World Diplomatic Guide

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is an international treaty on diplomatic intercourse and the privileges and immunities of a diplomatic mission. Adopted on 18 April 1961 by the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse and Immunities held in Vienna, Austria, from 2 March to 14 April.

The Conference also adopted the Optional Protocol concerning the Acquisition of Nationality, the Optional Protocol concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes, the Final Act and four resolutions annexed to that Act. Done at Vienna, on 18 April 1961. It was first implemented on 24 April 1964.

The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (or VCCR) was completed in 1963 as a multilateral treaty to codify consular practices that developed through customary international law, numerous bilateral treaties, and a number of regional treaties.

The VCCR enumerates basic legal rights and duties of signatory States, including:

the establishment and conduct of consular relations, by mutual consent, and
the privileges and immunities of consular officers and offices from the laws of the "receiving State" (the country where the foreign consular office has been established).

Article 36 of the VCCR requires that foreign nationals who are arrested or detained be given notice "without delay" of their right to have their embassy or consulate notified of that arrest. If the detained foreign national so requests, the police must fax that notice to the embassy or consulate, which can then check up on the person. The notice to the consulate can be as simple as a fax, giving the person's name, the place of arrest, and, if possible, something about the reason for the arrest or detention.