FAQs
Your diplomatic passport. Your questions.
An extraordinary ambition raises particular questions. Here you'll find out what options exist, who decides and what awaits you along the way.
01
The passport
Who decides whether I receive a diplomatic passport?
Not a consultancy, and not a private organisation either.
The decision is made by the state that appoints you.
It decides to whom it entrusts an official role and for whom it issues a diplomatic passport. The passport is usually issued through the foreign ministry.
Do I have to be a national of the issuing state?
No, that is not strictly necessary.
A state can also appoint people who do not hold its nationality to certain roles.
What matters is whether you are suitable for the intended role and whether the state wants to entrust you with it.
Your connection to the country can therefore matter more than the nationality in your current passport.
Can I travel visa-free with a diplomatic passport?
A diplomatic passport can open up special travel opportunities.
Many states have their own visa arrangements for holders of diplomatic passports, often with an exemption from the visa requirement.
Which rules actually apply depends on the issuing state and the destination country.
The diplomatic passport can make your international work easier, but its specific travel benefits need to be checked for each destination.
How long may I keep my diplomatic passport?
The issuing state sets its validity.
As a rule, it is tied to the term of your official appointment.
The diplomatic passport is therefore yours for as long as you carry out a special task for the state.
02
The appointment
Which appointment offers the best chance of a diplomatic passport?
A diplomatic passport is most often linked to a mandate as special envoy or ambassador-at-large.
Members of a mission's diplomatic staff, such as attachés, also generally receive a diplomatic passport.
For honorary consuls and government advisers, whether one is issued depends on the state and the specific role.
If the diplomatic passport is your goal, the choice of appointment should be tailored to exactly that.
Who can officially appoint me?
An appointment is made by the state itself.
Depending on the role, that means the government, the head of state or the foreign ministry of the state you are to represent.
The decision rests solely with the competent state institutions.
Do I have to give up my career for the appointment?
In most cases, you can carry on with your profession.
Many of the state roles in question are carried out alongside your existing work.
For successful entrepreneurs and experienced personalities, an appointment can therefore add a new dimension to the life they already lead.
03
In practice
How quickly can I get a diplomatic passport?
That depends on the state and the intended role.
There are no standard timeframes.
The review of your suitability, the decision on your appointment and the issue of the passport follow the procedures of the state concerned.
In a personal conversation, you can find out which steps would be needed in your case.
Can't see your question here?
Ask Daniel Taborek directly, in a personal conversation about your route to a diplomatic passport.