

of that State, that consular post may be entrusted with the custody

of the premises of the consular post which has been closed, together

with the property contained therein and the consular archives, and,

with the consent of the receiving State, with the exercise of

consular functions in the district of that consular post; or

(b) if the sending State has no diplomatic mission and no other consular

post in the receiving State, the provisions of sub-paragraphs (b) and

(c) of paragraph 1 of this Article shall apply.
 
 

CHAPTER II
 

FACILITIES, PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

RELATING TO CONSULAR POSTS, CAREER CONSULAR OFFICERS

AND OTHER MEMBERS OF A CONSULAR POST
 

Section I
 

FACILITIES, PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

RELATING TO A CONSULAR POST
 

Article 28

FACILITIES FOR THE WORK OF THE CONSULAR POST
 

The receiving State shall accord full facilities for the performance of the

functions of the consular post.
 

Article 29

USE OF NATIONAL FLAG AND COAT-OF-ARMS
 

1. The sending State shall have the right to the use of its national flag

and coat-of-arms in the receiving State in accordance with the provisions

of this Article.
 

2. The national flag of the sending State may be flown and its coat-of-arms

displayed on the building occupied by the consular post and at the entrance

door thereof, on the residence of the head of the consular post and on his

means of transport when used on official business.
 

3. In the exercise of the right accorded by this Article regard shall be

had to the laws, regulations and usages of the receiving State.
 

Article 30

ACCOMMODATION
 

1. The receiving State shall either facilitate the acquisition on its

territory, in accordance with its laws and regulations, by the sending

State of premises necessary for its consular post or assist the latter in

obtaining accommodation in some other way.
 

2. It shall also, where necessary, assist the consular post in obtaining

suitable accommodation for its members.
 

Article 31

INVIOLABILITY OF THE CONSULAR PREMISES
 

1. Consular premises shall be inviolable to the extent provided in this

Article.
 

2. The authorities of the receiving State shall not enter that part of the

consular premises which is used exclusively for the purpose of the work of

the consular post except with the consent of the head of the consular post

or of his designee or of the head of the diplomatic mission of the sending

State. The consent of the head of the consular post may, however, be

assumed in case of fire or other disaster requiring prompt protective

action.
 

3. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article, the receiving

State is under a special duty to take all appropriate steps to protect the

consular premises against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any

disturbance of the peace of the consular post or impairment of its dignity.
 

4. The consular premises, their furnishings, the property of the consular

post and its means of transport shall be immune from any form of

requisition for purposes of national defence or public utility. If

expropriation is necessary for such purposes, all possible steps shall be

taken to avoid impeding the performance of consular functions, and prompt,

adequate and effective compensation shall be paid to the sending State.
 

Article 32

EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION OF CONSULAR PREMISES
 

1. Consular premises and the residence of the career head of consular post

of which the sending State or any person acting on its behalf is the owner

or lessee shall be exempt from all national, regional or municipal dues and

taxes whatsoever, other than such as represent payment for specific

services rendered.
 

2. The exemption from taxation referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article

shall not apply to such dues and taxes if, under the law of the receiving

State, they are payable by the person who contracted with the sending State

or with the person acting on its behalf.
 

Article 33

INVIOLABILITY OF THE CONSULAR ARCHIVES AND DOCUMENTS
 

The consular archives and documents shall be inviolable at all times and

wherever they may be.
 

Article 34

FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
 

Subject to its laws and regulations concerning zones entry into which is

prohibited or regulated for reasons of national security, the receiving

State shall ensure freedom of movement and travel in its territory to all

members of the consular post.
 

Article 35

FREEDOM OF COMMUNICATION
 

1. The receiving State shall permit and protect freedom of communication on

the part of the consular post for all official purposes. In communicating

with the Government, the diplomatic missions and other consular posts,

wherever situated, of the sending State, the consular post may employ all

appropriate means, including diplomatic or consular couriers, diplomatic or

consular bags and messages in code or cipher. However, the consular post

may install and use a wireless transmitter only with the consent of the

receiving State.
 

2. The official correspondence of the consular post shall be inviolable.

Official correspondence means all correspondence relating to the consular

post and its functions.
 

3. The consular bag shall be neither opened nor detained. Nevertheless, if

the competent authorities of the receiving State have serious reason to

believe that the bag contains something other than the correspondence,

documents or articles referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article, they may

request that the bag be opened in their presence by an authorized

representative of the sending State. If this request is refused by the

authorities of the sending State, the bag shall be returned to its place of

origin.
 

