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Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110

§254c Extension of More Favorable or Less Favorable Treatment Than Provided Under Vienna Convention; Authority of President

Title 22 › CHAPTER 6 — FOREIGN DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR OFFICERS › § 254c

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President may decide, based on reciprocity and under terms he sets, to give a diplomatic mission, its staff, their families, and diplomatic couriers treatment that is more favorable or less favorable than what the Vienna Convention says. The Secretary of State, with the Attorney General’s agreement, may do the same for consular posts, their staff, and their families. Before using that power, the Secretary must consult the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Appropriations. This refers to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of April 24, 1963, which took effect for the United States on December 24, 1969.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §254c

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
The President may, on the basis of reciprocity and under such terms and conditions as he may determine, specify privileges and immunities for the mission, the members of the mission, their families, and the diplomatic couriers which result in more favorable treatment or less favorable treatment than is provided under the Vienna Convention.
(b)Consular immunity
(1)In general
The Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Attorney General, may, on the basis of reciprocity and under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may determine, specify privileges and immunities for a consular post, the members of a consular post, and their families which result in more favorable or less favorable treatment than is provided in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, of April 24, 1963 (T.I.A.S. 6820), entered into force for the United States on December 24, 1969.
(2)Consultation
Before exercising the authority under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall consult with the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate regarding the circumstances that may warrant the need for privileges and immunities providing more favorable or less favorable treatment than is provided in the Vienna Convention.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2017—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 115–94 substituted “and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations” for “of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations”. 2016—Pub. L. 114–323 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b). 1982—Pub. L. 97–241 substituted “immunities for the mission, the members” for “immunities for members” and “diplomatic couriers which” for “diplomatic couriers of any sending state which”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1982 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–241 effective Oct. 1, 1982, see section 204 of Pub. L. 97–241, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 4301 of this title.

Effective Date

Section effective at end of ninety-day period beginning on Sept. 30, 1978, see section 9 of Pub. L. 95–393, set out as a note under section 254a of this title.

Executive Documents

Ex. Ord. No. 12101. Delegation of Functions to Secretary of State Respecting Privileges and Immunities for Diplomatic Missions and Personnel Ex. Ord. No. 12101, Nov. 17, 1978, 43 F.R. 54195, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12608, Sept. 9, 1987, 52 F.R. 34617, provided: By the authority vested in me as President of the United States of America by the Diplomatic Relations Act (Public Law 95–393, 92 Stat. 808; 22 U.S.C. 254a et seq.) and Section 301 of Title 3 of the United States Code, in order to implement the liability insurance and other requirements relating to diplomatic personnel, I hereby designate and empower the Secretary of State to perform, without the approval, ratification, or other action of the President, the functions vested or to be vested in the President by section 4 of Diplomatic Relations Act (92 Stat. 809; 22 U.S.C. 254c).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 254c

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110