The Office of International Relations and Protocol

This office manages the Government of Ontario’s interaction with the largest consular corps in Canada (and one of the largest in the world). Over 100 countries are represented in Toronto.

For more information contact:

Office of International Relations and Protocol
Whitney Block, Suite 5520
99 Wellesley Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1A1

Consulates: A-C

Consulates: D-J

Consulates: K-Q

Consulates: R-Z

About consular corps

In addition to embassies and high commissions, regional or local representatives of foreign governments in Ontario are known collectively as the consular corps. Their status, privileges and immunities are governed by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963. Their role is:

  • represent their countries and promote their countries’ trade within the Consular District
  • assist and protect nationals of the countries they represent
  • protect their countries’ shipping interests, legalize ship’s papers, assist their countries’ seamen in distress and adjudicate certain shipping matters
  • administer oaths and legalize foreign documents
  • issue passports, visas and certificates

Ontario’s consular corps is one of the largest in the world, with more than 100 consular offices.

Our services to the consular corps

The Office of International Relations and Protocol provides services to Ontario’s consular corps, such as:

  • coordination of courtesy (introductory calls) and other meetings with the Lieutenant Governor, Premier, Cabinet Ministers or government officials and Consuls General, visiting members of the Diplomatic Corps and/or official delegations
  • guidance and assistance on matters related to the privileges and immunities that are granted to various members of the diplomatic community under the rules of international law and reciprocal arrangements or agreements
  • advice on protocol guidelines

Career consular officers in Ontario

Career consular officers are normally professional — that is, rotational, “diplomats” — who have taken up posting in Canada at their home country’s request, with Global Affairs Canada’s consent.

They either:

  • reside and exercise their consular functions/duties in the same Ontario city where the consular post is established
  • reside outside the province but have consular jurisdiction over Ontario or parts thereof

As per the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the term “consular officer” refers to any person — including the head of a consular post — entrusted in that capacity with the exercise of consular functions.

Head of consular post means the person charged with the duty of acting in that capacity. According to the date when they received authorization to exercise their functions, they can be ranked into the following four classes:

  • consuls general
  • consuls
  • vice-consuls
  • consular agents

Honorary consular officers

Honorary consular officers — as opposed to “career” (or professional) consuls — are either Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada who, after receiving Global Affairs Canada’s consent, represent the interests of a foreign country within a specified consular district. This district covers either the Province of Ontario or parts thereof.

Their role includes promoting trade, investment, cultural relations, providing passports and handle day-to-day issues or problems for nationals of the country they represent.

Honorary consular officers often arrange visits of their ambassadors or high commissioners or prominent people from their countries.

Diplomatic missions in Ottawa

Ottawa is home to 132 diplomatic (bilateral) missions — that is, embassies and high commissions. To have the contact information of each mission, please visit Global Affairs Canada’s website.

Contact us

Contact us if you need help or have questions about the privileges and immunities that consular officers are entitled to in Ontario at:

 protocol@ontario.ca

Office of International Relations and Protocol
Whitney Block, Suite 5520
99 Wellesley Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1A1