4. The packages constituting the consular bag shall bear visible external

marks of their character and may contain only official correspondence and

documents or articles intended exclusively for official use.
 

5. The consular courier shall be provided with an official document indicating

his status and the number of packages constituting the consular bag.

Except with the consent of the receiving State he shall be neither a

national of the receiving State, nor, unless he is a national of the

sending State, a permanent resident of the receiving State. In the

performance of his functions he shall be protected by the receiving State.

He shall enjoy personal inviolability and shall not be liable to any form

of arrest or detention.
 

6. The sending State, its diplomatic missions and its consular posts may

designate consular couriers ad hoc. In such cases the provisions of

paragraph 5 of this Article shall also apply except that the immunities

therein mentioned shall cease to apply when such a courier has delivered to

the consignee the consular bag in his charge.
 

7. A consular bag may be entrusted to the captain of a ship or of a

commercial aircraft scheduled to land at an authorized port of entry. He

shall be provided with an official document indicating the number of

packages constituting the bag, but he shall not be considered to be a

consular courier. By arrangement with the appropriate local authorities,

the consular post may send one of its members to take possession of the bag

directly and freely from the captain of the ship or of the aircraft.
 

Article 36

COMMUNICATION AND CONTACT WITH NATIONALS OF THE SENDING STATE
 

1. With a view to facilitating the exercise of consular functions relating

to nationals of the sending State:
 

(a) consular officers shall be free to communicate with nationals of the

sending State and to have access to them. Nationals of the sending

State shall have the same freedom with respect to communication with

and access to consular officers of the sending State;

(b) if he so requests, the competent authorities of the receiving State

shall, without delay, inform the consular post of the sending State

if, within its consular district, a national of that State is

arrested or committed to prison or to custody pending trial or is

detained in any other manner. Any communication addressed to the

consular post by the person arrested, in prison, custody or detention

shall also be forwarded by the said authorities without delay. The

said authorities shall inform the person concerned without delay of

his rights under this sub-paragraph;

(c) consular officers shall have the right 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. They

shall also have the right to visit any national of the sending State

who is in prison, custody or detention in their district in pursuance

of a judgment. Nevertheless, consular officers shall refrain from

taking action on behalf of a national who is in prison, custody or

detention if he expressly opposes such action.
 

2. The rights referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be exercised

in conformity with the laws and regulations of the receiving State, subject

to the proviso, however, that the said laws and regulations must enable

full effect to be given to the purposes for which the rights accorded under

this Article are intended.
 

Article 37

INFORMATION IN CASES OF DEATHS, GUARDIANSHIP OR TRUSTEESHIP,

WRECKS AND AIR ACCIDENTS
 

If the relevant information is available to the competent authorities of

the receiving State, such authorities shall have the duty:
 

(a) in the case of the death of a national of the sending State, to

inform without delay the consular post in whose district the death

occurred;

(b) to inform the competent consular post without delay of any case where

the appointment of a guardian or trustee appears to be in the

interests of a minor or other person lacking full capacity who is a

national of the sending State. The giving of this information shall,

however, be without prejudice to the operation of the laws and

regulations of the receiving State concerning such appointments;

(c) if a vessel, having the nationality of the sending State, is wrecked

or runs aground in the territorial sea or internal waters of the

receiving State, or if an aircraft registered in the sending State

suffers an accident on the territory of the receiving State, to

inform without delay the consular post nearest to the scene of the

occurrence.
 

Article 38

COMMUNICATION WITH THE AUTHORITIES OF THE RECEIVING STATE
 

In the exercise of their functions, consular officers may address:
 

(a) the competent local authorities of their consular district;

(b) the competent central authorities of the receiving State if and to

the extent that this is allowed by the laws, regulations and usages

of the receiving State or by the relevant international agreements.
 

Article 39

CONSULAR FEES AND CHARGES
 

1. The consular post may levy in the territory of the receiving State the

fees and charges provided by the laws and regulations of the sending State

for consular acts.
 

2. The sums collected in the form of the fees and charges referred to in

paragraph 1 of this Article, and the receipts for such fees and charges,

shall be exempt from all dues and taxes in the receiving State.
 
 

Section II
 

FACILITIES, PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

RELATING TO CAREER CONSULAR OFFICERS

AND OTHER MEMBERS OF A CONSULAR POST
 

Article 40

PROTECTION OF CONSULAR OFFICERS
 

The receiving State shall treat consular officers with due respect and

shall take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on their person,

freedom or dignity.
 

Article 41

PERSONAL INVIOLABILITY OF CONSULAR OFFICERS
 

1. Consular officers shall not be liable to arrest or detention pending

trial, except in the case of a grave crime and pursuant to a decision by

the competent judicial authority.
 

2. Except in the case specified in paragraph 1 of this Article, consular

officers shall not be committed to prison or liable to any other form of

restriction on their personal freedom save in execution of a judicial

decision of final effect.
 

3. If criminal proceedings are instituted against a consular officer, he

must appear before the competent authorities. Nevertheless, the proceedings

shall be conducted with the respect due to him by reason of his official

position and, except in the case specified in paragraph 1 of this Article,

in a manner which will hamper the exercise of consular functions as little

as possible. When, in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph 1 of this

Article, it has become necessary to detain a consular officer, the

proceedings against him shall be instituted with the minimum of delay.
 

Article 42

NOTIFICATION OF ARREST, DETENTION OR PROSECUTION
 

In the event of the arrest or detention, pending trial, of a member of the

consular staff, or of criminal proceedings being instituted against him,

the receiving State shall promptly notify the head of the consular post.

Should the latter be himself the object of any such measure, the receiving

State shall notify the sending State through the diplomatic channel.
 

Article 43

IMMUNITY FROM JURISDICTION
 

1. Consular officers and consular employees shall not be amenable to the

jurisdiction of the judicial or administrative authorities of the receiving

State in respect of acts performed in the exercise of consular functions.
 

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not, however, apply

in respect of a civil action either:
 

(a) arising out of a contract concluded by a consular officer or a

consular employee in which he did not contract expressly or impliedly

as an agent of the sending State; or

(b) by a third party for damage arising from an accident in the receiving

State caused by a vehicle, vessel or aircraft.
 

Article 44

LIABILITY TO GIVE EVIDENCE
 

1. Members of a consular post may be called upon to attend as witnesses in

the course of judicial or administrative proceedings. A consular employee

or a member of the service staff shall not, except in the cases mentioned

in paragraph 3 of this Article, decline to give evidence. If a consular

officer should decline to do so, no coercive measure or penalty may be

applied to him.
 

2. The authority requiring the evidence of a consular officer shall avoid

interference with the performance of his functions. It may, when possible,

take such evidence at his residence or at the consular post or accept a

statement from him in writing.
 

3. Members of a consular post are under no obligation to give evidence

concerning matters connected with the exercise of their functions or to

produce official correspondence and documents relating thereto. They are

also entitled to decline to give evidence as expert witnesses with regard

to the law of the sending State.
 

Article 45

WAIVER OF PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES
 

1. The sending State may waive, with regard to a member of the consular

post, any of the privileges and immunities provided for in Articles 41, 43

and 44.
 

2. The waiver shall in all cases be express, except as provided in

paragraph 3 of this Article, and shall be communicated to the receiving

State in writing.
 

3. The initiation of proceedings by a consular officer or a consular

employee in a matter where he might enjoy immunity from jurisdiction under

Article 43 shall preclude him from invoking immunity from jurisdiction in

respect of any counter-claim directly connected with the principal claim.
 

4. The waiver of immunity from jurisdiction for the purposes of civil or

administrative proceedings shall not be deemed to imply the waiver of

immunity from the measures of execution resulting from the judicial decisio

n; in respect of such measures, a separate waiver shall be necessary.
 

Article 46

EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION OF ALIENS AND RESIDENCE PERMITS
 

1. Consular officers and consular employees and members of their families

forming part of their households shall be exempt from all obligations under

the laws and regulations of the receiving State in regard to the

registration of aliens and residence permits.
 

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article shall not, however, apply

to any consular employee who is not a permanent employee of the sending

State or who carries on any private gainful occupation in the receiving

State or to any member of the family of any such employee.
 

Article 47

EXEMPTION FROM WORK PERMITS
 

1. Members of the consular post shall, with respect to services rendered

for the sending State, be exempt from any obligations in regard to work

permits imposed by the laws and regulations of the receiving State

concerning the employment of foreign labour.
 

2. Members of the private staff of consular officers and of consular

employees shall, if they do not carry on any other gainful occupation in

the receiving State, be exempt from the obligations referred to in

paragraph 1 of this Article.
 

Article 48

SOCIAL SECURITY EXEMPTION
 

1. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 of this Article, members of the

consular post with respect to services rendered by them for the sending

State, and members of their families forming part of their households,

shall be exempt from social security provisions which may be in force in

the receiving State.
 

2. The exemption provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article shall apply

also to members of the private staff who are in the sole employ of members

of the consular post, on condition:
 

(a) that they are not nationals of or permanently resident in the

receiving State; and

(b) that they are covered by the social security provisions which are in

force in the sending State or a third State.
 

3. Members of the consular post who employ persons to whom the exemption

provided for in paragraph 2 of this Article does not apply shall observe

the obligations which the social security provisions of the receiving State

impose upon employers.
 

4. The exemption provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall

not preclude voluntary participation in the social security system of the

receiving State, provided that such participation is permitted by that

State.
 

Article 49

EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION
 

1. Consular officers and consular employees and members of their families

forming part of their households shall be exempt from all dues and taxes,

personal or real, national, regional or municipal, except:
 

(a) indirect taxes of a kind which are normally incorporated in the price

of goods or services;

(b) dues or taxes on private immovable property situated in the territory

of the receiving State, subject to the provisions of Article 32;

(c) estate, succession or inheritance duties, and duties on transfers,

levied by the receiving State, subject to the provisions of paragraph

(b) of Article 51;

(d) dues and taxes on private income, including capital gains, having its

source in the receiving State and capital taxes relating to

investments made in commercial or financial undertakings in the

receiving State;

(e) charges levied for specific services rendered;

(f) registration, court or record fees, mortgage dues and stamp duties,

subject to the provisions of Article 32.
 

2. Members of the service staff shall be exempt from dues and taxes on the

wages which they receive for their services.
 

3. Members of the consular post who employ persons whose wages or salaries

are not exempt from income tax in the receiving State shall observe the

obligations which the laws and regulations of that State impose upon

employers concerning the levying of income tax.
 

Article 50

EXEMPTION FROM CUSTOMS DUTIES AND INSPECTION
 

1. The receiving State shall, in accordance with such laws and regulations

as it may adopt, permit entry of and grant exemption from all customs

duties, taxes, and related charges other than charges for storage, cartage

and similar services, on:
 

(a) articles for the official use of the consular post;

(b) articles for the personal use of a consular officer or members of his

family forming part of his household, including articles intended for

his establishment. The articles intended for consumption shall not

exceed the quantities necessary for direct utilization by the persons

concerned.
 

2. Consular employees shall enjoy the privileges and exemptions specified

in paragraph 1 of this Article in respect of articles imported at the time

of first installation.
 

3. Personal baggage accompanying consular officers and members of their

families forming part of their households shall be exempt from inspection.

It may be inspected only if there is serious reason to believe that it

contains articles other than those referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of

paragraph 1 of this Article, or articles the import or export of which is

prohibited by the laws and regulations of the receiving State or which are

subject to its quarantine laws and regulations. Such inspection shall be

carried out in the presence of the consular officer or member of his family

concerned.
 

Article 51

ESTATE OF A MEMBER OF THE CONSULAR POST

OR OF A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY
 

In the event of the death of a member of the consular post or of a member

of his family forming part of his household, the receiving State:
 

(a) shall permit the export of the movable property of the deceased, with

the exception of any such property acquired in the receiving State

the export of which was prohibited at the time of his death;

(b) shall not levy national, regional or municipal estate, succession or

inheritance duties, and duties on transfers, on movable property the

presence of which in the receiving State was due solely to the

presence in that State of the deceased as a member of the consular

post or as a member of the family of a member of the consular post.
 

Article 52

EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL SERVICES AND CONTRIBUTIONS
 

The receiving State shall exempt members of the consular post and members

of their families forming part of their households from all personal

services, from all public service of any kind whatsoever, and from military

obligations such as those connected with requisitioning, military

contributions and billeting.
 

Article 53

BEGINNING AND END OF CONSULAR PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES
 

1. Every member of the consular post shall enjoy the privileges and immunities

 provided in the present Convention from the moment he enters the

territory of the receiving State on proceeding to take up his post or, if

already in its territory, from the moment when he enters on his duties with

the consular post.
 

2. Members of the family of a member of the consular post forming part of

his household and members of his private staff shall receive the privileges

and immunities provided in the present Convention from the date from which

he enjoys privileges and immunities in accordance with paragraph 1 of this

Article or from the date of their entry into the territory of the receiving

State or from the date of their becoming a member of such family or private

staff, whichever is the latest.
 

3. When the functions of a member of the consular post have come to an end,

his privileges and immunities and those of a member of his family forming

part of his household or a member of his private staff shall normally cease

at the moment when the person concerned leaves the receiving State or on

the expiry of a reasonable period in which to do so, whichever is the

sooner, but shall subsist until that time, even in case of armed conflict.

