From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Diplomatic credentials are documents presented by foreign ambassadors and ministers to the chief of state of the host government. The documents, which follow a standard text, identify the diplomats as representatives of their governments and empowered to speak for them.
According to diplomatic protocol, ambassadors or ministers may not represent their governments before a host government's foreign ministry until their credentials have been formally presented in person and have been accepted by the host government's chief of state. A diplomat whose credentials are accepted is considered accredited to the host government and is considered an officer of the host government as well as his own.
