Editing Letter of credence

{{short description|Letter granting (diplomatic) accreditation}}
[[File:Juraj Nemeš letter of credence.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Letter of credence for the Czechoslovak Ambassador to Lithuania (1992), written in the traditional French and signed by President [[Václav Havel]]]]

A '''letter of credence''' ({{langx|fr|Lettre de créance}}, {{IPA|fr|lɛtʁ də kʁeɑ̃s|}}) is a formal [[Diplomatic correspondence|diplomatic letter]] that designates a diplomat as [[ambassador]] to another sovereign state. Commonly known as '''diplomatic credentials''', the letter is addressed from one [[head of state]] to another, asking them to give '''credence''' ({{langx|fr|créance}}) to the ambassador's claim of speaking for their country. The letter is presented personally by the ambassador-designate to the receiving head of state in a formal ceremony, marking the beginning of the ambassadorship.

Letters of credence are traditionally written in French, the ''[[lingua franca]]'' of diplomacy.<ref name="poland">{{cite web|title=10th Anniversary of Poland's Accession to the EU|url=http://www.mfa.gov.pl/en/ministry/polish_diplomacy_archive/10th_anniversary_of_poland_s_accession_to_the_eu|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Poland|date=8 May 2014|quote=Letters of Credence (translated from French) of Jan Kułakowski, 26 February 1990 (AMFA).|access-date=20 March 2016|archive-date=19 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419170044/http://www.mfa.gov.pl/en/ministry/polish_diplomacy_archive/10th_anniversary_of_poland_s_accession_to_the_eu|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, they may also be written in the official language of the sending state.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ahren|first1=Raphael|title=New Egyptian ambassador brings Israel 'message of peace'|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/new-egyptian-ambassador-brings-israel-a-message-of-peace/|work=The Times of Israel|date=October 17, 2012|access-date=March 20, 2016|archive-date=September 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910141115/https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-egyptian-ambassador-brings-israel-a-message-of-peace/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="qing_empire">{{cite web|title=Diplomatic Credential Presented by the Great Qing Empire|url=http://theme.npm.edu.tw/exh103/Credentials/en/photo02.html|website=National Palace Museum|access-date=2016-03-21|archive-date=2016-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402214102/http://theme.npm.edu.tw/exh103/Credentials/en/photo02.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Language of letters ==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Queen of Pakistan letter to King of Iraq.jpg|thumb|A letter of credence from the [[Queen of Pakistan]] and sent to [[Faisal II of Iraq|King Faisal II]] of Iraq]] -->
Letters of credence between two monarchs of equal rank will typically begin with the salutation "Sir My Brother" (or "Madame My Sister", in the case of a female monarch) and close with the valediction "Your Good Brother" (or Sister, in the case of a female monarch). 

== Presentation of credentials ==
[[File:Pedro I of Brazil and Charles Stuart .jpg|thumb|British diplomat [[Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay|Sir Charles Stuart]] presenting his credentials to Emperor [[Pedro I of Brazil]], who is flanked by his wife [[Maria Leopoldina of Austria|Maria Leopoldina]], their daughter Maria da Glória (later Queen [[Maria II of Portugal]]), and other dignitaries (allegory), {{circa|1825}}]]
[[File:Pečar Presenting his Letter of Credence (3).tif|thumb|The Ambassador of [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], [[Zdravko Pečar (journalist)|Zdravko Pečar]], presenting his letter of credence to the [[Head of state of Ghana]], [[Ignatius Kutu Acheampong]], in 1974.]]
[[File:Vladimir Putin with Eugene-Richard Gasana.jpg|thumb|Ambassador [[Eugène-Richard Gasana]] of Rwanda presents his credentials to Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]], attended by Russian Foreign Minister [[Sergey Lavrov]] (2007).]]

Upon arrival at their post, the ambassador-designate meets with the foreign minister to arrange for an audience with the head of state.<ref name="2fam330">{{cite web|title=2 FAM 330 Ceremonies and Protocol Upon Assignment as Chief of Mission|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/documents/organization/84406.pdf|publisher=U.S. Department of State|date=February 28, 2012|quote=The new chief of mission requests, through the officer who has been acting as chargé d'affaires ad interim, an informal conference with the minister of foreign affairs or such other appropriate officer of the government in order to arrange to be received by the chief of state.|access-date=May 25, 2019|archive-date=November 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102232601/https://2001-2009.state.gov/documents/organization/84406.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> They bring both a sealed original and an unsealed copy of his credentials. The unsealed copy is given to the foreign minister upon arrival, and the original is presented personally to the head of state in a formal ceremony.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Oppenheim |first1=Lassa |title=International Law: A Treatise |date=1905 |volume=I}}</ref>{{rp|550}} Ambassadors do not begin their duties until their credentials are accepted, and their precedence within the [[diplomatic corps]] is determined by the date on which the credentials were presented.<ref>{{cite web|title=Diplomatic List: Order of Precedence and Date of Presentation of Credentials|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/dpl/29710.htm|website=Office of the Chief of Protocol, U.S. Department of State|date=11 March 2005|access-date=23 March 2016|archive-date=7 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307090853/https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/dpl/29710.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> They are, however, entitled to [[diplomatic immunity]] as soon as they enter the country.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dopagne |first1=Frédéric |last2=Hay |first2=Emily |last3=Theeuwes |first3=Bertold F. |editor1-last=Theeuwes |editor1-first=Bertold F. |title=Diplomatic Law in Belgium |date=2 June 2014 |publisher=Maklu |isbn=9789046606865}}</ref>{{rp|32}}<ref name="satow7">{{cite book |last1=Satow |first1=Ernest Mason |title=Satow's Diplomatic Practice |date=2017 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780198739104 |edition=7th}}</ref>{{rp|261}}

