Recruitment of the Honorary Consul of Italy in Bridgetown, Barbados
Call for Expressions of Interest
Publication date: 5 November 2026
Deadline: 25 November 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Bridgetown time
The Embassy of Italy in Panama is inviting expressions of interest to identify a new Honorary Consul of Italy in Bridgetown, to be proposed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) to replace the incumbent, with the transition scheduled for summer 2027 and the aim of completing it by July. The effective commencement date remains subject to completion of the appointment and authorisation to exercise the consular functions.
1. Purpose and nature of the appointment
The Honorary Consul operates under the direction of the Embassy of Italy in Panama and is responsible for assisting Italian citizens and protecting Italian interests within the consular district comprising Barbados, Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The functions will be assigned by means of a specific decree. The appointee may also support the Embassy in commercial and cultural promotion activities.
The appointment does not constitute public-sector employment or an employment relationship, but rather a voluntary service relationship involving the performance of honorary duties on behalf of the State. The appointment is honorary and unpaid. Operating expenses shall be borne by the appointee; any contributions or reimbursements, within the limits of the applicable legislation and available resources, shall not constitute remuneration.
The appointee may continue to engage in professional or business activities, provided that these are compatible with the requirements and proper standing of the Office and do not give rise to any actual or potential conflicts of interest.
2. Eligibility requirements and desired profile
Honorary consular officers are selected “from among persons, preferably Italian citizens, who enjoy esteem and prestige and who provide full assurance of their ability to adequately perform consular functions” (Article 47, first paragraph, Presidential Decree No. 18/1967).
- Must be at least 18 years of age and under 70, the age limit for termination of the appointment pursuant to Article 47;
- Must be legally and permanently resident in the locality where the Office in Bridgetown is based, pursuant to Section 7 of Circular No. 7/2024, and genuinely available to perform the duties continuously on site;
- Must have an adequate knowledge of Italian and English; Italian citizens residing abroad must be registered with AIRE (Register of Italians Residing Abroad);
- Must have no pending criminal proceedings or criminal convictions of any kind in Barbados or Italy.
The following criteria will also be assessed pursuant to Section 7 of MAECI Circular No. 7/2024:
- Ability to provide continuous assistance and consular services to Italian nationals and to support any commercial and cultural promotion activities;
- An adequate network of contacts and good relations with local authorities and the Italian community, including associations and COMITES, where present; appropriate IT skills; a dynamic profile and organisational resources suitable for the duties;
- Ability to independently cover the Office’s operating expenses, without considering the Ministry’s contribution an essential condition; availability of suitable and dignified premises and appropriate equipment, including facilities for the secure and confidential storage of documents and data;
- Absence of any incompatibilities or actual or potential conflicts of interest.
The appointment is normally for an indefinite term and ends when the appointee reaches the age of 70, without prejudice to other grounds for termination or any other lawful decisions made at the time of appointment.
3. Incompatibilities and declarations
The appointment may not be conferred upon members of COMITES, members of the governing bodies of Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad, heads of welfare assistance organisations (Patronati), or persons belonging to the governing bodies of organisations managing state-recognised schools or educational initiatives referred to in Article 11 of Legislative Decree No. 64/2017. It may likewise not be conferred upon members of the governing bodies of public or private entities receiving funding from the Italian State (Section 15 of the Circular).
Applicants must disclose any public offices held, including non-elected positions, professional or business activities, and any interests relevant to the assessment of compatibility and conflicts of interest. Section 16 of the Circular concerning electoral candidacies and the requirements of the receiving State shall apply. Before the appointment, the declaration provided for in Annex 4 bis to the Circular must be obtained.
4. Submission of applications
Applications must be received by the deadline indicated above at consolare.panama@esteri.it, with the subject line “Application for the position of Honorary Consul of Italy in Bridgetown”, and must include the following documents in PDF format:
- A dated and signed application, including a brief statement of motivation and telephone and email contact details;
- A curriculum vitae in Italian and English, stating the place and full date of birth, all citizenships held, residential address in Barbados, and any addresses and periods of residence in Italy. It must describe the applicant’s profession, language skills, IT skills and relevant experience for the appointment;
- A copy of a valid identity document;
- A description of the premises and facilities available, including their location, equipment, any staff or assistants, and the applicant’s ability to cover the operating expenses;
- A signed declaration concerning legal and permanent residence, AIRE registration where applicable, criminal record status, and any circumstances relevant to incompatibilities and conflicts of interest; documentation proving lawful immigration or residence status, where required based on the applicant’s citizenship;
- The attached privacy notice, signed to acknowledge that it has been read and understood.
The Embassy may request additional documents or further information to verify the declared eligibility requirements. The verification procedures falling within the competence of the MAECI remain unaffected.
5. Assessment and appointment procedure
This call does not constitute a competitive recruitment procedure or a procedure equivalent thereto. The Embassy will assess the applications and contact only those applicants considered suitable for an exploratory interview, without being required to provide further notification to the other applicants. The interview may also assess language skills and the suitability of the proposed premises and facilities.
Participation in this selection process does not confer any right to appointment. The Embassy reserves the right not to submit a nomination proposal if no suitable applicant is identified.
Once a suitable candidate has been identified, the proposal will be forwarded to the MAECI for further checks. The necessary formalities with the authorities of Barbados and, where required, those of the other States within the consular district will also be undertaken.
The appointment of an Honorary Consul requires a ministerial appointment decree. The exercise of consular functions also requires completion and publication of the decree assigning the functions, the granting of the exequatur or provisional admission, and completion of any further formalities required by the applicable legislation. The effective commencement date will be communicated at a later stage.
6. Applicable legislation and personal data
The applicable provisions are Presidential Decree No. 18/1967, Legislative Decree No. 71/2011, the Vienna Convention of 24 April 1963 and MAECI Circular No. 7 of 23 December 2024.
Personal data will be processed for the purpose of assessing applications and carrying out the related administrative procedures, in accordance with the attached privacy notice. Any extensions or amendments to this notice will be published on the Embassy’s official website.
Panama, 5 November 2026
Embassy of Italy in Panama
- Privacy Notice on the Processing of Personal Data – Annex 1
