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Diplomatic and Consular Missions

We regularly advise diplomatic and consular missions not only on the application of (i) the rules of law relating to their status, privileges and immunities and to those of the members of their staff and their families, as they derive in particular from the Conventions of Vienna on diplomatic and consular relations, but also (ii) on provisions of Belgian law. For example, we can intervene within the framework of:

  • Providing advice on Belgian labor legislation;
  • Drafting of social documents in accordance with Belgian law (work regulations eligible for approval by the Commission des Bons Offices (CBO) and the work inspection, employment contracts, dismissal letters etc.);
  • Obtaining work permits for certain members of the staff of diplomatic missions (especially when the period of validity of special cards expires);
  • Rules governing the main contracts binding the diplomatic mission or the consulate with local players (leases, sales contracts, business or insurance contracts, etc.);
  • Rules governing immunities from jurisdiction and execution of diplomatic missions, consulates and diplomats;
  • Tracking CD license plates and special identity cards to categories of personnel active in diplomatic and consular missions, and to members of their families;
  • Monitoring of special identity cards for private servants of foreign diplomatic representatives (being the head of a diplomatic or consular post or the head of a recognized international organization with diplomatic status).

We also assist diplomatic and consular missions in monitoring, if necessary in close collaboration with the Protocol Service (foreign affairs) and the FPS Finance, all legal and tax matters concerning them.

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