The ambassador-designate travels to the presentation ceremony in an official vehicle provided by the receiving state, accompanied by a military escort. In [[parliamentary system|parliamentary systems]], the [[head of state]] or [[viceroy]] acts according to legally-binding advice from the [[Executive (government)|government]]. The foreign minister will ''attend'' (be present with) the head of state at the actual ceremony, to symbolize the fact that the credentials are being accepted on the basis of government advice.<ref name="cyprus">{{cite web|title=Presentation of Credentials|url=http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2006.nsf/protocol01_en/protocol01_en|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115052336/http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2006.nsf/protocol01_en/protocol01_en|archive-date=November 15, 2013|quote=The President of the Republic invites the Ambassador in his Office, for an audience. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Director of the Office of the President, also attend.|access-date=March 20, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The ambassador-designate uses both hands to present their credentials to the head of state.<ref name="montenegro">{{cite web|title=Procedure for Presenting the Letters of Credence by the Head of Diplomatic Mission in Montenegro|url=http://www.mvpei.gov.me/en/sections/Diplomatic-Protocol/Procedure_for_Presenting_the_Letters_of_Credence_b/|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (Montenegro)|quote=Then he/she approaches the President of Montenegro and formally (with both hands) presents to him the Letter of Credence and the Letter of Recall of his/her predecessor. The President of Montenegro formally accepts the letters and shakes hands with the Head of Diplomatic Mission.|access-date=2016-03-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170601180534/http://www.mvpei.gov.me/en/sections/Diplomatic-Protocol/Procedure_for_Presenting_the_Letters_of_Credence_b/|archive-date=2017-06-01|url-status=dead}}</ref>  

Many governments hold presentation ceremonies with elements that are usually accorded to heads of state and government, like military honors. 

While credential ceremonies are among the most formal events in diplomacy, governed by strict protocols and detailed guidelines, variations in the nature of these ceremonies can still be observed among diplomats from different countries. Despite their scripted and calculated nature, these ceremonies offer state representatives a subtle yet significant space for signaling— positive or negative — establishing contact, or conveying messages.<ref>Roni Berkowitz, Gadi Heimann, Zohar Kampf, Communicating through Protocols: The Case of Diplomatic Credential Ceremonies, International Political Sociology, Volume 18, Issue 2, June 2024, olae013, https://doi.org/10.1093/ips/olae013</ref>

=== ''Chargé''-level relations ===

When two countries maintain relations at the [[chargé d'affaires]] level, the letter of credence will be written by the foreign minister of the sending state and addressed to the foreign minister of the receiving state. The chargé will present their credentials to the foreign minister.<ref>{{cite book|title=Instructions to the Diplomatic Officers of the United States|url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924007493533|date=1897|location=Washington, DC|pages=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924007493533/page/n24 1]–5|publisher=U.S. Department of State}}</ref> The head of state is neither addressed nor presented with the credentials, symbolizing the lower level of diplomatic relations between the countries. The chargé is not entitled to a military escort or an official car.

=== Commonwealth ===

[[High commissioner (Commonwealth)|High commissioners]] from [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] nations do not present letters of credence. When two [[Commonwealth realms]] share the same [[British monarch|monarch]] as head of state, the [[prime minister]] of the sending state writes an informal letter of introduction to the prime minister of the receiving state.<ref>Alison Quentin-Baxter and Janet McLean, ''This Realm of New Zealand: The Sovereign, the Governor-General, the Crown'', 2017</ref> When a Commonwealth nation is a republic or has its own separate monarch, high commissioners are dispatched and received with letters of commission, which are written by one head of state and presented to another head of state.<ref name="dictionary3_introduction">{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Berridge |first1=G. R. |last2=Lloyd |first2=Lorna |title=Letter of introduction|encyclopedia=The Palgrave Macmillan Dictionary of Diplomacy |date=2012 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=9780230302990 |edition=3rd |page=229}}</ref><ref name="dictionary3_commission">{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Berridge |first1=G. R. |last2=Lloyd |first2=Lorna |title=Letters of commission|encyclopedia=The Palgrave Macmillan Dictionary of Diplomacy |date=2012 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=9780230302990 |edition=3rd |page=230}}</ref> Both forms of letters were standardized in 1950–1951 after India became a republic, replacing a chaotic system where some high commissioners carried letters from the prime minister, some carried letters from the minister of external relations, and others carried no letters at all.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lloyd |first1=Lorna |title=Diplomacy with a Difference: the Commonwealth Office of High Commissioner, 1880-2006 |date=2007 |publisher=Martinus Nijhoff |isbn=9789047420590 |pages=138–140}}</ref>

== See also ==
* ''[[Agrément]]''

== References ==
{{commons category|Letters of credence}}
{{reflist}}

{{Diplomacy}}

[[Category:Diplomatic documents]]
[[Category:Letters (message)]]