In most of the countries you will find diplomatic missions, which usually refers to an embassy and/or a consulate. Diplomatic bodies represent other country interests in Kiribati, with the aim of strengthening international relations between the states and providing services for their citizens in Kiribati.

Embassies and consulates are considered legal territories of their home countries. They are not "foreign territory" but they are protected and considered the property of the country using them, meaning that Kiribati does not have jurisdiction over the embassy or consulate of another country.

What is the difference between Embassy and Consulate

The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations international treaty defines the diplomatic mission’s purpose and framework. The various diplomatic missions offer several services and carry out different missions. For example:

• Embassy: This is the primary diplomatic representation of a country’s government and is headed by an ambassador. An embassy is the main location for a diplomatic presence of one country in another. A country has at most one embassy in another country, and is always established in the capital city of the host country. In the absence of a consulate in a country, the embassy has also a consular section to carry out all the relevant consular services (see below).
• Consulate General: This is a diplomatic mission, headed by a consul that provides a full range of services such as: issuing passports/visas, keeping birth and marriage records, assisting expats, providing legal information, translations etc. It can be located in any major city of the host country, although often in the capital city (in certain cases, in the same building as the embassy). In major countries and large territories, you often have more than one consulate.
• Honorary Consulate: It supplements the Consulate to provide a limited range of consular services and is headed by an honorary consul. They help nationals abroad. For example, in the event of a hospital stay, missing person, death, natural disaster or other emergency. They can also issue emergency travel documents and consular declarations for which the applicant is required to appear in person.

NB: You will usually apply for a visa at the Consulate of the country you want to visit. However, if there is no such representation in Kiribati, you can apply for a visa at the embassy.

Where to find Consulates and Embassies in Kiribati

Not all countries have an Embassy and/or a Consulate as it depends of the political situation, the relationship with the host country, the size of the country, and the number of foreign citizens living there.

In some cases, countries can share representations and you can be assisted by the services of another embassy or consular service to get the information you need.

We recommend you register/contact your country’s embassy at your destination. It is a free service provided by any diplomatic mission and it will allow them to record information about your upcoming trip abroad. It can be used to assist you in case of an emergency.

Registration will also allow you to get routine information from your nearest embassy or consulate, as citizen residing abroad.

The Kiribati capital, Tarawa, hosts 4 embassies.

There are no consulates in Kiribati.

All consulates and honorary consulates are located in Tarawa, except for those countries who own an embassy in the capital of Iceland and might have another diplomatic mission outside the capital.

You will find below a list of selected countries (the list is not exhaustive) that have a diplomatic mission in Kiribati. The list includes embassies, consulates, honorary consulates and sometime other official representations for you to be able to get information and services.

Embassies and Main Consulates in Tarawa

Australia

Australian Embassy in Kiribati
Address: Main Street P.O. Box 77, Bairiki, Tarawa
Tel: (+686) 740 21184
E-Mail: ahc.tarawa@dfat.gov.au
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/australiainkiribati/
Opening hours: 8.30 am to 5 pm weekdays, excluding public holidays

Consular Assistance is available to Australian citizens living in and travelling through Kiribati and is provided by the Australian High Commission in Tarawa. The Consular Services Section does not accept or process applications for visas for entry to Australia, or applications for Australian citizenship. Our office in Suva, Fiji manages visa services for clients in Kiribati.

China

Embassy of China in Kiribati
Address: Bairiki, Tarawa
Tel: (+686) 21116
E-Mail: chinaemb_ki@mfa.gov.cn
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/your.ChineseEmbassyinKiribati/

The consular section shares the same details as the embassy. They provide a range of consular services such as visa and passport and visa processing as well as document legalisation. Contact them directly to check exactly the list of services available and their opening time.

Japan

Embassy of Japan in Kiribati
Address: TK Plaza 2nd Floor, Bairiki Village, Tarawa
Tel: (+686) 730 33927
E-Mail: eojdefenceconsul@fj.mofa.go.jp
Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/webjapan_mofajp/ and https://www.facebook.com/webjapanmofajp and https://twitter.com/Web_Japan
Opening hours: Office Hours (Monday to Friday): 8:30 a.m to 1:00 p.m, 2:00 p.m to 5:30 p.m and Consular & Visa Hours (Monday to Friday) : 9:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m, 2:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m

Assistance of Japanese nationals in distress abroad. Contact them directly to check exactly the list of services available.

New Zealand

New Zealand High Commission to Kiribati
Address: Main Road, PO Box 53 Bairiki, Tarawa
Tel: (+686) 740 21400
E-Mail: NZHCTarawa@mfat.govt.nz
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/nzhcinkiribati/
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 08:30-12:30 and 13:30-17:00

New Zealand embassy in Tarawa runs an inclusive range of consular services to local, New Zealand, and international citizens in Kiribati. The embassy in Tarawa supports Kiribati citizens through its consular services, such as providing specific info regarding New Zealand economy, culture, sports, education and more, regarding requirements and process of getting New Zealand Citizenship, specific contacts and information in New Zealand, Visa and Passport services, etc.
Note that New Zealand passport and visa from are issued only to citizens whose main residence is in New Zealand and Kiribati.