The dependents of Diplomatic Agents and Consular Officers cannot be nationals of the UK and the dependents of Administrative and Technical Staff and Consular Employees cannot be nationals of the UK or hold permanent UK residency.ĭependents of Service Staff are not afforded any immunity or inviolability. To qualify for this immunity and inviolability, the dependent must be notified to, and accepted by, the FCO. Dependents of staff at diplomatic missions staff at London-based consular missionsĬriminal immunity and inviolability in the UK is conferred on all qualifying dependent household members of Diplomatic Agents and Administrative and Technical Staff of foreign diplomatic missions and Consular Officers and Consular Employees at London based foreign consular missions. This does not extend to any of their dependents who may also be dual UK Commonwealth nationals.Ĭriminal immunity is only afforded to the Service Staff at foreign diplomatic or foreign London-based consular missions in respect of the acts performed in the course of their duties. Whilst staff cannot be nationals of the UK or hold permanent UK residency, dual UK-Commonwealth nationals, who are recognised by HMG as members of their mission, are entitled to the immunity and inviolability to which that person would be entitled if they were not a British national.
To qualify for this immunity and inviolability, the staff must be: (1) accepted by Her Majesty's Government (HMG) as the receiving State and (2) notified to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Staff at diplomatic missions and London-based consular missionsĬriminal immunity and inviolability in the UK is conferred on all Diplomatic Agents and Administrative and Technical Staff of foreign diplomatic missions and on all Consular Officers and Consular Employees at London-based foreign consular missions. The VCDR and VCCR oblige members of a diplomatic mission and their families to respect the laws and regulations of the host country (Article 41 of the VCDR Article 55 of the VCCR). The receiving state shall treat him with due respect and shall take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on his person, freedom or dignity." He shall not be liable to any form of arrest or detention. "The person of a diplomatic agent shall be inviolable. Immunity is dependent on rank and ranges from immunity from criminal and civil and administrative jurisdiction to immunity for official acts only. The relevant provisions of the Conventions are applied in the UK by Section 2 of the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 (DPA 1964). The immunities granted to diplomatic staff, and their families, are set out in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR), the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963 (VCCR) and Consular Relations Act 1968.