[custom_adv] 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. [custom_adv] 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. [custom_adv] 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. [custom_adv] 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. [custom_adv] Many embassies have a consular section that deals with public administration and other consulate functions. In countries where there is only an embassy and no consulate, the embassy carries out all functions of both. [custom_adv] Even though embassies and consulates are located in another country, they are legally considered territory of the country they represent. So the host country does not have jurisdiction inside the embassy of a foreign country. [custom_adv] Embassies and consulates serve the same purpose but are slightly different regarding capacity. An embassy can be defined as a diplomatic mission established in the capital of a foreign country with the sole purpose of acting as the representative of the home country. A consulate, on the other hand, is a smaller diplomatic mission that is usually located outside the capitals of the receiving state. [custom_adv] An embassy is located right in the heart of the capital city of the receiving state, and it is headed by an ambassador, and houses the offices where representatives work. The reason why embassies are located in the capital city is to make them easily accessible to their citizens in case of an emergency, such as during a war. All the main diplomatic talks between two countries are held in embassies especially when the discussions involve sensitive matters like wars and trade.