In the case of the persons referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article,

their privileges and immunities shall come to an end when they cease to

belong to the household or to be in the service of a member of the consular

post provided, however, that if such persons intend leaving the receiving

State within a reasonable period thereafter, their privileges and

immunities shall subsist until the time of their departure.
 

4. However, with respect to acts performed by a consular officer or a

consular employee in the exercise of his functions, immunity from

jurisdiction shall continue to subsist without limitation of time.
 

5. In the event of the death of a member of the consular post, the members

of his family forming part of his household shall continue to enjoy the

privileges and immunities accorded to them until they leave the receiving

State or until the expiry of a reasonable period enabling them to do so,

whichever is the sooner.
 

Article 54

OBLIGATIONS OF THIRD STATES
 

1. If a consular officer passes through or is in the territory of a third

State, which has granted him a visa if a visa was necessary, while

proceeding to take up or return to his post or when returning to the

sending State, the third State shall accord to him all immunities provided

for by the other Articles of the present Convention as may be required to

ensure his transit or return. The same shall apply in the case of any

member of his family forming part of his household enjoying such privileges

and immunities who are accompanying the consular officer or travelling

separately to join him or to return to the sending State.
 

2. In circumstances similar to those specified in paragraph 1 of this

Article, third States shall not hinder the transit through their territory

of other members of the consular post or of members of their families

forming part of their households.
 

3. Third States shall accord to official correspondence and to other

official communications in transit, including messages in code or cipher,

the same freedom and protection as the receiving State is bound to accord

under the present Convention. They shall accord to consular couriers who

have been granted a visa, if a visa was necessary, and to consular bags in

transit, the same inviolability and protection as the receiving State is

bound to accord under the present Convention.
 

4. The obligations of third States under paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this

Article shall also apply to the persons mentioned respectively in those

paragraphs, and to official communications and to consular bags, whose

presence in the territory of the third State is due to force majeure.
 

Article 55

RESPECT FOR THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE RECEIVING STATE
 

1. Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of

all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and

regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere

in the internal affairs of that State.
 

2. The consular premises shall not be used in any manner incompatible with

the exercise of consular functions.
 

3. The provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article shall not exclude the

possibility of offices of other institutions or agencies being installed in

part of the building in which the consular premises are situated, provided

that the premises assigned to them are separate from those used by the

consular post. In that event, the said offices shall not, for the purposes

of the present Convention, be considered to form part of the consular

premises.
 

Article 56

INSURANCE AGAINST THIRD PARTY RISKS
 

Members of the consular post shall comply with any requirement imposed by

the laws and regulations of the receiving State in respect of insurance

against third party risks arising from the use of any vehicle, vessel or

aircraft.
 

Article 57

SPECIAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRIVATE GAINFUL OCCUPATION
 

1. Career consular officers shall not carry on for personal profit any

professional or commercial activity in the receiving State.
 

2. Privileges and immunities provided in this Chapter shall not be

accorded:
 

(a) to consular employees or to members of the service staff who carry on

any private gainful occupation in the receiving State;

(b) to members of the family of a person referred to in sub-paragraph (a)

of this paragraph or to members of his private staff;

(c) to members of the family of a member of a consular post who

themselves carry on any private gainful occupation in the receiving

State.
 
 

CHAPTER III
 

REGIME RELATING TO HONORARY CONSULAR OFFICERS

AND CONSULAR POSTS HEADED BY SUCH OFFICERS
 

Article 58

GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO FACILITIES,

PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES
 

1. Articles 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39, paragraph 3 of Article

54 and paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 55 shall apply to consular posts

headed by an honorary consular officer. In addition, the facilities,

privileges and immunities of such consular posts shall be governed by

Articles 59, 60, 61 and 62.
 

2. Articles 42 and 43, paragraph 3 of Article 44, Articles 45 and 53 and

paragraph 1 of Article 55 shall apply to honorary consular officers. In

addition, the facilities, privileges and immunities of such consular

officers shall be governed by Articles 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67.
 

3. Privileges and immunities provided in the present Convention shall not

be accorded to members of the family of an honorary consular officer or of

a consular employee employed at a consular post headed by an honorary

consular officer.
 

4. The exchange of consular bags between two consular posts headed by

honorary consular officers in different States shall not be allowed without

the consent of the two receiving States concerned.
 

Article 59

PROTECTION OF THE CONSULAR PREMISES
 

The receiving State shall take such steps as may be necessary to protect

the consular premises of a consular post headed by an honorary consular

officer against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of

the peace of the consular post or impairment of its dignity.
 

