Guidelines on Protocol Practice
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Guidelines on Protocol Practice Department of Protocol Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand 2014 Guidelines on Protocol Practice Department of Protocol Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand 2014 i Foreword This guideline on protocol practice is designed for the use of Diplomatic Missions, Consular Posts, United Nations Specialized Agencies, and International Organizations accredited to Thailand, which are entitled to enjoy immunities and privileges in performing their functions in the Kingdom of Thailand. The privileges and immunities granted to foreign missions and their diplomatic and consular staff members in Thailand are principally under the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963, to which Thailand is a party, as well as international customary laws and the prevailing laws and regulations of Thailand. Department of Protocol B.E. 2557 (2014) iii Table of Contents Page Part 1: Personnel of Diplomatic Missions, Consular Posts and International Organizations in Thailand............. 1 1. Diplomatic Missions ................................................. 1 2. Consular Posts ........................................................... 2 3. Defense Attaché ........................................................ 3 4. Staff Members of International Organizations ..... 4 5. Family Members ....................................................... 4 6. Private Servants ........................................................ 5 Part 2: Administrative Arrangements ....................................... 7 1. Visa Requirements .................................................... 7 2. Notifications .............................................................. 7 3. Permit of Stay ............................................................ 8 4. Re-Entry Visa ............................................................. 9 5. Newly Born Child in Thailand ............................... 9 6. Employment .............................................................. 10 7. Identity Card ............................................................. 10 8. Driving License ......................................................... 11 9. VIP Lounges .............................................................. 12 10. Permission to Carry Firearms and Communi- cation Equipment ...................................................... 15 11. Permission to Visit Thai Ports of Foreign Ships ... 16 12. Diplomatic Flight Clearance ................................... 16 Part 3: Protocol Guidelines for the Arrival of the New Ambassador ....................................................................... 19 1. Appointment of the new Ambassador .................. 19 2. Arrival of the Ambassador-Designate ................... 19 3. Calling at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after Arrival ........................................................................ 20 v Table of Contents (continued) Page 4. Documents Required for the Request for an Audience with His Majesty the King and for Granting the Commencement of Ambassadorial Duties.......................................................................... 20 5. Request for the Royal Audience and the Commencement of Ambassadorial Duties ........... 20 6. Ceremony of Presentation of the Letters of Credence..................................................................... 21 7. Termination of Mission ............................................ 23 Part 4: Guideline for Bestowal of the Royal Decorations on Diplomatic agent......................................................... 25 Part 5: Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities ........................ 27 1. Diplomatic Immunities ............................................ 28 2. Firearms...................................................................... 29 3. Access to Restricted Areas at Suvarnabhumi International Airport ................................................ 30 4. Security Measures at Suvarnabhumi International Airport ............................................... 31 5. Procedures for Receiving and Delivering of Diplomatic Bags ........................................................ 32 6. Acquisition and Sale of Land and Building by Diplomatic Missions ................................................. 32 7. Request for Immigration and Customs Facilitation at the Border Checkpoints ....................................... 33 8. Acquisition and use of Motor Vehicles .................. 33 9. Formalities for the Acquisition or Disposal of Motor Vehicles........................................................... 36 10. Formalities for Customs Clearance of Imported Goods.......................................................................... 41 11. Export of objects of Thai Cultural Heritage and Import of Antique/Objects of Art/Buddha Images into Thailand................................................ 43 vi Table of Contents (continued) Page 12. Importation of/and Authorization to use Radio Communication Equipment .................................... 45 13. Exemption from Value Added Tax (VAT).............. 45 14. Excise Tax Refund for Gasoline .............................. 48 Part 6: Visit of the Royal Head of State/Head of State and Head of Government ....................................................... 51 1. Types of visit.............................................................. 51 2. Ceremonies on the visit............................................ 60 3. Motorcade .................................................................. 74 4. Information to be provided by the Visiting Side .. 75 vii Part 1 Personnel of Diplomatic Missions, Consular Posts and International Organizations in Thailand The status of staff members of Diplomatic Missions, Consular Posts and International Organizations in Thailand is governed by the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963), international and bilateral agreements which Thailand is party and Thailand’s legislation which implemented the said Conventions and agreements. 1. Diplomatic Missions 1.1 Diplomatic agents A diplomatic agent is the Head of the Diplomatic Mission or a member of the diplomatic staff of the mission. Diplomatic agents should, in principle, be of the nationality of the sending State, in accordance with Article 8 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. Diplomatic agents enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities specified in the Articles 29 to 36 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. 1.2 Members of the administrative and technical staff of the mission The members of the administrative and technical staff are the members of the staff of the mission recruited in the sending State and employed in the administrative and technical service of the mission. Members of the administrative and technical staff of the mission enjoy 1 diplomatic privileges and immunities specified in the Articles 29 to 35 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, except that the immunity from civil and administrative jurisdiction of the receiving State specified in paragraph 1 of Article 31 shall not extend to acts performed outside the course of their duties. They also enjoy the privileges specified in Article 36, paragraph 1, in respect of article imported at the time of first installation. 1.3 Members of the service staff of the mission The members of the service staff are the members of the staff of the mission employed in the domestic service of the mission. Members of the service staff of the mission who are not Thai nationals or permanently resides in Thailand enjoy immunity in respect of acts performed in the course of their duties and exemption from dues and taxes on the emoluments they receive by reason of their employment and the exemption contained in Article 33 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. 2. Consular Posts 2.1 Career Consuls Career consular officers are the professional members of the sending State’s career consular corps, including the head of a consular post, entrusted in that capacity with the exercise of consular functions. The career consular officers enjoy privileges and immunities specified in Article 40-57 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963. 2.2 Honorary Consuls The establishment of Honorary Consulates and the admission of Honorary Consuls as well as the facilities, privileges and immunities applying to Honorary Consuls and Honorary Consulates are based on the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). According to Article 62 of the said Convention, the receiving state shall, in accordance with such laws and regulations as it may adopt, permit entry of, and grant exemption from all customs duties, taxes, and related charges other than charges for storage, cartage and similar services on the forwarding articles, provided that they are for the official 2 use of a consular post headed by an honorary consular officer: coats-of- arms, flags, signboards, seals and stamps, books, official printed matter, office furniture, office equipment and similar articles supplied by or at the instance of the sending state to the consular post. The appointment of the Head of Consular Post and Honorary Consul-General/Consul shall require an approval of the Royal Thai Government before they can exercise their functions in Thailand. The sending state shall send a Note Verbale proposing the appointment with