Overview of Services of the Privileges and Immunities Unit

The Office of Protocol's Privileges and Immunities Unit delivers various information resource services and programs to foreign representations in Canada pursuant to Canada's international obligations and bilateral agreements. Our role includes assisting you in the following key areas:

• Real property
  • Acquisition, development and disposition of real property by a foreign state or foreign representative
  • Property taxes
  • Residences of foreign representatives
• Customs clearance and importation of goods for official or personal use
  • Customs privileges
  • Importation of Wine and Other Alcohol for Special Events
• Duties and taxes
  • GST and HST
  • Provincial retail sales taxes - consult the Provincial Protocol Offices
  • Tax on gasoline in Ontario
• Diplomatic and consular bags and certain other airport courtesies (Airport identity passes and management of access to restricted areas
  • Pre-board screening and controls and other security checks
  • Canadian Policy and Practice on the Screening of Diplomatic Bags
• Vehicles
  • Local purchases, importation and sales
• Foreign voting in Canada

You may take advantage of our programs and services if you are a member of a diplomatic mission or consular post of a foreign state in Canada, or a member of an international organization or special representation office in Canada.

Who are our partners?

Because of the way Canada's machinery of government is structured and the division of provincial and federal powers, we work closely with other federal and provincial agencies, and even with other local service providers, for services we are unable to provide to you directly. These other bodies include the following:

• Canada Revenue Agency
  • The Provincial Protocol Offices
• Summerside Tax Centre
  • International Tax Services Office
• The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
• Canada Border Services Agency
  • Tariff Policy Division (see Appendix A of the Customs Memo)
  • Regional Customs Offices (see Appendix B of the Customs Memo)
• Service Canada
  • SIN (social insurance number) Processing Centres (see by region)
• Public Works and Government Services Canada
  • Valuation and Payments in Lieu of Taxes Programs Directorate

We will put you in touch with the resource people in the above agencies when necessary.

Our commitment and your feedback

To ensure that the Office of Protocol is efficiently and effectively fulfilling its mandate and achieving the objectives of the Diplomatic Corps Services Program (DCSP), the Department recently conducted an Evaluation. The results of this Evaluation are available.

If you have any questions about the privileges and immunities segment of the DCSP or wish to comment on our services, do not hesitate to contact the Manager, Privileges and Immunities, by phone at 343-203-2983 or by email. We usually reply within five working days after receiving your request.

The Privileges and Immunities Unit is normally open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, except on statutory holidays. Please note that foreign representatives require an appointment to visit the Office of Protocol to meet with an officer of this unit.