Methodology & sources

Sources

• Official diplomatic lists. Most foreign ministries publish the list of foreign missions accredited to their country, with the names and ranks of diplomats. These lists are the main source of mission addresses and heads of mission. Lists are usually published once or twice a year.
• Missions' own websites and official announcements, including credentials ceremonies reported in the news.
• Corrections sent by visitors and mission staff, checked before they are published.

What the labels mean

• Confirmed {date} is the date the mission or its staff last appeared in an official source. Green means within the last 12 months (one diplomatic-list cycle); grey means 12–24 months; “Last confirmed” means older than two years.
• ✓ verified next to an email means mail to that address was delivered or answered in the last 12 months. Addresses that bounced are removed.
• ✓ checked next to a website means the site was checked to be the mission's own. Sites whose domain no longer exists are removed.
• Head of mission shows the source and date of the information. When a newer appointment has been reported but not yet confirmed (for example a credentials ceremony after the list date), the page says so.

Updates

The data is refreshed every week. The recent changes page and RSS feed list new heads of mission, credentials ceremonies and changed contacts.

Limits

Diplomatic information changes often and official lists can lag. Always confirm with the mission before travelling or sending documents. Visa information is a general guide only.