Article 60

EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION OF CONSULAR PREMISES
 

1. Consular premises of a consular post headed by an honorary consular

officer of which the sending State is the owner or lessee shall be exempt

from all national, regional or municipal dues and taxes whatsoever, other

than such as represent payment for specific services rendered.
 

2. The exemption from taxation referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article

shall not apply to such dues and taxes if, under the laws and regulations

of the receiving State, they are payable by the person who contracted with

the sending State.
 

Article 61

INVIOLABILITY OF CONSULAR ARCHIVES AND DOCUMENTS
 

The consular archives and documents of a consular post headed by an honorar

y consular officer shall be inviolable at all times and wherever they may

be, provided that they are kept separate from other papers and documents

and, in particular, from the private correspondence of the head of a

consular post and of any person working with him, and from the materials,

books or documents relating to their profession or trade.
 

Article 62

EXEMPTION FROM CUSTOMS DUTIES
 

The receiving State shall, in accordance with such laws and regulations as

it may adopt, permit entry of, and grant exemption from all customs duties,

taxes, and related charges other than charges for storage, cartage and

similar services on the following articles, provided that they are for the

official use of a consular post headed by an honorary consular officer:

coats-of-arms, flags, signboards, seals and stamps, books, official printed

matter, office furniture, office equipment and similar articles supplied by

or at the instance of the sending State to the consular post.
 

Article 63

CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
 

If criminal proceedings are instituted against an honorary consular officer

, he must appear before the competent authorities. Nevertheless, the

proceedings shall be conducted with the respect due to him by reason of his

official position and, except when he is under arrest or detention, in a

manner which will hamper the exercise of consular functions as little as

possible. When it has become necessary to detain an honorary consular

officer, the proceedings against him shall be instituted with the minimum

of delay.
 

Article 64

PROTECTION OF HONORARY CONSULAR OFFICERS
 

The receiving State is under a duty to accord to an honorary consular

officer such protection as may be required by reason of his official

position.
 

Article 65

EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION OF ALIENS AND RESIDENCE PERMITS
 

Honorary consular officers, with the exception of those who carry on for

personal profit any professional or commercial activity in the receiving

State, shall be exempt from all obligations under the laws and regulations

of the receiving State in regard to the registration of aliens and

residence permits.
 

Article 66

EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION
 

An honorary consular officer shall be exempt from all dues and taxes on the

remuneration and emoluments which he receives from the sending State in

respect of the exercise of consular functions.
 

Article 67

EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL SERVICES AND CONTRIBUTIONS
 

The receiving State shall exempt honorary consular officers from all

personal services and from all public services of any kind whatsoever and

from military obligations such as those connected with requisitioning,

military contributions and billeting.
 

Article 68

OPTIONAL CHARACTER OF THE INSTITUTION

OF HONORARY CONSULAR OFFICERS
 

Each State is free to decide whether it will appoint or receive honorary

consular officers.
 
 

CHAPTER IV
 

GENERAL PROVISIONS
 

Article 69

CONSULAR AGENTS WHO ARE NOT HEADS OF CONSULAR POSTS
 

1. Each State is free to decide whether it will establish or admit consular

agencies conducted by consular agents not designated as heads of consular

post by the sending State.
 

2. The conditions under which the consular agencies referred to in

paragraph 1 of this Article may carry on their activities and the

privileges and immunities which may be enjoyed by the consular agents in

charge of them shall be determined by agreement between the sending State

and the receiving State.
 

Article 70

EXERCISE OF CONSULAR FUNCTIONS BY DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS
 

1. The provisions of the present Convention apply also, so far as the

context permits, to the exercise of consular functions by a diplomatic

mission.
 

2. The names of members of a diplomatic mission assigned to the consular

section or otherwise charged with the exercise of the consular functions of

the mission shall be notified to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the

receiving State or to the authority designated by that Ministry.
 

3. In the exercise of consular functions a diplomatic mission may address:
 

(a) the local authorities of the consular district;

(b) the central authorities of the receiving State if this is allowed by

the laws, regulations and usages of the receiving State or by

relevant international agreements.
 

4. The privileges and immunities of the members of a diplomatic mission

referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article shall continue to be governed by

the rules of international law concerning diplomatic relations.
 

