An embassy is the main location for a diplomatic presence of one country in another. A country has at most one embassy in another country, and most embassies are located in capital cities. Consulates are like branch offices of the embassy; a nation can have several consulates in another country, usually located in all major cities of that country. Political and diplomatic relations are usually handled from the embassy. Consulate workers handle travel and immigration issues, help in improving trade between the countries, and facilitate cultural exchange.
Embassies are the center for high-level government interactions, and play a role in major international relations, such as preparing treaties and arranging official state visits. Foreign governments communicate with one-another via their respective embassies. Embassies also promote their home culture and foreign policy, monitor the status of events in the host country, and protect the rights of their citizens traveling abroad. Most embassies also have a military attaché who is responsible for communication between the two militaries. The head of an embassy is the ambassador, who is the official representative authorized to speak on behalf of the head of state of the country.
