Dear Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Welcome to Australia!
The Australian Government values the presence in Australia of over 7,000 members of the diplomatic corps, the consular corps, the United Nations and international organisations.
We take our responsibilities under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations seriously and are committed to providing you high quality and efficient support in your mission.
In return, the Australian Government expects all foreign officials and their dependants, missions, posts and offices to respect Australian laws and community expectations – including in relation to driving, the treatment of locally-engaged and domestic staff, and domestic violence.
Our Protocol Guidelines below provide you and your missions further advice on these and other matters that affect you, your dependants and staff – as well as your official residences and offices.
Our Living in Australia guide provides further information to help you and your dependants make the most of life in Australia.
We invite open communication with missions and posts to promote close cooperation and help resolve any specific issues in a transparent and consistent manner.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Protocol Branch is available to assist by email at protocol.branch@dfat.gov.au
For urgent matters outside working hours, you can call the Protocol Branch Emergency Duty Officer on 0418 167 127.
I wish you an enjoyable and rewarding posting in Australia.
Chief of Protocol
Jonathan Muir
Contents
- 1. Introduction to Australia and its system of government
- 2. Heads of mission
- 3. Diplomatic missions, consular posts and other representative offices
- 4. Visas and accreditation
- 5. Privileges and immunities
- 6. Tax concessions
- 7. Motor vehicles
- 8. Driving in Australia
- 9. Private domestic workers
- 10. Locally engaged staff
- 11. Diplomatic missions – build, buy or rent
- 12. Protective security
- 13. Firearms
- 14. Airport facilitation for senior foreign visitors
- 15. Airport facilitation for visiting heads of state, heads of government, foreign ministers and guests of government
- 16. Official visits