For the purposes of this article, an 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 heraldry authorities, and several still flourish today.

Europe

Belgium

• Raad van Adel or Conseil de la noblesse (Council of the Nobility) (1844- ) - grants arms to the nobility and municipal arms in the German Speaking Community of Belgium.
• Vlaamse Heraldische Raad (Flemish Heraldic Council
  Flemish Heraldic Council
  The Flemish Heraldic Council or Vlaamse Heraldische Raad advises the Flemish Government on all matters relating to heraldry. It currently operates as the fifth division of the Royal Commission of Monuments and Sites or Koninklijke Commissie voor Monumenten en Landschappen.The Council was created on...
  
  ) (1984- ) - grants non-noble personal, official, municipal, and corporate arms within the Flemish Community of Belgium.
• Conseil d'héraldique et de vexillologie de la Communauté française de Belgique (Heraldic and Vexilological Council of the French Community of Belgium) (1985- ) - grants non-noble personal and municipal arms in the French Community of Belgium.

Georgia

• State Council of Heraldry
  State Council of Heraldry (Georgia)
  The State Council of Heraldry is a heraldic authority in Georgia, established at the Parliament of Georgia on February 29, 2008. Located in Tbilisi, the council advises the government of Georgia on all matters related to heraldry. The council is headed by a chairman who is appointed by the...
  
   at the Parliament of Georgia
  Parliament of Georgia
  Parliament of Georgia is the supreme legislature of Georgia. It is unicameral and has 150 members, known as deputies, from which 75 members are proportional representatives and 75 are elected through single-member district plurality system, representing their constituencies...
  
   (established in 2008)

Germany

Bavaria

• Reichsherold (Royal Herald) (1808–1920)

Prussia

• Oberheroldsamt (1706–1713) - dealt with noble and municipal arms.
• Koniglich Preussisches Heroldsamt (Royal Prussian Heraldry Office) (1855–1920)

Saxony

• Kommissariatt für Adelsangelegenheiten (Commission for Noble Affairs) (1902–1920)

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
  National Library of Ireland
  The National Library of Ireland is Ireland's national library located in Dublin, in a building designed by Thomas Newenham Deane. The Minister for Arts, Sport & Tourism is the member of the Irish Government responsible for the library....
  
   - grants personal, official, municipal, and corporate arms.

Latvia

• State Heraldry Commission (1997- ), forming part of the Presidency - deals with official and municipal arms.

Lithuania

• Heraldry Commission, forming part of the Presidency - deals with official and municipal arms.

Netherlands

• Hoge Raad van Adel (High Council of the Nobility) (1815- ) - grants personal arms (to nobles only) and official, military, and municipal arms.

Portugal

• Gabinete de Heraldica Corporative (Office for Corporate Heraldry) (1930- ) - registers corporate arms.

Russia

• Office of Heraldry (1722–1917), headed by the Master Herald - granted personal, official, and municipal arms.
• State Heraldry Service (1992- ), headed by the Master Herald and forming part of the President's Office.

Sweden

• Riksheraldiker (Royal Herald) (1734–1953)
• Statens Heraldiska Namnd (State Heraldry Office) (1953- ), headed by a State Herald, and forming part of the Royal Archives.

United Kingdom

England

• College of Arms
  College of Arms
  The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
  
   (1484- ), headed by Garter Principal King of Arms
  Garter Principal King of Arms
  The Garter Principal King of Arms is the senior King of Arms, and the senior Officer of Arms of the College of Arms. He is therefore the most powerful herald within the jurisdiction of the College – primarily England, Wales and Northern Ireland – and so arguably the most powerful in the world...
  
   - grants personal, municipal, and corporate arms; in principle, it is illegal to bear arms in England unless they have been granted or recorded by the College.

Northern Ireland

• Until 1943, Northern Ireland came under the Ulster Office; since then, it has fallen under the College of Arms (in England).

Scotland

• Court of the Lord Lyon
  Court of the Lord Lyon
  The Court of the Lord Lyon, also known as the Lyon Court, is a standing court of law which regulates heraldry in Scotland. Like the College of Arms in England it maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, as well as records of...
  
  , headed by the Lord Lyon - grants personal, municipal, and corporate arms; it is illegal to bear arms in Scotland unless they have been granted or recorded by the Lord Lyon.

Kenya

• Kenya College of Arms (1968- ), headed by a Registrar, and forming part of the Attorney-General's Office - grants and registers personal, municipal, and corporate coats of arms.

South Africa

• Department of the Interior (1935–1959) - inter alia registered the arms of associations and institutions, as "badges".
• Provincial administrations (1949-1963 - inter alia registered the arms of municipalities in their respective provinces.
• Department of Education, Arts & Sciences (1959-1963 - inter alia registered the arms of associations and institutions, as "badges".
• Bureau of Heraldry
  Bureau of Heraldry (South Africa)
  The Bureau of Heraldry is the South African heraldic authority, established in Pretoria on 1 June 1963. It is headed by a National Herald and its functions are to register arms, badges, flags and seals , to keep a public register, to issue registration certificates and, since 1980, to advise the...
  
   (1963- ), headed by the National Herald (formerly State Herald), and forming part of the National Archives & Records Service - registers personal, official, military, municipal, and corporate arms.

Zambia

• Colours Control Board (1958– ) - inter alia registers the arms of associations and institutions, as "badges".

Zimbabwe

• Registrar of Names, Uniforms, Badges and Heraldic Representations (1971- ), forming part of the Patents Office - registers official, municipal, corporate, and personal arms.

North America and Caribbean

Canada

• Canadian Heraldic Authority
  Canadian Heraldic Authority
  The Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Queen of Canada, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General. The Authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms , flags and badges for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and...
  
   (1988- ), headed by the Chief Herald of Canada, and forming part of the Governor-General's Household - grants personal, official, military, municipal, and official arms.

United States of America

• United States Army Institute of Heraldry
  United States Army Institute of Heraldry
  The United States Army Institute of Heraldry furnishes heraldic services to the Armed Forces and other United States government organizations, including the Executive Office of the President...
  
   (1920- ) - responsible for military heraldry, also provides heraldic services to the federal government.

New Zealand

• New Zealand Herald Extraordinary
  New Zealand Herald Extraordinary
  -References:*Squibb, George, "Heraldic Authority in the British Commonwealth" Coat of Arms vol 10 no 76 p 125*O'Shea, P.P., "The Office of the New Zealand Herald of Arms" 20 New Zealand Armorist 7...
  
   (1978- ) in the Governor-General's Household - represents the English College of Arms
  College of Arms
  The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
  
  .