The 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations outlines the rules of diplomatic law, ratified by
Canada in 1966 and implemented by the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act.
The Convention codifies the rules for the exchange and treatment of envoys between states, which have
been firmly established in customary law for hundreds of years. It has become an almost universally
adopted Convention with 179 states party to it.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is fundamental to the conduct of foreign relations and
ensures that diplomats can conduct their duties without threat of influence by the host government. In
particular, the Convention establishes the following:
rules for the appointment of foreign representatives
the inviolability of mission premises
protection for the diplomat and his or her family from any form of arrest or detention
protection of all forms of diplomatic communication
the basic principle of exemption from taxation
immunity from civil and administrative jurisdiction, with limited exceptions; and
that diplomats must respect the laws of the host state.
As is stated in the preamble of the Convention, the rules are intended to facilitate the development of
friendly relations among nations, irrespective of their differing constitutional and social systems. The
purpose of such privileges and immunities is not to benefit individuals but to ensure the efficient
performance of the functions of diplomatic missions.
The Convention requires diplomats to obey local laws; however, the only sanction permissible under
the Convention, in the absence of a waiver of immunity, is expulsion. This prevents the potential abuse
by local authorities of the power of a state's law enforcement system. Reciprocity also forms an
effective sanction for the observance of the rules of the Convention.