HONORARY CONSULS MAY CONDUCT PROFIT-MAKING COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS IN VIETNAM
This noticeable content is prescribed in the Government’s Decree No. 26/2022/ND-CP dated April 14, 2022, on foreign honorary consuls in Vietnam.
According to this Decree, an honorary consul who is admitted to acting as an honorary consul must satisfy the following conditions:
Firstly, bearing the nationality of the sending State or the Vietnamese nationality. In case he/she bears the nationality of a third country or several countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ acceptance. Such acceptance may be revoked at any time without justifying the reason.
Secondly, permanently residing in Vietnam or living and working in the consular premises for at least one year.
Thirdly, neither being a Vietnamese cadre, civil servant, public employee nor an individual who receives wage from the State budget of any country.
Fourthly, having a clear judicial record; being financially capable, social prestige, etc.
Especially, honorary consuls may exercise consular functions as appointed by the sending State and concurrently conduct professional or profit-making commercial operations in Vietnam in accordance with treaties to which Vietnam and the sending State are contracting parties.
Besides, honorary consuls are not allowed to employ consular couriers, diplomatic couriers or consular bags, diplomatic bags, or cipher telegram to contact diplomatic representative missions or consular posts of the sending State or with the government of the sending State, except for the special cases after obtaining approval from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Family members of an honorary consul are not entitled to privileges and immunities.
This Decree takes effect from June 01, 2022.