Article 71

NATIONALS OR PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF THE RECEIVING STATE
 

1. Except in so far as additional facilities, privileges and immunities may

be granted by the receiving State, consular officers who are nationals of

or permanently resident in the receiving State shall enjoy only immunity

from jurisdiction and personal inviolability in respect of official acts

performed in the exercise of their functions, and the privilege provided in

paragraph 3 of Article 44. So far as these consular officers are concerned,

the receiving State shall likewise be bound by the obligation laid down in

Article 42. If criminal proceedings are instituted against such a consular

officer, the proceedings shall, except when he is under arrest or

detention, be conducted in a manner which will hamper the exercise of

consular functions as little as possible.
 

2. Other members of the consular post who are nationals of or permanently

resident in the receiving State and members of their families, as well as

members of the families of consular officers referred to in paragraph 1 of

this Article, shall enjoy facilities, privileges and immunities only in so

far as these are granted to them by the receiving State. Those members of

the families of members of the consular post and those members of the

private staff who are themselves nationals of or permanently resident in

the receiving State shall likewise enjoy facilities, privileges and immunit

ies only in so far as these are granted to them by the receiving State. The

receiving State shall, however, exercise its jurisdiction over those

persons in such a way as not to hinder unduly the performance of the

functions of the consular post.
 

Article 72

NON-DISCRIMINATION
 

1. In the application of the provisions of the present Convention the

receiving State shall not discriminate as between States.
 

2. However, discrimination shall not be regarded as taking place:
 

(a) where the receiving State applies any of the provisions of the

present Convention restrictively because of a restrictive application

of that provision to its consular posts in the sending State;

(b) where by custom or agreement States extend to each other more

favourable treatment than is required by the provisions of the

present Convention.
 

Article 73

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PRESENT CONVENTION

AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
 

1. The provisions of the present Convention shall not affect other

international agreements in force as between States parties to them.
 

2. Nothing in the present Convention shall preclude States from concluding

international agreements confirming or supplementing or extending or

amplifying the provisions thereof.
 
 

CHAPTER V
 

FINAL PROVISIONS
 

Article 74

SIGNATURE
 

The present Convention shall be open for signature by all States Members of

the United Nations or of any of the specialized agencies or Parties to the

Statute of the International Court of Justice, and by any other State

invited by the General Assembly of the United Nations to become a Party to

the Convention, as follows until 31 October 1963 at the Federal Ministry

for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria and subsequently, until 31

March 1964, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
 

Article 75

RATIFICATION
 

The present Convention is subject to ratification. The instruments of

ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United

Nations.
 

Article 76

ACCESSION
 

The present Convention shall remain open for accession by any State belongi

ng to any of the four categories mentioned in Article 74. The instruments

of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United

Nations.
 

Article 77

ENTRY INTO FORCE
 

1. The 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-General of the United Nations.
 

2. For 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 by

such State of its instrument of ratification or accession.
 

Article 78

NOTIFICATIONS BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
 

The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States belongi

ng to any of the four categories mentioned in Article 74:
 

(a) of signatures to the present Convention and of the deposit of

instruments of ratification or accession, in accordance with Articles

74, 75 and 76;

(b) of the date on which the present Convention will enter into force, in

accordance with Article 77.
 

Article 79

AUTHENTIC TEXTS
 

The original of the present Convention, of which the Chinese, English,

French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited

with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall send certified

copies thereof to all States belonging to any of the four categories

mentioned in Article 74.
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned Plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized

thereto by their respective Governments, have signed the present

Convention.
 

DONE at Vienna, this twenty-fourth day of April, one thousand nine hundred

and sixty-three.
 
 
 
 
 
 

OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE VIENNA CONVENTION ON CONSULAR RELATIONS CONCERNING

ACQUISITION OF NATIONALITY. DONE AT VIENNA, ON 24 APRIL 1963
 
 

The States Parties to the present Protocol and to the Vienna Convention on

Consular Relations, hereinafter referred to as "the Convention", adopted by

the United Nations Conference held at Vienna from 4 March to 22 April 1963,
 

Expressing their wish to establish rules between them concerning

acquisition of nationality by members of the consular post and by members

of their families forming part of their households,
 

Have agreed as follows:
 

Article I
 

For the purposes of the present Protocol, the expression "members of the

consular post" shall have the meaning assigned to it in sub-paragraph (g)

of paragraph 1 of Article 1 of the Convention, namely, "consular officers,

consular employees and members of the service staff".
 

Article II
 

Members of the consular post not being nationals of the receiving State,

and members of their families forming part of their households, shall not,

solely by the operation of the law of the receiving State, acquire the

nationality of that State.
 

