diplomatic cover
Official status shield
Diplomatic cover is the use of an official diplomatic position to conceal intelligence work.
Spies operating under diplomatic cover pose as embassy staff, trade attachés, or cultural liaisons while conducting espionage.
The arrangement provides legal protection—if caught, they face expulsion rather than prosecution, shielded by diplomatic immunity.
The CIA officer worked under diplomatic cover as a political analyst.
- embassyOfficial diplomatic residence abroad
- attachéEmbassy specialist officer
- spyCovert information gatherer
- covertIntentionally concealed
- passportGovernment-issued travel credential
immunity · station · intelligence officer · case officer · consul · intelligence · operative · handler · asset · legation · visa · clandestine · covert operation · black ops · foreign service · espionage · alias · extraction
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
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