A letter of credence (French: Lettre de créance) is a formal diplomatic letter that designates a diplomat as ambassador to another sovereign state. Commonly known as diplomatic credentials, the letter is addressed from one head of state to another, asking them to give credence (French: créance) to the ambassador's claim of speaking for their country. The letter is presented personally by the ambassador-designate to the receiving head of state in a formal ceremony, marking the beginning of the ambassadorship.
Letters of credence are traditionally written in French, the lingua franca of diplomacy.[1] However, they may also be written in the official language of the sending state.[2][3]
- ^ "10th Anniversary of Poland's Accession to the EU". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Poland. 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
Letters of Credence (translated from French) of Jan Kułakowski, 26 February 1990 (AMFA).
- ^ Ahren, Raphael (October 17, 2012). "New Egyptian ambassador brings Israel 'message of peace'". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
- ^ "Diplomatic Credential Presented by the Great Qing Empire". National Palace Museum. Archived from the original on 2016-04-02. Retrieved 2016-03-21.