How does one become an Honorary Consul?
Having been an honorary consul I can tell you that depending on the duties it is very simple indeed. State Department regulations are not applicable to honorary consuls as they have no official diplomatic status, therefore no diplomatic immunity or need to present formal credentials. Most of their duties are merely ceremonial, cultural or social and are totally volunteer. They are not supposed to have a staff nor are they supposed to be paid for their duties. A major difference of an honorary consul versus a consul general is of nationality. An honorary consul is usually of the nationality of the host nation not the represented one. To be selected an honorary consul requires the nation making the honorary consul to nominate the person through the embassy of the host nation who send on the notice to the State Department which merely records it. To be made an honorary consul is a great honor but a tremendous amount of work. You need to be nominated from the country and they must not have
