The Vienna Conventions provide that in general, nationals of a country who work abroad in the diplomatic or consular services of their country are exempt from social security coverage and contributions under the host country's laws; unless the host country specifically waives that exemption.

The Conventions, to which both the United States and Romania 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 those missions; and

• Under certain conditions, the private servant employees of members of such missions.

1. General

The Agreement does not affect the coverage of U.S. or Romanian government employees to whom the Vienna Conventions apply. They remain exempt from coverage in the host country.

The Agreement establishes the following rules for government employees not covered by the Vienna Conventions:

U.S. nationals employed by the U.S. government in Romania are subject to U.S. Social Security taxes and coverage laws only.

• •

  Romanian national employed by the Romanian government or a Romanian government instrumentality in the United States are subject to Romanian social security taxation and coverage laws only.

• •

  Either country may grant an exception to the coverage rules of this Agreement if the other country agrees, and the person involved retains coverage in one of the countries. Either country may grant such an exception to an individual worker or to all workers under similar circumstances, e.g., in the same profession or working for the same employer.

2. Definitions

a. U.S. Government employee

For purposes of applying this provision of the Agreement, the phrase "U.S. Government employee" means employees of the Federal Government or any of its instrumentalities

. b. Romanian Government employee

For purposes of applying this provision of the Agreement, the phrase "Romanian Government employee" means employees of Romania.

RS 01802.050 Coverage Status — Employees of Foreign Governments and International Organizations — Policy Principle