In accordance with Article 4 of the Vienna Convention 1961, Agrément shall be sought for the person proposed to be accredited as the head of mission to the Republic of Latvia. Agrément shall be received before the person concerned officially arrives in Latvia or his/her identity is made public. The Curriculum Vitae of the proposed person shall be attached to the request for the Agrément.
Heads of diplomatic missions seeking Agrément in the Republic of Latvia, are divided into two classes, namely:
- That of Ambassadors or Nuncios, accredited to the Head of State and other heads of mission of equivalent rank;
- That of chargés d’affaires (en titre), accredited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other heads of equivalent rank, including heads of international organisations and representations thereof;
The request for Agrément may be submitted to the Head of State Protocol. Such requests may be made in the form of a verbal note from the mission concerned or from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the sending state. Non-resident missions shall communicate through the respective Latvian mission covering the bilateral relations.
In cases where the head of mission is to be accredited to more than one state and the Head is to reside outside Latvia, it is customary to await the Agrément of the country of residence. If the new head of mission would not reside in the same country as his predecessor, the Republic of Latvia should also be notified in compliance with Article 5, paragraph 1 of the Vienna Convention 1961.
Once Agrément has been granted, State Protocol notifies the sending state through diplomatic channels. The granting of Agrément may then be made public as desired.
Appointment of Chargés d’Affaires ad interim
In accordance with Article 19 of the Vienna Convention 1961, if the post of head of mission is vacant, or if the head of mission is unable to perform his duties, a Chargé d’Affaires ad interim shall act provisionally as head of the mission. The name of the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim shall be notified, either by the head of the mission in a letter bearing his or her signature or, in the case where he or she is unable to do so, by the MFA of the sending state to the MFA of the receiving state.
In cases where no member of the diplomatic staff of the mission is present in the receiving state, a member of the administrative and technical staff may, with consent of the receiving state, be designated by the sending state to be in charge of the day-to-day administrative affairs of the mission. Such person will have the title of Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
Please note that Chargés d’Affaires ad interim may not appoint another Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
The Ambassador-designate who would be residing in Latvia may arrive at any time following the grant of the Agrément.
The sending state shall request a date for the presentation of the Letters of Credence from the State Protocol. As soon as the sending state and the receiving state agrees on the proposed date and the MFA is notified about the Ambassador-designate’s planned date of arrival and the predecessor’s date of departure, preparation of the accreditation visit ensues.
The date of the ceremony for the presentation of the Letters of Credence State is set via communication of the State Protocol with the relevant Embassy. Once the proposed date is agreed on, the Embassy or other such institution as agreed, receives an official proposal of the date of the ceremony and an aide-memoire concerning the ceremony from the State Protocol prior to his/her arrival in Riga.
The Ambassador-designate would be welcomed by a State Protocol Officer only at Riga International Airport. Upon arrival by other means of transport, no official welcome is provided.
Although Ambassador-designate is free to choose the time and day of arrival in Riga, the State Protocol Officer will not be present upon arrivals during weekends, National Holidays or out of office hours.
On arrival to take up his/her post as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary as well as on final departure from Latvia, the expenses concerning the VIP service at Riga International Airport are covered by the MFA. For non-resident Ambassadors transfers from and to the Airport or departure according to the accreditation visit programme are covered by the MFA as well.
The Ambassador-designate may not entertain in an official status until his/ her Letters of Credence have been presented to the President of the Republic of Latvia, an act which marks the formal completion of the accreditation procedures.
Likewise, the Ambassador-designate may not enter into contact with other members of the Cabinet of Ministers or State Secretaries, members of the Saeima (Parliament), other elected representatives of institutions and officials from other Ministries. Similarly, during this period the Ambassador-designate should refrain from giving public interviews or making official declarations to the mass media.
In accordance with Article 13 of the Vienna Convention 1961, precedence among Ambassadors depends on the date of presentation of the Letters of Credence to the President.
