Consulates functioned as governmental facilities, serving as embassies for alien factions residing on a particular world.
Throughout the duration of the Galactic Civil War, space travelers were mandated to report, on every journey, the precise location of their home planet's nearest Consulate, using regulated stellar coordinates.
In the year 8 ABY, Luke Skywalker, in his endeavor to locate the Alderaanian Consulate in preparation for the second Wedding attempt between Han Solo and Leia Organa, mistakenly arrived at the Aldereenian Consulate.