When one is introduced to the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke or a member of the Royal Family, the usual courtesy requires shaking hands.

In a presentation to His Royal and Imperial Highness the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke and in a subsequent conversation, the traditional address is "His Royal Highness or His Imperial Highness".

In a presentation to Her Royal and Imperial Highness the Grand Princess and Grand Duchess Consorte and in a subsequent conversation, the traditional address is "Her Royal Highness or Her Imperial Highness or" Lady ".

The conventional direction for other members of the royal family is:

• His Royal or Imperial Highness.

• His Royal or Imperial Highness or "Lady".

• Other male members of the Royal Family with the title of Prince: "His Royal Highness". Children of these only His Highness.

• Other female members of the Royal Family with the title of Princess: "His Highness or" Lady ".

Annex New State Protocol:

Credentials

Presentation of the style copies of the credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The Protocol Directorate, as soon as it receives the corresponding request, will agree with the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the date for the new diplomatic representative to deliver the style copies of the credentials that accredit him as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary before the receiving State, date that will be communicated to the respective mission.

The diplomatic representative will be received upon arrival at the Government Palace by officials of the Protocol Directorate. Moments before the hearing with the Chancellor, the Director of the Protocol, for his part, will give him the corresponding greeting of welcome and will explain the ceremony, both of presentation of the style copies to the Minister and of the credentials to the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke, Head of Government, accompanying him next to the Protocol Room, where he will be received by the Minister.

The same procedure, as appropriate, will be followed in the case of the person in charge of business with cabinet letters.

Presentation of Credentials to the Head of Government

The Directorate of the Protocol will coordinate the pertinent with the Head of Government, and inform the mission in due time of the date and time when the Sovereign, in a special ceremony, will receive the new Ambassador to the receiving state for the purpose of presenting the respective credentials. .

On the day set for said ceremony, an official with diplomatic rank of the Directorate of the Protocol, accompanied by a Sovereign aide-de-camp, will travel to the Embassy's headquarters, the Ambassador's residence or the previously agreed place, to accompany him in a designated vehicle. especially for this event, up to the Government Palace.

Patriotic Days

On the occasion of the National Holiday, which is held each year, the Protocol Director will invite, on behalf of the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government, each head of mission to assist in the company of his spouse to a solemn "Te Deum "in the Cathedral Primada.

The Diplomatic Note will indicate the time of the ceremony and will also make some recommendations for the entry and parking of vehicles.

In the Primada Cathedral, representatives of foreign governments and international organizations will be placed according to their precedence.

Once the ceremony in the Primate Cathedral ends and if it is the case, the Ministry of National Defense will be in charge of the organization of the military parade, allocating a special platform for the Honorable Diplomatic Corps.  Once this last act has been concluded, the heads of mission and their spouses will be taken by Protocol officials to the parking place of diplomatic vehicles.

State Visas

The Protocol Directorate of the Ministry of Relations has the authority to authorize and issue preferential visas, in the Diplomatic, Official and Service categories, in accordance with the provisions established for that purpose.

Without prejudice to what is established in the agreements concluded regarding visa exemption, the visas of the staff members of diplomatic, consular and international organizations, will be issued provisionally abroad, with a maximum validity of 90 days. , by the head of a diplomatic mission or consular office of the State, upon request made by the respective Ministry of Foreign Affairs, international organization, diplomatic mission or consular office, as appropriate, and with the authorization of the Protocol Directorate in the cases so provided by the current statute.

If the Directorate of the Protocol considers it duly justified, it may authorize the head of a diplomatic mission or consular office of State to issue Diplomatic and Official preferential visa, for a period of two (2) years the first, and one (1) year the second.

Once the appointment and arrival of a new staff member has been notified, the respective mission must request in Verbal Note addressed to the Protocol Office within eight (8) days after entering the country, the issuance of the definitive visa corresponding, accompanying:

• A front photo, size 3 x 4 cms. and blue background.