The State Protocol is in charge of the organisation of the ceremony of presentation of the Letters of Credence. All practical aspects are arranged in close cooperation with the mission of the relevant state.
Once the date of the Ceremony has been determined, the State Protocol expects to receive the following information:
- time of the arrival of the Ambassador, including the flight number;
- names of accompanying persons;
- preferred working language to be used at the audiences;
- private residence address.
- True copies of the Letters of Credence and Recall of the predecessor are presented to the Head of State Protocol or the Deputy Head of State Protocol. During absence of the Head of State Protocol, the Deputy Head of State Protocol may substitute him/her in full capacity during the whole accreditation visit.
- Once the Head of the State Protocol has received the true copies of the Letters of Credence and Recall of the predecessor, the Ambassador-designate may contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its officials on a working basis.
- Where there is any need for contacts to be made or specific meetings to be held due to a force majeure situation, the Ambassador-designate should inform the Head of State Protocol.
On the predetermined date the Ambassador-designate pays a courtesy visit to the Head of State Protocol in order to present the true copies of the Letters of Accreditation and Recall.
Dress code: Dark Suit, National Dress, Diplomatic or Military Uniform
Venue: Residence of the President of the Republic of Latvia – Riga Castle
Official languages: Latvian and English
The incoming ambassador and the accompanying persons (the spouse, family members, members of embassy staff) arrive at the Riga Castle ~ 10 minutes before the ceremony, driving through the inner courtyard up to the main entrance.
The ambassador with the delegation is welcomed to the Riga Castle by the Chief of State Protocol.
The ambassador and the accompanying persons are staying in the Riga Room until the beginning of the ceremony, when they are invited to proceed to the Blue Parlour.
The presentation of the Letters of Credence is held in the White Hall.
The orchestra begins to play. The Guard of Honour open the door to the White Hall. The Head of State Protocol invites the first of the ambassadors and accompanying persons to enter the White Hall and take their designated places facing the President. The accompanying persons stop at a distance of approximately two meters behind the ambassador.
The Head of State Protocol introduces the incoming ambassador to the President by announcing: “Your Excellency, President of the Republic of Latvia, I have the honour to present to you Mr/Ms (name, surname).”.
A statement from the foreign ambassador follows.
The ambassador presents his/her Letter of Credence to the President. The President hands over the Letters of Credence to his aide-de-camp.
After that, an official photo of the President and the Ambassador is taken against the background of the national flags of the States. If the ambassador is accompanied by his/her family members/embassy staff, he/she introduces the accompanying persons to the President. The taking of a joint photo follows.
The President’s protocol officer escorts the ambassador and his/her family/embassy staff further to the Čakste Parlour and the enfilades. The ambassadors remain in the Čakste Parlour while the accreditation of other ambassadors is being held; after that, they are invited to the Ambassadors’ Hall.
Briefly after the departure of the foreign ambassador and his/her suite, the President and his aide proceed to the Ambassadors’ Hall.
The President remains in the Ambassadors’ Hall while the national flag of the next ambassador’s state is being replaced.
The next foreign ambassador (in the order of the date of receipt of credentials)
The incoming ambassador and the accompanying persons (the spouse, family members, members of embassy staff) arrive at the Riga Castle ~ 10 minutes before the ceremony, driving through the inner courtyard up to the main entrance.
The ambassador with the delegation is welcomed to the Riga Castle by the Chief of State Protocol.
The ambassador and the accompanying persons are staying in the Riga Room until the beginning of the ceremony, when they are invited to proceed to the Blue Parlour.
The presentation of the Letters of Credence is held in the White Hall.
The orchestra begins to play. The Guard of Honour open the door to the White Hall. The Head of State Protocol invites the first of the ambassadors and accompanying persons to enter the White Hall and take their designated places facing the President. The accompanying persons stop at a distance of approximately two meters behind the ambassador.
