Diplomatic immunity is a status granted to a diplomat that exempts them from the laws of a foreign jurisdiction. It must be noted that immunity is a privilege of the state that a diplomatic agent represents. As such, a person cannot allege breach of immunity if the sending state does not contest a violation.

Diplomatic immunity is not meant to benefit individuals personally; it is meant to ensure that foreign officials can do their jobs. Under the concept of reciprocity, diplomats assigned to any country in the world benefit equally from diplomatic immunity.

The United States, as a matter of policy, does not normally accept as diplomatic agents its own nationals, legal permanent residents of the United States, or others who are “permanently resident in” the United States.4 The family members of diplomatic agents enjoy no privileges or immunities if they are nationals of the United States.

Just a few hundred thousand euros will often help those trying to evade prosecution, bankruptcy, or conceal their ill-gotten wealth, to buy diplomatic status — and the accompanying travel document.