Article III
 

The present Protocol shall be open for signature by all States which may

become Parties to the Convention, as follows: until 31 October 1963 at the

Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria and,

subsequently, until 31 March 1964, at the United Nations Headquarters in

New York.
 

Article IV
 

The present Protocol is subject to ratification. The instruments of

ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United

Nations.
 

Article V
 

The present Protocol shall remain open for accession by all States which

may become Parties to the Convention. The instruments of accession shall be

deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
 

Article VI
 

1. The present Protocol shall enter into force on the same day as the

Convention or on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of the

second instrument of ratification of or accession to the Protocol with the

Secretary-General of the United Nations, whichever date is the later.
 

2. For each State ratifying or acceding to the present Protocol after its

entry into force in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, the

Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after deposit by such

State of its instrument of ratification or accession.
 

Article VII
 

The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States which

may become Parties to the Convention:
 

(a) of signatures to the present Protocol and of the deposit of

instruments of ratification or accession, in accordance with Articles

III, IV and V;

(b) of the date on which the present Protocol will enter into force, in

accordance with Article VI.
 

Article VIII
 

The original of the present Protocol, of which the Chinese, English,

French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited

with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall send certified

copies thereof to all States referred to in Article III.
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized

thereto by their respective Governments, have signed the present Protocol.
 

DONE at Vienna, this twenty-fourth day of April, one thousand nine hundred

and sixty-three.
 
 
 
 
 
 

OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE VIENNA CONVENTION ON CONSULAR RELATIONS CONCERNING

THE COMPULSORY SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES. DONE AT VIENNA, ON 24 APRIL

1963
 

The States Parties to the present Protocol and to the Vienna Convention on

Consular Relations, hereinafter referred to as "the Convention", adopted by

the United Nations Conference held at Vienna from 4 March to 22 April 1963,
 

Expressing their wish to resort in all matters concerning them in respect

of any dispute arising out of the interpretation or application of the

Convention to the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of

Justice, unless some other form of settlement has been agreed upon by the

parties within a reasonable period,
 

Have agreed as follows:
 

Article I
 

Disputes arising out of the interpretation or application of the Convention

shall lie within the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of

Justice and may accordingly be brought before the Court by an application

made by any party to the dispute being a Party to the present Protocol.
 

Article II
 

The parties may agree, within a period of two months after one party has

notified its opinion to the other that a dispute exists, to resort not to

the International Court of Justice but to an arbitral tribunal. After the

expiry of the said period, either party may bring the dispute before the

Court by an application.
 

Article III
 

1. Within the same period of two months, the parties may agree to adopt a

conciliation procedure before resorting to the International Court of

Justice.
 

2. The conciliation commission shall make its recommendations within five

months after its appointment. If its recommendations are not accepted by

the parties to the dispute within two months after they have been

delivered, either party may bring the dispute before the Court by an

application.
 

Article IV
 

States Parties to the Convention, to the Optional Protocol concerning

Acquisition of Nationality, and to the present Protocol may at any time

declare that they will extend the provisions of the present Protocol to

disputes arising out of the interpretation or application of the Optional

Protocol concerning Acquisition of Nationality. Such declarations shall be

notified to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
 

Article V
 

The present Protocol shall be open for signature by all States which may

become Parties to the Convention as follows: until 31 October 1963 at the

Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria and,

subsequently, until 31 March 1964, at the United Nations Headquarters in

New York.
 

Article VI
 

The present Protocol is subject to ratification. The instruments of

ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United

Nations.
 

Article VII
 

The present Protocol shall remain open for accession by all States which

may become Parties to the Convention. The instruments of accession shall be

deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
 

Article VIII
 

1. The present Protocol shall enter into force on the same day as the

Convention or on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of the

second instrument of ratification or accession to the Protocol with the

Secretary-General of the United Nations, whichever date is the later.
 

2. For each State ratifying or acceding to the present Protocol after its

entry into force in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, the

Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after deposit by such

State of its instrument of ratification or accession.
 

Article IX
 

The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States which

may become Parties to the Convention:
 

(a) of signatures to the present Protocol and of the deposit of

instruments of ratification or accession, in accordance with Articles

V, VI and VII;

(b) of declarations made in accordance with Article IV of the present

Protocol;

(c) of the date on which the present Protocol will enter into force, in

accordance with Article VIII.
 

Article X
 

The original of the present Protocol, of which the Chinese, English,

French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited

with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall send certified

copies thereof to all States referred to in Article V.
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorised

thereto by their respective Governments, have signed the present Protocol.
 

DONE at Vienna, this twenty-fourth day of April, one thousand nine hundred

and sixty-three.