• Passport in good condition, with a validity of no less than six (6) months

Any request for a preferential visa duly filled out before the Protocol Directorate, will be processed 8 business days after its filing in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Given that visas will be granted for a specific period for each category as indicated below, missions should take good care to proceed with the timely renewal during the beneficiary's stay in the country. In no way should be understood that the possession of an identity card whose validity exceeds the expiration date of the visa, exempts from the previous obligation.

Wreath 

This ceremony, which is customary to commemorate the anniversaries of the national holidays of the countries with representation in the State, must be announced with sufficient advance notice to the Directorate of the Protocol, which will be responsible for coordinating the corresponding acts and for that purpose will enter contact with the Guard Battalion for the provision of the street of honor and the military band of musicians in the place of the offering.

This will be placed first before the monument to the Liberator of the Fatherland, and then before the monument to the respective hero. Once the solemn act is over, the head of mission will proceed to sign the book of illustrious visitors.

On official visits by heads of State and / or Government, a solemn ceremony will be held in the Central Plaza before the monument to the Liberator, which will be coordinated by the Director of the Protocol and in which they will participate, in addition to the visiting Head of State, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the two countries.

On the occasion of official visits by ministers of Foreign Affairs, the wreath-laying ceremony will take place in the Patriotic Mausoleum to the Flag and, if appropriate, before the monument of the patron of the visiting country, with the coordination of the Director of the Protocol and the head of the respective diplomatic mission.

Privileges and Immunities

In accordance with international law, foreign agents and their respective families will be granted privileges and immunities from the moment they have communicated in due form that they are in the national territory.

Immunity, which in a broad sense also includes inviolability, is the condition attributed to missions, agents, places or property that exempts them from submission to the local jurisdiction, in the aspects expressly indicated in the Vienna Conventions of 1961 and 1963.

As regards, in particular, the missions, it should be noted that they do not have their own legal personality but act as representatives of their respective States, and in such a character the aforementioned international instruments exclusively provide for the inviolability of the premises of the mission, as well as the goods located in them, the means of transportation and the archives and documents, the latter wherever they may be.   The right to immunity is based on the need for diplomatic bodies in charge of international relations to enjoy all the facilities for the efficient, free, independent and safe development of their functions. In any case, this does not exclude the obligation to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State.

Staff members of diplomatic missions and consular offices, of Colombian nationality or resident aliens, shall not enjoy privileges and immunities in accordance with the provisions.

Preferential Visa Classes

The Protocol Office of the Ministry of Relations grants preferential visas in the Diplomatic, Official and Service categories. For applications, the following applies:

DIPLOMATIC PREFERENTIAL VISA

The diplomatic passport bearer who has entered the national territory and is accredited to the Directorate of the Protocol to carry out a position in a Diplomatic Mission, Consular Office or International Organization duly accredited to the receiving Government.

Without prejudice to what is established in the agreements celebrated in terms of visa exemption, the diplomatic preferential visa will be granted, in the national territory, by the Directorate of the Protocol for up to four (4) years, renewable if necessary, prior request of the respective diplomatic representation. Once the Mission is over, the visa holder may remain in the country covered by the same up to a maximum period of 60 days.

Exception: In fully justified cases, the Protocol Directorate may authorize and issue a Diplomatic Preferential Visa online to the diplomatic, consular or international official, who, without being a diplomatic passport holder, comes to the country to carry out activities related to their duties and is accredited.

Requirements:

• To be accredited before the Protocol Directorate.

• A photo front size 3x4 white background.

• Copy of the current passport page (minimum period of six months) where the personal data are registered.

• Copy of the page of the current passport where the last stamp of entry to the National Territory has been stamped.

