Canadian Embassies and Consulates Key Terms

May people leave Canadian offices friendly and free with these key terms

Canadian embassies and consulates are found in many countries around the world, with the purpose of protecting and aiding Canadian citizens when they are abroad. Canadian embassies represent the interests of Canadians in a foreign country through diplomatic business and political relations and offer consular services to Canadian citizens. The Canadian consulate, a smaller version of the embassy, deals with visa, passport, immigration and other consular issues for Canadian citizens traveling or living overseas. The following key terms may be useful when interacting with Canadian embassies and consulates.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada is the government department charged with maintaining Canada's foreign policy, trade agreements and protecting the safety of Canadian citizens living abroad. Canadian embassies and consulates fall under the jurisdiction of this department.

Embassy

An embassy is an office that represents a country in a foreign country. It is headed by an ambassador, who serves as a representative for a country. An embassy offers help for passports, visas, birth certificates or death notices for citizens of their country, along with dealing with foreign business and trade relations.

Consular services

Consular services refers to all the services rendered to a citizen while they are traveling or living abroad. Consular services include providing for evacuation in emergencies, assistance with medical or criminal emergencies, replacing lost or stolen passports, aid with money transfers or contact of next of kin in cases of emergencies while you are overseas.

Canadian High Commission

A Canadian High Commission is an embassy office located in capital cities of Commonwealth countries, of which Canada is a part. A Canadian high commission serves the same functions as embassies.

Canadian consulate general

A Canadian consulate general is a government office that offers the full range of consular services in major cities throughout the world.

Mission of Canada

A mission of Canada is an office that is located at major headquarters of international organizations such as the United Nations or the European Union. A mission of Canada does not offer consular services, but represents the government of Canada in those international organizations.