Protocol Guidelines

Welcome to Australia.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 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 very seriously and we are committed to providing high quality and efficient support services to you.

These guidelines provide advice on practical issues that affect you and your dependants, and your offices. We encourage open communication with missions and posts to promote close cooperation and help resolve any specific issues in a transparent and consistent manner. In line with the Vienna Conventions, we expect foreign officials and their dependants, missions, posts and offices to respect Australian laws and regulations, particularly in relation to driving, and the employment of locally engaged and domestic staff.

Questions and comments can be addressed by email to protocol.branch@dfat.gov.au

For assistance with urgent matters outside working hours, you can call the Protocol Branch Emergency Duty Officer on 0418 167 127.

We trust you will have an enjoyable and rewarding posting in Australia.

Acting Chief of Protocol
Sophia Knight

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