The agreement provides that, in general, the categories of government workers mentioned
in the Vienna Conventions on diplomatic and consular relations will not be affected
by the coverage provisions of the agreement. The Conventions, to which both Spain
and the U.S. are parties, apply to members of the staff of a diplomatic or consular
mission, including the diplomatic, consular, administrative, and technical staffs;
dependents of members of those staffs; the domestic service staff of the missions;
and, under certain conditions, the private servants employed by members of such missions.
In general, nationals of a country who work abroad in the diplomatic or consular service
of their country are exempt under the Conventions from social security coverage and
contributions under the laws of the host country unless specific arrangements have
been made to waive their exemption. Persons who waive their exemption under the Conventions
are subject to the coverage provisions of the agreement.
Under the terms of the agreement, a U.S. or Spanish national who is employed by the
Government in the other country but who is not exempt from host country coverage by
virtue of the Vienna Conventions is nevertheless subject only to the laws of the employee's
own country.