OFFICIAL PREFERENTIAL VISA

The foreign official who comes to the country in the performance of an official mission and is duly accredited to the Directorate of the Protocol will be issued. The official preferential visa will be granted, in the national territory, by the Directorate of the Protocol for up to four (4) years, and may be renewed for periods of up to two (2) years, upon request of the respective diplomatic representation. Once the Mission is over, the visa holder may remain in the country covered by the same up to a maximum period of 30 days.

Requirements:

• To be accredited before the Protocol Directorate.

• A photo front size 3x4 white background.

• Copy of the current passport page (minimum period of six months) where the personal data are registered.

• Copy of the page of the current passport where the last stamp of entry to the National Territory has been stamped.

PREFERENTIAL SERVICE VISA

It will be issued to an accredited foreigner before the Protocol Directorate that has entered the country in the following cases:

a) As an international official or expert, within the Framework of International Treaties that are in force.

b) As a member of the administrative and technical staff of a Diplomatic Mission, Consular Office or an International or Cooperation Organization.

c) As a member of the service staff of a Diplomatic Mission, Consular Office or of an International or Cooperation Organization, or as a private employee of a member of the mission staff, provided that the employee does not have permanent residence in the country.

The preferential service visa will be granted, in the national territory, by the Protocol Directorate and its duration will be established according to the mission term, the work contract or the provision of services valid for up to two (2) years, renewable for equal periods. . Once the mission is finished, the contract or activity the holder may stay for up to 30 calendar days.

Requirements:

• To be accredited before the Protocol Directorate

• A photo front size 3x4 white background

• Copy of the current passport page (minimum period of six months) where the personal data are registered.

• Copy of the page of the current passport where the last stamp of entry to the National Territory has been stamped.

Remember:

• Documents must be attached at the time the system requests it. No physical document will be received for the procedure.

• Visas once authorized, will be delivered exclusively on MONDAY AND WEDNESDAYS FROM 08:00 AM TO 5:00 PM at the correspondence office of the Protocol Office to the official of each embassy in charge of this procedure, who must provide the respective passports .

Distinctions, Honors and State Decorations

Grand Master:

The Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government is, by virtue of his function, the Grand Master of all state honors and , as such, all degrees grants and supervises in his organization, guidance and discipline of the orders .

The Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government, as Grand Master of the State Honorific Orders, is a private award the National Band of Orders. You can, of the same quality, use any Great Collar of the Honorary Orders without your Great Neck Band.

The Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government is assisted in the exercise of his functions as Grand Master of the Orders, by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Councils of the orders.

There is a Chancellor and a Council for each of the groups of orders, all of which are directly under the orders of the Sovereign.

Competencies of the Grand Master:

The Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government is, by virtue of his function, the Grand Master of all honorific Orders, as defined in Article 14 of the Constitution.

In accordance with the Law of Honorary Orders, the granting of any degree of honors is the sole responsibility of the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government. This power may be exercised at the initiative of the Sovereign or by the entities to which the law confers the faculty.

On the occasion of diplomatic meetings, the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government may grant the Grand Collar degree of foreign heads of state, and of course, may also grant with the Grand Cross of orders that have great collar.

The Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government may grant the degree of Grand Collar of former heads of state and persons whose achievements, extraordinary and special relevance nature to the State, make them worthy of this distinction.

The Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government may grant the title of honorary member of the authorities or institutions.

As Grand Master, the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government supervises in his organization, the orientation and discipline of the orders, with the cooperation of the Foreign Ministers and the Councils of the orders.

Band of the Orders

The Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government, as Grand Master of the Honorary Orders, is a private prize for the use of the Bands of the orders.

The Decorations and the National Bands can not be used outside the office of Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government, it is inherent in his role as Grand Master. Therefore, it is granted to holders of the Head of Government and the rank of Grand Master, but only used by them in that capacity during the period of their mandate.

In a diplomatic meeting, the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke, Head of Government, can use the Grand Collar or Grand Cross of the foreign order that has been granted, which precedes in this case, which will be placed in the second position of precedence , after the national ones.

