A foreign consulate general is the representative office of a country in a foreign city. It provides services to citizens of the home country visiting or living in foreign countries. In many countries the embassy and consulate general are combined in one office or structure; however, an embassy implies official diplomatic relations between two countries while a consulate general does not. In addition, a country may open multiple consulates in major economic centers to support their economic interests.

The head of mission to a consulate general, whose position is analogous to that of an ambassador at an embassy, is termed the consul general.