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The formal act by a host state of ordering a foreign diplomat or national to leave its territory, usually within a specified deadline.
In diplomatic practice, expulsion most commonly refers to the host state declaring a member of a foreign mission persona non grata (PNG) under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), which allows the receiving state to require the sending state to recall the individual without having to give reasons. If the sending state refuses or delays, the host may simply cease to recognize the person as a member of the mission.
Expulsions are a calibrated tool of statecraft. They are used to signal displeasure short of severing relations, to retaliate for espionage, to respond to human rights abuses, or to coordinate with allies in collective diplomatic pressure. The number of officials expelled, their rank, and the deadline (commonly 24, 48, or 72 hours) all communicate the severity of the message. Tit-for-tat reciprocal expulsions are the norm.
Expulsion can also refer to:
For diplomats, expulsion does not normally constitute a breach of immunity, since the host state is exercising a right expressly preserved by treaty. The expelled official retains immunity for acts performed in their official capacity even after departure.
No. Under Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention, the receiving state may declare a diplomat persona non grata at any time and is not required to explain its decision.
Expulsion removes specific individuals while the mission and bilateral relationship continue; severance closes the embassy entirely and ends official diplomatic ties between the two states.