The Head of State Protocol introduces the incoming ambassador to the President by announcing: “Your Excellency, President of the Republic of Latvia, I have the honour to present to you Mr/Ms (name, surname).”.
A statement from the foreign ambassador follows.
The ambassador presents his/her Letter of Credence to the President. The President hands over the Letters of Credence to his aide-de-camp.
After that, an official photo of the President and the Ambassador is taken against the background of the national flags of the States. If the ambassador is accompanied by his/her family members/embassy staff, he/she introduces the accompanying persons to the President. The taking of a joint photo follows.
The President’s protocol officer escorts the ambassador and his/her family/embassy staff further to the Čakste Parlour and the enfilades. The ambassadors remain in the Čakste Parlour while the accreditation of other ambassadors is being held; after that, they are invited to the Ambassadors’ Hall.
Briefly after the departure of the foreign ambassador and his/her suite, the President and his aide proceed to the Ambassadors’ Hall.
The President remains in the Ambassadors’ Hall while the national flag of the next ambassador’s state is being replaced.
The ceremony is repeated for all the foreign ambassadors being granted accreditation.
Together with the last of the foreign ambassadors, the President proceeds to the Ambassadors’ Hall, where the ambassadors accredited earlier are present, and an introductory conversation is held. The conversation takes place in the presence of the President’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, representatives from the embassies, and the relevant desk officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After the conversation, the President of Latvia takes leave of the ambassadors in the Ambassadors Hall.
The Head of State Protocol accompanies the ambassadors back to the entrance of the Riga Castle.
It is not customary for gifts to be presented to the President during the ceremony of the presentation of the Letters of Credence. In case a gift has been brought, it should be presented via State Protocol Officer. Where possible, prior notification about intent of presenting a gift should be given.
Accreditation visit of a resident Ambassador includes:
- a courtesy call on the Speaker of the Saeima;
- a courtesy call on the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
These visits are organised by the State Protocol and included in the official programme.
Other appointments should be arranged by the Ambassador’s office.
Accreditation visit of a non -resident Ambassador includes:
- a courtesy call on the member of the Presidium of the Saeima;
- a courtesy call on the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
These visits are organised by the State Protocol and included in the official programme.
Other appointments should be arranged by the Ambassador’s office.
In accordance with Article 10 of the Vienna Convention 1961 the MFA shall be notified of the final departure or the termination of functions within the mission of members of the mission. Where possible, prior notification of the final departure shall also be given.
Once the State Protocol is notified about the date of termination of office of an Ambassador to Latvia via a verbal note, preparation of the farewell visit ensues.
A farewell visit of a resident Ambassador includes a courtesy call to the Speaker of the Saeima.
The State Secretary hosts a farewell meeting for the departing Ambassador.
Other farewell visits should be arranged by the Ambassador’s office.
The expenses concerning the VIP Lounge service at Riga International Airport are covered by the MFA (format 1+ family members).
A farewell visit of a non-resident Ambassador includes:
- a courtesy call to a member of the Presidium of the Saeima;
- a courtesy call to the Secretary of State.
Other farewell visits should be arranged by the Ambassador’s office.
The expenses concerning the VIP Lounge Service at the Riga International Airport, as well as transfers from/to the Airport for the departure according to the programme are covered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (format 1+1).
The State Protocol organises the farewell visits in close cooperation with the mission of the relevant country. In order to arrange the programme of the Ambassador’s farewell visit, the State Protocol would appreciate being informed about the planned departure of the Ambassador in due time.
Once the date of the farewell visit has been determined, the State Protocol expects to receive the following information:
- time of the departure of the Ambassador, including the flight number;
- names of accompanying persons;
- preferred working language to be used at the audiences;
- private residence address.
A State Protocol officer escorts the Ambassador to bid farewell only to the Riga International Airport. Upon departures by other means of transport, no escort is provided.
Although Ambassador is free to choose the time and day of departure, the State Protocol Officer will not be present upon departures during weekends, National Holidays or out of office hours.