Organization of the Honorary Orders

The Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government is assisted in the exercise of his functions as Grand Master of the Orders, by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Councils of the orders. There is a Chancellor and a Council for each of the orders groups (military orders, National Orders and Orders of Civil Merit), all of which are directly under the orders and control of the Sovereign.

Chancellors of the Orders

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs are appointed by decree of the Sovereign and goes through one of the orders included in the group that will be in charge. The functions of the rectors cease if they are removed by the Sovereign who appointed them or the next Head of Government.

The Chancellors of the Orders are responsible for proposing to the Sovereign the members of his Council and presiding over the meetings of the same. They are for signing the award the issuance of diplomas of orders in which they supervise and determine the disciplinary procedures to the members of the orders that violate their duties for the country, the society or the Order to which they belong.

The Foreign Ministers may represent the Sovereign in ceremonies related to the same orders.

Orders Tips

The Councils of the orders are chaired by their Chancellor and consist of the number of members appointed by the Sovereign.

Members of the National Orders:

All the citizens or entities granted under the Law of Orders are members of the Honor Orders.

Regular members are citizens decorated with any order of the degree to which they belong. Honorary members are foreigners, units and military establishments, militarized bodies and localities, communities or institutions decorated with any order.

The full members of the national honorific orders have the right to use the badges that have been issued and the honors and the constant priority of the law of honor orders.

The functions of the members of the honors:

a) To defend and honor the Nation in all circumstances;

b) Adjust their procedure, public and private, by the dictates of virtue and honor;

c) Comply with the dispositions and instructions of the respective councils of the Order;

d) To dignify your order by all means and in all circumstances.

The honorary members of the requested honors have only the right to wear the badges of their degree and have the duty not to damage in any way the interests of the State.

Assignments 

The granting of any degree of national honors is the exclusive competence of the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government and Grand Master of the Orders. The Sovereign may exercise this power on his own initiative or by the proposal of other entities to which the law confers the possibility.

Despite the imposition of the badge can be delegated to another entity, the ceremony is done in the name of the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government.

Proposals 

The President of the Parliament and the Prime Minister may propose the granting of degrees of any order to national or foreign citizens.

The initiative of the proposals presented by the Prime Minister can start from any of the ministers. In the case of the Military Order, the initiative must come from the Minister of National Defense, after a hearing of the Armed Forces.

The Councils of the orders can offer to grant any degree of their orders, at the initiative of any of its members or at the end of the assessment of grace and petitions made by the citizens or entities.

Award Process

The proposals for granting any grade of the honorary Order must be duly motivated and signed by the proposing entity.

The prize for the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government takes the form of a license, publish, in whole or in part, in the Official State Gazette.

Once the prize has been awarded, the Chancellery of the Orders issues the corresponding diploma signed by the Chancellor of the respective Order and authenticated by the Chancellor's Board.

Investment 

The endowment is solemn when the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government presides over the act. Before the imposition of the badge, the license grant is read.

The investiture of the citizens is preceded by the signing of the oath to observe the Constitution and the law and respect for the discipline of National Honors.

The Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government may, by express charge, delegate the imposition of the insignia to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the respective orders, members of the government, representatives of the Republic in the Autonomous Communities in the acts to carry them out, the Head of State, the staff or State Ambassador in the Country, where the ceremony takes place.

Registration and Authorization of Foreign Decorations:

The acceptance of foreign decorations requires prior authorization from the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government.

At present, it is the power of the Sovereign to permit and accept the use of a foreign award, it is limited to the honorary orders assigned by the States and entities, internationally recognized, that have such power.

The application for authorization to accept foreign decorations is addressed to the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government, which indicates the name, profession and address of the applicant and the necessary of grace and identification elements, and is presented with your diploma, the Order of the Chancellery. The request must be sent to the following address:

"Chancellery of the Nation's Honorific Orders

Government Headquarters

National Palace of Government "

The request, accompanied by the necessary information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is submitted to the order of the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government.

