Furthering bilateral relations

The honorary consul shall further the development of commercial, economic, cultural and scientific relations between the Czech Republic and the receiving State; in particular, he shall:

a) inform the supervising post about all significant circumstances that might affect mutual relations in the above areas,

b) inform the supervising post about any investment and export opportunities for Czech companies in the consular district,

c) mediate contacts between natural and legal persons from the Czech Republic and from the receiving State,

d) organize events aimed at developing contacts in the above areas,

e) inform the general public in the receiving State about developments in the Czech Republic,

f) develop social activities,

g) support the local Czech community.

Assisting natural and legal persons

The honorary consul shall assist Czech natural and legal persons in dealing with difficulties; in particular, he shall:

a) provide basic information about the country, such as information about the laws, regulations and local customs,

b) in cooperation with the supervising post, assist Czech nationals temporarily present or permanently resident in the consular district in cases of distress, namely in cases of illness, accident and loss of travel documents or money,

c) promptly report to the supervising post any accidents resulting in serious injury or death of Czech nationals and, in cooperation with the supervising post, assist the persons concerned,

d) in cooperation with the supervising post, arrange for the transport of the remains of deceased Czech nationals or, as appropriate, for their burial in the consular district,

e) in cooperation with the supervising post and with the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participate in efforts to address humanitarian crises and emergencies and, as appropriate, in delivering Czech development assistance within the consular district.

 

Protecting rights and interests of natural and legal persons

1) The honorary consul shall promptly report to the supervising post:

a) any situations that pose or are likely to pose a risk to the lives, health or property of Czech nationals,

b) the occurrence of communicable diseases of humans or agricultural animals and the occurrence of plant pests,

c) any cases of Czech nationals who have been arrested, remanded in custody or committed to prison, whenever such cases come to his knowledge.

2) In cooperation with the supervising post, the honorary consul shall protect the rights and interests of Czech natural and legal persons, in particular by:

a) making sure that the applicable international treaties and the laws and regulations of the receiving State are respected in relation to Czech nationals who have been arrested, remanded in custody or committed to prison,

b) taking steps to restore the rights of persons whose rights have been violated in his consular district, and helping such persons to obtain appropriate legal representation before the courts and other authorities of the receiving State,

c) assisting in the appointment of guardians or trustees for minors and other Czech nationals who lack full legal capacity,

d) taking steps to protect the property of Czech natural and legal persons,

e) taking steps to safeguard the rights and interests of Czech natural and legal persons in cases of settlement of the estates of persons deceased in the consular district.

 

Assisting vessels and aircraft

1) The honorary consul shall promptly inform the supervising post:

a) about the local regulations and customs relating to ports and airports,

b) of any accidents of Czech vessels and aircraft, as well as of any foreign vessels or aircraft with Czech nationals on board at the time of the accident.

2) The honorary consul shall assist Czech vessels and aircraft, in particular by:

a) making sure that Czech vessels and aircraft are accorded all rights in compliance with international law, international and local customs and the laws and regulations of the receiving State,

b) issuing, at the request of the master of the vessel or captain of the aircraft, certificates stating the time of arrival and departure of the vessel or aircraft, the date of the master’s or captain’s arrival at the office of the honorary consul, the number of passengers, the kind and quantity of cargo and the port of destination,

c) taking steps to save the lives of passengers and crews and to preserve cargo in cases of emergencies and accidents.

Assisting nationals of the Member States of the European Union

In cooperation with the supervising post, the honorary consul shall extend consular protection to nationals of the Member States of the European Union.

 

Travel documents

The honorary consul shall:

a) receive applications from Czech nationals for changes and amendments to their travel documents and forward them to the supervising post or, if authorized to do so by the supervising post, shall make such changes and amendments,

b) subject to the consent of the supervising post, issue emergency passports to Czech nationals and emergency travel documents to nationals of the Member States of the European Union,

c) if authorized to do so by the supervising post, receive applications for passports without machine readable data and without a biometric data storage device.

Authenticating and certifying documents

The honorary consul shall, on request:

a) authenticate signatures,

b) certify copies (photocopies) of documents,

c) certify translations.

 

Superlegalization of public documents

In case there is no accessible Czech embassy or career consulate in the State to which the honorary consulate is accredited, the honorary consul may, upon agreement with the supervising post, certify the authenticity of official seals and official signatures (superlegalization).

Safekeeping

The honorary consul is authorized to receive from Czech nationals for safekeeping:

a) papers and other documents,

b) money,

c) valuables,

d) securities.

 

Visas

The honorary consul shall, by agreement with the supervising post, provide information on the requirements regarding visa applications and shall cooperate in processing visa applications in accordance with the instructions of the supervising post.