A diplomatic mission or an embassy usually denotes the permanent mission of diplomatic representatives of one country in the capital city of another country.

The person in charge of the mission is known as an ambassador. In cases of dispute, it is common for a country to recall its head of mission as a sign of its displeasure.

Missions between Commonwealth countries are known as High Commissions. Their heads are High Commissioners.

A Consulate office deals with individual persons and businesses, as defined by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. A Consulate or Consulate-General is generally a representative of the Embassy in locales outside of the capital city.

Structure
The structure of a diplomatic mission varies according to its size and purpose. The executive office usually consists of a Head of Mission, Deputy Chief of Mission, and is supported by sections including but not limited to:

Consular Section
Consular sections are responsible for assisting and protecting overseas citizens in distress, processing visa applications, and issuing and renewing passports.

Political/Economic Section
Political/Economic sections provide reporting and analysis on political and economic issues, usually by producing cables for their home government.

Public Affairs Section
Public Affairs sections serve as both press offices (handling official spokesman duties and liaising with local press) and cultural offices (supporting home government outreach programs/performances, managing cultural and academic exchange programs such as the Fulbright Program).

Management/Administrative Section

Management/Administrative sections handle the day to day operations of the mission with responsibilities over maintenance, payroll, human resources, etc.