Precedence of Heads of Mission within the National Order of Precedence

Individual Precedence Within a Mission

The individual precedence of members of the ‘political’ staff below head of mission is:

Minister Plenipotentiary

Minister-Counselor

Counselor

First Secretary

Second Secretary

Third Secretary

Attaché

The place of service of specialist attachés is determined by individual missions. They usually come before a First Secretary but rarely above the diplomat next senior to the head of mission. The precise order of precedence is normally found in the diplomatic list which every state receiving diplomatic representatives produces, though in certain states the list is arranged in functional sections. It is the responsibility of the head of mission to notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the precedence of the members of his mission.

3. Individual Precedence inter se of Diplomats at Formal or Diplomatic Functions

Individual precedence at formal or diplomatic functions is based on a rank, and is as follows:

Apostolic Nuncio (in those countries where he is Doyen ex officio)

Ambassador, High Commissioner, Apostolic Nuncio or Pro-Nuncio

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary

Chargés d’Affaires en titre

Chargés d’Affaires ad interim

Minister Plenipotentiary

Minister-Counselor

Counselor

First Secretary

Second Secretary

Third Secretary

Attaché

Service and specialist attachés are usually placed immediately after Counselors, but practice varies.

In the United Kingdom heads of mission of ambassadorial rank are placed eighth after the Sovereign and close members of the Royal Family in the national order of precedence (after the Lord Privy Seal); and Chargés d’Affaires en titre according to courtesy. In other states heads of mission are placed according to custom, but usually after members of the cabinet and the presidents of the legislative assemblies.

Ex.1 Answer the following questions based on the reading:

1. What are the classes of heads of mission?

2. What is the seniority within each class based on?

3. How is precedence determined if two heads of missions present their credentials on the same day?

4. What is the order of precedence at which all heads of missions are present?

5. What is the individual precedence of members of the “political” staff below head of mission?

6. Where is the precise order of precedence normally found?

7. What is the individual precedence at formal or diplomatic functions? What is it based on?

8. What is the order of precedence of heads of mission of ambassadorial rank in the UK and other states?

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