Washington, DC is one of the world’s most important diplomatic centers. Approximately 185 countries have foreign missions in Washington, DC, and these missions are vital to the United States government in conducting diplomatic relations with international institutions, organizations, and states. In addition to their role in promoting peace and stability among nations, foreign missions also have a positive economic impact in the region due to their ability to attract visitors and generate country-to-country business opportunities. NCPC works closely with the U.S. Department of State to ensure foreign missions find suitable locations for their diplomatic missions, while remaining sensitive to the character and use of Washington’s neighborhoods.
This element, adopted in 2016, contains policies to create a secure and welcoming environment for the location of diplomatic and international activities in Washington, DC while remaining sensitive to the character and use patterns of the city's neighborhoods.
Three documents describe NCPC’s role in reviewing the development of chanceries on federal land. They include the International Center Act, the Foreign Missions Act, and the Foreign Missions Center Agreement.
For NCPC’s purposes, a foreign mission refers to all people, facilities, and activities in support of a country carrying out its foreign policy in the United States (or as part of an international organization like the Organization of American States). The facilities that house these foreign mission functions are described in the terms below.
An embassy includes all facilities that house diplomatic functions of the foreign mission of a country. Individually, these facilities are referred to differently depending upon their use. These uses include the Ambassador’s Residence, Chanceries, and Chancery Annexes.
Each foreign country only has one embassy and one ambassador in the United States. Embassies are always located in the capital city, Washington, DC. Consulates are considered a branch of the embassy and are located in other American cities.
A chancery is the principal office of a foreign mission used for diplomatic or related purposes. The term chancery can be used interchangeably with the term embassy.
Chancery annexes are facilities used for diplomatic purposes in support of the mission, such as cultural or military attachés, or consular operations.
The official home of the ambassador or the chief of mission. The ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomat to the United States. Ambassador’s residences can be located in an embassy compound or separate from the chancery.
Use this interactive map to locate and learn more about
foreign missions in the region.