22 USC § 4823 - Special agents

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t22/s4823"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "22 USC § 4823 - Special agents"
title_number: 22
title_name: "FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE"
section_number: "4823"
section_name: "Special agents"
chapter_number: 58
chapter_name: "DIPLOMATIC SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "PERSONNEL"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 99–399, title II, § 203, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 858; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, § 162(g)(9), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 407.)"
---


# § 4823. Special agents

22 U.S.C. 3901

Special agent positions shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 ( et seq.) and title 5. In filling such positions, the Secretary of State shall actively recruit women and members of minority groups. The Secretary of State shall prescribe the qualifications required for assignment or appointment to such positions. The qualifications may include minimum and maximum entry age restrictions and other physical standards and shall incorporate such standards as may be required by law in order to perform security functions, to bear arms, and to exercise investigatory, warrant, arrest, and such other authorities as are available by law to special agents of the Department of State and the Foreign Service.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 99–399, title II, § 203, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 858; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, § 162(g)(9), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 407.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Foreign Service Act of 1980, referred to in text, is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 52 (§ 3901 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under  and Tables.

### Amendments

1994— amended section catchline to read “Special agents” and in text substituted “Special agent positions” for “Positions in the Diplomatic Security Service” and “The qualifications” for “In the case of positions designated for special agents, the qualifications”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by  applicable with respect to officials, offices, and bureaus of Department of State when executive orders, regulations, or departmental directives implementing the amendments by sections 161 and 162 of  become effective, or 90 days after , whichever comes earlier, see , as amended, set out as a note under .