The order of authorization to accept the foreign award is published in the Official Gazette and the interested person and the Chancellery of the National Honor Orders will be notified for the registration of their degree of grace.

They will be exempt from the application for admission of foreign decorations without prejudice to registration for their diplomas of grace, the Sovereign and his spouse, the presidents of the other organs of sovereignty and the governing bodies of the Autonomous Communities, the members government, the Chiefs of the staffs of the armed forces, as well as the personnel of the Head of Government and the offices of the aforementioned entities, when they are granted, and to each other as such.

The provisions of the previous paragraph shall be extended to the bodies that are part of the delegation of the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Head of Government, the President of the Assembly of the Nation or the Prime Minister in official events abroad or granted on the occasion of meetings diplomats nature in State.

Use of the Badges

The insignia of the National Honor Orders are placed from right to left, on the left side of the chest, in the following order of priority:

In a diplomatic meeting, the honors granted by the countries with which the meeting was held can be used simultaneously with national awards, which precedes the present case the foreign sentence.

The use of badges with the complete suit is what maintains more specifications on the established rules. It only allows the use of rosettes of decorations.

Bad Use of Badges

Throughout the national territory, in diplomatic posts in the State and , in airplanes or ships of national flag it is prohibited to the citizens the use of the national honorific orders the insignia that have not been issued by the Sovereign Grand Prince and Grand Duke Chief of Government, or the foreign acceptance order that has not been authorized by the same, in which it is legally required.

For nationals and foreigners in the Nation, the use in public of any insignia of the orders of fees not imposed by the State and foreign States and internationally recognized organizations that have such power is also prohibited.

In the cases mentioned in the previous paragraphs, the offenders will be subject to criminal liability for abuse of designation or sign.

Uniform or Gala Costume:

The highest national honors badge can only be used with the corresponding gala uniform, be it military, diplomatic or academic.

The use of Great Cross badges

Grand Cross National Honors Bands are used from the right shoulder to the left, they are not allowed to use two or more bands simultaneously. The recipients of the Grand Cross can simultaneously use the Grand Cross band and the Grand Collar.

The use of Great Official badges

The neck badge can be used, whatever the appropriate grade. When it coincides with the grade that includes the grace granted. The neck badge must be worn in conjunction with other decorations awarded. Similarly, when any of the grades corresponds to the collar, this must be used in conjunction with the badge corresponding to the grade, whether the plate or medal.

The use of badges of various degrees

They can use up to four plates on the left side of the chest. Precedence was established previously, then to the right. Thus, the foreign order of greater or equal degree is established in diplomatic ceremonies. The badge of Officer and Knight degree worn on the lapel on the left side, must be used only one medal, except the provisions of the Military Order. The Insignias of the Ladies use them in a loop, placed on the left side of the dress.

The use of a badge or a Knight / Lady officer

In solemn ceremonies, the various decorations awarded can use the miniature images of their distinctive elements and suspended on ribbons of a small metal bar chain or placed on the upper chest, the left side of the uniforms or dresses, or on the left lapel of appropriate suits or uniforms. The miniatures of the ladies can suspend in a small loop of the colors of the order. The decoration with more than one degree of any of the orders only use the insignia corresponding to superior, except decorated with different grades of the Military Order or when the prize has been awarded with the palm of the hand.

Civil Costume

With civil attire of Gala, the recipients of the Great Necklace, a rosette of 12 mm in diameter, with the colors of the Order, filleted in gold inside.

The qualifications awarded Officer, Commander, Grand Officer and Grand Cross can use, respectively, and also on the left side of the chest, a rosette of 8 mm in diameter, with the colors of his Order, which has a silver chevron for the commanders, gold and silver for the great officers and gold for the Great Crosses.

Knights can use a ribbon of the colors of the order on the left side of the chest.