What is the difference between Consul and Honorary Consul?

People often ask me what I do as an Honorary Consul and what is the difference between Honorary Consul and Consul or Career Diplomat.

I tell people that my work is helping other people. You may have seen in the news if Australians are experiencing difficulties overseas Australia is providing consular assistance to the people in need. This is what consuls do.

The work is not always related to the urgent matters, sometimes it is helping people to certify certain documents, verify signatures, help with the visas, birth and wedding registrations and the list goes on.

We are representatives of the other country in the specific territory. We represent at the functions, meetings, trade delegations, culture & arts, sport and government. Each Consul has a territory where they do the work. I represent Slovakia in Western Australia. 

Going back to the difference between Consul and Honorary Consul is the way they work and are renumerated for their work. Consuls or Career Diplomats are government employees and the country they represent is paying their salary. Depending on the country they stay 3-4 years overseas and then work for a while in their country before send out again.

Honorary Consuls doing all work without pay and are not employed by their governments. All expenses they cover by themselves and all fees collected they send to their embassies. Their work can be very demanding not only on the finances but also on time. If someone is in need everything else needs to wait so help can be given to people. They don't change the location.

Apart from being a huge honour to represent the country and being a diplomat, it is not a job that is flash. It costs honorary consuls time, money and energy with not much in return. As for me, I do it as a service to the community - Slovak and Australian. It is my way of giving back.

One of the few privileges for consuls is to have a CC number plates on their cars. This way cars can be recognised as diplomatic cars. In Western Australia, you will see Career Diplomats driving vehicles with the number plates starting from CC 1000 and Honorary Consuls with plates from CC 2000.

The point that I want to make is for you to know how much work all Consuls are doing for their communities. Next time you see Consul at work I'm sure you will have more appreciation for their work and contribution to society and all people.