About Us

The Consular Corps of Tampa Bay falls under the Protocol Council   and is comprised of 24 career and honorary consuls who perform official duties for their respective countries and educate and inform the Tampa Bay public about their countries and their work.  Career consuls are full time employees of their government and a national of their country while honorary consuls may be either US citizens or permanent residents and are not required to be a national of the country they represent.  Since honorary consuls are non-career diplomats, they also hold other full-time professions. Honorary consuls are generally appointed to provide consular services in areas not covered by a career consul and receive no remuneration for their services.  Both career and honorary consuls are accredited by and issued official credentials by the United States Department of State.

 Corps members work to facilitate and enhance relationships between their governments and people in Tampa Bay.  Both career and honorary consuls are appointed by the Head of State or Foreign Minister of the country they represent and each country determines their need for representation and establishes their consulate with the approval of the United States Department of State.  

 Career and honorary consuls represent the interests of their governments with  Tampa Bay.  In addition, they promote tourism, trade, scientific, educational and cultural exchanges between their country and Tampa Bay.