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Diplomatic and Consular Flags (U.S.)

Department of State

Description of flags and their uses
Ambassadors and Ministers to Foreign Governments
Chiefs of other Diplomatic Missions
Other Accredited Diplomatic Officers
Consular Officers

See also:

Description of flags and their uses

Flags used by U.S. diplomatic representatives abroad are referred to as "foreign service flags."

Foreign service flags are displayed inside U.S. diplomatic and consular posts and may be used on automobiles used by certain diplomatic officials. They are placed with the U.S. flag in the main reception-entrance of the mission and in the office of the principal officer of the post (ambassador at an embassy, consul or consul general at a consulate, etc.). Both the U.S. and foreign service flag are 35 by 66 inches. Those at the main entrance and in the chief of mission's office are trimmed with gilt fringe, cords, and tassels. The staff of the foreign service flag is topped with a gilt spearhead finial. Automobile flags are 12 by 18 inches.

Joe McMillan, 5 September 1999

Ambassadors and Ministers to Foreign Governments

image by Joe McMillan, 5 September 1999

Ambassadors accredited to sovereign foreign governments: Blue with the arms of the United States in color on a white disk, encircled by 13 white stars. The same flag would be used by a minister accredited as chief of a legation, but all chiefs of U.S. diplomatic missions are now ambassadors.
Jack Kowalski and Joe McMillan

The final package of [U.S. Congress] spending legislation that needs to pass before Friday [March 22, 2024] to keep the federal government from shutting down includes a provision banning LGBTQ+ flags from being flown at U.S. embassies, according to Bloomberg News. Citing a person familiar with the matter, the outlet reported Wednesday that House Speaker Mike Johnson had boasted of the provision in recent days as he’s tried to sell the $1 trillion deal to some of his skeptical colleagues. But a Democrat familiar with the text of the package said the ban actually prohibits the flying of any flag other than the U.S. flag. They added that there was no moratorium on embassy officials’ “personal” use of Pride flags. The Biden administration granted embassies a “blanket authorization” to fly LGBTQ+ flags in April 2021, overturning the previous administration’s policy, in which only U.S. flags were permitted on official flagpoles. Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has a documented history of making anti-LGBTQ+ statements, once opining that same-sex marriage was a “dark harbinger of chaos.”
Source: https://www.thedailybeast.com
William Garrison, 22 March 2024

Chiefs of other Diplomatic Missions

image by Joe McMillan, 5 September 1999

Chiefs of other diplomatic missions (such as permanent representatives to the UN, EU, OAS, and NATO): White with the arms of the United States in color, encircled by 13 blue stars.
Jack Kowalski and Joe McMillan

Other Accredited Diplomatic Officers

image by Joe McMillan, 5 September 1999

Other accredited diplomatic officers: Blue with 13 white stars (no disk, no coat of arms) in a circle. This is used only as an automobile flag when prescribed by the chief of mission for an officer representing the chief of mission at a ceremonial or official function or when dictated in circumstances of emergency for reasons of personal safety. For example, a charge d'affaires might use this flag in the absence of the ambassador if he/she were escorting a high-ranking U.S. official on an official visit.
Jack Kowalski and Joe McMillan

Consular Officers

image by Joe McMillan, 5 September 1999

Consular officers: Blue with a large white letter "C" encircled by 13 white stars. Displayed in lieu of the chief of mission's flag in the entry area and principal officer's office at a consulate general or consulate. May be displayed in the office of the head of the consular section of an embassy. Also displayed in the waiting room of the consulate. U.S. Navy Regulations paragraph 1274 authorize the display of this flag in the bow of a boat carrying a consular representative. The boat flag is 43 by 61 inches.
Jack Kowalski and Joe McMillan