Call for Honorary Consul, Budapest

About the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

The role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is to advance the interests of Australia and Australians internationally. This involves strengthening Australia’s security, enhancing Australia’s prosperity, delivering an effective and high quality overseas aid program and helping Australian travellers and Australians overseas.

The department provides foreign, trade and development policy advice to the Australian Government. DFAT also works with other Australian government agencies to drive coordination of Australia’s pursuit of global, regional and bilateral interests.

About the position

We are seeking expressions of interest for the position of Honorary Consul for Australia.  The Honorary Consul can be an Australian citizen, but this is not a requirement.  The Honorary Consul must be resident in Budapest and will have jurisdiction throughout Hungary.

The position would be for a period of three years commencing from the receipt of an exequatur from the Government of Hungary.  The role would demand approximately 4-6 hours a week of the successful applicant, and can therefore be performed alongside other duties or employment the applicant may have.

The successful candidate is required to have good standing in and a good reputation within Hungary.  They should have strong organisational and communication skills, including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.  They should also have a strong knowledge of the political, bureaucratic, commercial, and media landscape of Hungary.  

Principle functions of the position include, but are not limited to:

• providing consular assistance to Australian citizens
• providing passports assistance to Australian citizens, including conducting passport interviews (once accredited to do so)
• maintaining contact with the resident Australian community
• assisting in furthering Australian cultural, educational, scientific and technological interests in partnership with the Australian Embassy in Vienna and building general public awareness of Australia
• assisting in projects, for example, alumni functions or other events, in partnership with the Australian Embassy in Vienna
• maintaining good relations with the host government and local authorities, in particular branches relevant to Australia's consular and other interests and, when requested by the Australian Embassy in Vienna, acting as a communication channel between it and the Hungarian authorities
• engaging in ceremonial and public affairs activities as a representative of Australia, as requested/authorised by the Australian Embassy in Vienna
• assisting in arrangements for visiting Australian officials
• directing inquirers seeking information on migrating or traveling to Australia or about importing or taking goods to Australia to the relevant Australian government department
• other duties as requested by the Australian Embassy in Vienna.

Selection criteria:

The applicant must:

• be a long-term resident of Hungary
• possess office accommodation in Budapest of an appropriate professional standard, suitable for use as a consulate for the representation of Australia’s interests
• possess strong knowledge of the political, business and media landscape in Hungary
• be fluent in English and Hungarian
• be financially independent and have sufficient time available to perform the required duties (approximately 4-6 hours per week)
• not hold a consular commission from another country, nor any government or official position in Hungary
• not hold employment or conduct a business which would adversely affect the reputation and good standing of Australia in Hungary
• be able to obtain a police clearance.

The Australian Embassy in Vienna will provide the successful applicant with training in consular and passports functions. Applications comprising a one-page expression of interest and curriculum vitae (up to two pages) with photo should be submitted to [email protected] by 23 December 2022.