The consular service is an integral part of the functions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. Its main purpose is to exercise the relevant functions of the executive branch in relation to individuals (both natural and legal persons) abroad. The consular service serves Czech as well as foreign nationals.

International relations are governed by the fundamental principle of sovereign equality. This means that no State may exercise sovereign power over the territory of another State unless international law provides otherwise. The key document defining the scope and limits of the powers of consular posts vis-à-vis  individuals is Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 24 April 1963, published in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Notice No. 32/1969.

Within the structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the consular service falls within the remit of the Consular Department (assistance to Czech nationals abroad) and the Visa Department (entry and residence of foreign nationals in the Czech Republic). Both departments form part of the Legal and Consular Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Outside the Czech Republic, consular services are provided by the consular sections of Czech diplomatic missions, as well as by honorary consular officers. There are two types of honorary consular posts:

• - honorary consulate, and
• - honorary consulate general

The Czech Republic continuously develops and improves the network of its honorary consulates supervised by career consular posts (the “supervising post”). Today, it has more than 250 honorary consulates in different parts of the world. Honorary consuls are not in service, employed or otherwise engaged with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. However, they must have specifically defined qualifications such as good social standing and knowledge of local conditions. An honorary consular officer may be appointed from among respected individuals whose social standing in the receiving State, knowledge of the conditions in the proposed consular district, points of contact in the local public and private sectors, as well as experience and expertise provide an assurance that the functions will be efficiently exercised. The honorary consular officer may be appointed from among Czech nationals as well as nationals of other countries. Honorary consuls do not receive any pay for their services and are expected to bear most of the costs related to the exercise of their functions.

Czech honorary consuls are now taking on an increasing share of the effort to develop bilateral relations in fields such as the economy, trade, science, technology and culture, particularly in countries where the Czech Republic has no embassy or a consulate. Whether representing Czech interests, assisting Czech nationals or dealing with other issues in the country concerned, their role is absolutely irreplaceable.