Dual accreditation

Multiple accreditation is a term of diplomacy. It means that an Ambassador or another member of the diplomatic mission is accredited simultaneously in several countries. Occasionally this also the term accreditation is used side.

Term

For cost reasons, entertain, not all states in any other country Embassies. Therefore, the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations ( WÜD ) of 1961 opened the possibility of multiple accreditation.

An ambassador or another member of the diplomatic staff of a representation can be accredited by the instrument of multiple accreditation simultaneously in several countries.

Since the 18th century was possible multiple accreditation in accordance with customary international law.

Legal basis

In Article 5 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations states

Admissibility

A multiple accreditation is only permitted if the sending State shall notify and expressly contradicts any of the States concerned. So the Holy See denied about the double accreditation of ambassadors accredited to the Italian government.

The process of accreditation addition is the same as for an accreditation in the host country, in which the ambassador has its seat. A multiple accreditation therefore presupposes that the ambassador presented his credentials to the President of the receiving State presented, in which he is nebenakkreditiert. Only then he is formally accredited in this country.

Double accreditation and multiple accreditation in the narrow sense

Is an ambassador accredited in two states is called a double accreditation. Thus, the German ambassador to Switzerland is about the same time accredited to Liechtenstein.

Is an ambassador accredited in more than two states is called a multiple accreditation (in the narrow sense). Thus, the German Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago at the same time in the Caribbean small states Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname is approximately accredited.

Diplomatic practice

The multiple accreditation is in practice often. From her make especially smaller states use, do not have a large diplomatic service. They talk only diplomatic missions in the most important countries of the world, in neighboring countries or in large trading partners. Otherwise, they make use of the instrument of multiple accreditation. To the Ambassador of Suriname in The Hague is about nebenakkreditiert simultaneously in Germany.

Ambassador larger states are often mehrfachakkreditiert in small states. Examples are the German Ambassador to Spain for Andorra, the German ambassador to France for Monaco or the German Ambassador to Italy for San Marino.

Collective representation

A distinction must be the multiple accreditation from the collection agency. In the collective representation of two or more States shall accredit the same person as ambassador in a receiving State. This possibility, Article 6 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. It is particularly attractive for small states.

A collective accreditation assumes that the Sending States have a special relationship. They thus represent approximately the Ambassador of Switzerland at the same time, the Principality of Liechtenstein in most countries of the world.