A heraldic authority is defined as an office or institution which has been established by a reigning monarch or a government to deal with heraldry in the country concerned. It does not include private societies or enterprises which design and/or register coats of arms. Over the centuries, many countries have established heraldic authorities, and several still flourish today.
Europe
Belgium
The Council of Nobility (1844–present) – deals with grants arms to the nobility in all of Belgium and municipal arms in the German Speaking Community of Belgium. Council of Heraldry and Vexillology (1985–present) – supervises and advises the Government of the French Community regarding registration of non-noble personal, familial and municipal arms within the French Community of Belgium. Flemish Heraldic Council (1984–present) – supervises and advises the Flemish Government regarding grants of non-noble personal, official, municipal, and corporate arms within the Flemish Community of Belgium.
Burgundy
Toison d'Or King of Arms (1431–?)
Croatia
Ministry of Public Administration – Commission for approving the coat-of-arms and flags to the local self-government units The commission deals only with municipal heraldry and vexillology. It is composed of five members appointed on a four years mandate by the Minister: jurist, heraldist, archivist, historian and visual artist. Pursuant to article 10. Law on the local self-government units, all municipal coats of arms have to be made and blazoned in accordance with heraldic rules. Ministry will issue armorial () to municipality in the form of a booklet composed of 8 pages. The Armorial is made in three copies of which one is obtained by : unit of local self-government, Croatian State Archives and the Ministry of Public Administration.
Czech Republic
Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic – Subcommittee on heraldry and vexillology The subcommittee deals only with municipal heraldry and vexillology. The grants of arms approved by the committee are signed by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. The Czech Republic has no heraldic authority for personal arms.
Denmark
Statens Heraldiske Konsulent (State Heraldic Advisor) (1938– ). The National Archives of Denmark is the State Heraldry Advisor since 1985.
Finland
Heraldinen lautakunta (Heraldic Board), founded in 1957, known 1957–88 as Heraldinen toimikunta (Heraldic Committee). It operates as a part of the National Archives of Finland.
France
College d'armes (1407–1790) Commission nationale d'héraldique (1999–present), operating as part of the National Archives of France.
Georgia
State Council of Heraldry (2008–present)
Germany
Holy Roman Empire
Reichsherold (Imperial Herald) (1520–?)
Bavaria
Reichsherold (Royal Herald) (1808–1920)
Prussia
Oberheroldsamt (1706–1713) – dealt with noble and municipal arms. Königlich Preussisches Heroldsamt (Royal Prussian Heraldry Office) (1855–1920)
Saxony
Kommissariatt für Adelsangelegenheiten (Commission for Noble Affairs) (1902–1920)
Hungary
Országos Községi Törzskönyvbizottság (National Municipal Register Committee) (1898–1949) Képző és Iparművészeti Lektorátus (Lectorate of Visual and Applied Arts) (1970s–1990) Nemzeti Címer Bizottság (National Coat of Arms Committee) (2016– )
Ireland
Ulster Office (1552–1943), headed by Ulster King of Arms. Genealogical Office (1943– ), headed by the Chief Herald of Ireland and forming part of the National Library of Ireland – grants personal, official, municipal, and corporate arms.
Italy
Consulta Araldica (Heraldry Council) (1869–1947) Istituto Nazionale del Nastro Azzurro (King Vittorio Emanuele III allowed the Istituto Nazionale to grant heraldic coats of arms to members since 1927; the Istituto was recognized by the Italian Republic in 1966) Ufficio Cerimoniale della Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri (since 1947)
Latvia
State Heraldry Commission (1997– ), forming part of the Presidency – deals with official and municipal arms.
Lithuania
Heraldry Commission (1988– ), forming part of the Presidency – deals with official and municipal arms.
Luxembourg
Commission héraldique de l'Etat (State Heraldic Commission)
Malta
Office of the Chief Herald of Arms of Malta (2019–present), an agency of Heritage Malta — deals with personal, corporate and municipal arms.