Letter of credence

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.[7]: 32 [8]: 261 The ambassador-designate travels to the presentation ceremony in an official vehicle provided by the receiving state, accompanied by a military escort.The foreign minister will attend (be present with) the head of state at the actual ceremony, to symbolize the fact that the credentials are being accepted on the basis of government advice.Despite their scripted and calculated nature, these ceremonies offer state representatives a subtle yet significant space for signaling— positive or negative — establishing contact, or conveying messages.
Letter of credence for the Czechoslovak Ambassador to Lithuania (1992), written in the traditional French and signed by President Václav Havel
British diplomat Sir Charles Stuart presenting his credentials to Emperor Pedro I of Brazil , who is flanked by his wife Maria Leopoldina , their daughter Maria da Glória (later Queen Maria II of Portugal ), and other dignitaries (allegory), c. 1825
The Ambassador of Yugoslavia , Zdravko Pečar , presenting his letter of credence to the Head of state of Ghana , Ignatius Kutu Acheampong , in 1974.
Ambassador Eugène-Richard Gasana of Rwanda presents his credentials to Russian President Vladimir Putin , attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (2007).
Václav HavelFrenchdiplomatic letterambassadorhead of statelingua francaSir Charles StuartPedro I of BrazilMaria LeopoldinaMaria II of PortugalYugoslaviaHead of state of GhanaIgnatius Kutu AcheampongEugène-Richard GasanaVladimir PutinSergey Lavrovdiplomatic corpsdiplomatic immunityparliamentary systemsviceroygovernmentchargé d'affairesHigh commissionersCommonwealthCommonwealth realmsmonarchprime ministerAgrémentDiplomacydiplomatsPermanent representativeUnited NationsAmbassador-at-largeResident representativeHigh commissionerNuncioHead of missionDeputy chief of missionConsulResidentResident commissionerAgent-generalAttachéAgricultural attachéChargé de missionConseiller chargé des investissementsCultural attachéMilitary attachéScience attachéTrade commissionerDiplomatic courierKing's MessengerForeign ministerPlenipotentiaryDiplomatic rankApostolic nunciatureConsular corpsConsulateDe facto embassyAfrican Diplomatic CorpsDiplomatic missionHigh commissionLegationProtecting powerExclusive mandateCaviarCheckbookCoerciveCommercialCulturalCulinaryDefenceDebt-trapDigitalDollarEconomicEnergyFreelanceFull-spectrumGuerrillaGunboatHostageMedicalMigrationBambooParadiplomacyParleyPilgrimagePing-pongPreventivePublicScienceShuttleStadiumTrack IIWolf warriorAppeasementConsular assistanceConsular immunityDiplomatic bagDiplomatic cableDiplomatic historyDiplomatic illnessDiplomatic lawDiplomatic serviceDiplomatic uniformProtocolPersona non grataSoft powerExequaturLetter of protestDevelopment aidAgenciesParliamentary delegationSummitPlenipotentiary ConferenceTwin towns and sister citiesXi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy