Legation

Former legation of the Qajar dynasty in Washington, D.C.

In diplomacy, a legation was a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by an Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.

The distinction between a legation and embassy was gradually dropped following World War II. All diplomatic representative offices are now designated as embassies or high commissions.

A permanent diplomatic mission headed by a chief officer.

See also

• American Legation, Tangier
• Beijing Legation Quarter
• Concession (territory)
• Papal Legations, certain administrative regions of the erstwhile Papal States, specifically the "legations" of Ferrara, Bologna, and Romagna
• Villa Lituania