Charge d Affaires ad interim

Rank Diplomatic Practice Preferred

Diplomat who temporarily leads an embassy when the ambassador's post is vacant or the ambassador is absent.

Independent referenceNot an official or legal definition
Sources citedSee the sources at the end of this page
Status Under reviewLast updated 11 October 2026
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Definition

In plain language

When an ambassador leaves, falls ill or has not yet arrived, a senior diplomat takes charge of the embassy for the time being. That person is called the chargé d'affaires ad interim.

Academic definition

Article 19 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations provides that if the post of head of mission is vacant, or the head is unable to perform functions, a chargé d'affaires ad interim acts provisionally as head, and the name is notified to the receiving State's foreign ministry. This is distinct from the chargé d'affaires en pied of Article 14(1)(c), a permanent class of head accredited to the foreign minister rather than to the head of state. The ad interim chargé is normally the most senior diplomat in the mission and has no separate credentials.

Classification

Term type
Rank
Category
Diplomatic Practice
Subject field
Diplomatic Law
Subfield
Heads of Mission and Temporary Representation
Difficulty level
Intermediate
Grammatical category
noun phrase

Language variants

Alternative terms
  • chargé d'affaires a.i.
  • chargé d'affaires ad interim
  • acting head of mission
Non-preferred terms
  • charge d'affaires en pied
Abbreviations
  • CDA a.i.
Acronyms
  • not_applicable
Native terms
  • chargé d'affaires ad interim (French/Latin)
Transliteration
not_applicable
Pronunciation
shar-ZHAY daf-FAIR ad IN-ter-im

Context

Legal effect: Binding

Scope

Covers the temporary acting head of mission; the permanent class of chargé d'affaires en pied and the appointment of ambassadors are separate. The listed title omits the apostrophe and accent in 'chargé d'affaires'.

Legal context

VCDR Article 19(1) and (2) describe the arrangement and notification, and Article 14(1)(c) lists chargé d'affaires accredited to ministers for foreign affairs as the third class of head. Privileges and immunities follow the person's diplomatic status under Articles 29 to 36.

Diplomatic context

Missions often operate under a chargé for long periods when relations are strained or when an ambassador's replacement is delayed, and the downgrading of representation to chargé level is used as a diplomatic signal.

Institutional context

Notified by the sending State's foreign ministry to the receiving State's ministry, and recorded by the protocol department in the diplomatic list.

Historical context

The 1815 Vienna regulation on diplomatic rank and the 1818 Aix-la-Chapelle protocol created the chargé d'affaires class, and the 1961 Convention codified temporary headship.

Why it matters

A chargé ensures continuity of representation and can sign notes and meet officials, although the lower rank may signal weaker relations.

Usage

Register: Formal Diplomatic

Usage note

Write 'chargé d'affaires a.i.' with the accent; 'a.i.' means ad interim and is used on cards and signature blocks.

Example

After the ambassador's departure, the deputy head of mission served as chargé d'affaires ad interim for six months.

Example scenario

State A recalls its ambassador from State B for consultations. State A notifies State B's foreign ministry that the minister-counsellor will act as chargé d'affaires ad interim until a new ambassador is accredited.

Common misuse

Confusing the ad interim chargé with the chargé d'affaires en pied, who is a regular head of mission appointed by letter between foreign ministers.

Not to be confused with

  • Chargé d'affaires en pied
  • Ambassador
  • Head of mission

Sources

  1. Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), United Nations, Article 19. legal.un.org
  2. Official definition. not_found_in_source
  3. Treaty reference. legal.un.org
  4. Denza, Diplomatic Law: Commentary on the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. not_found_in_source
  5. Satow's Diplomatic Practice. not_found_in_source

Source type: Treaty. Source reliability: Primary.

This entry is an independent reference definition, not an official or legally binding text. Where an official definition exists, it is linked above and is authoritative. Read our methodology.

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