Or, “Why should I bother paying you to ‘register’ armorial bearings?”

As an update to our members, and potential registrants, we provide here current costs, comparing the cost of REGISTRATION with our own organization versus receiving a GRANT of Arms from an international body (e.g. The College of Arms [England], The Court of The Lord Lyon [Scotland], etc.). We are certainly not downplaying the significance or importance of an actual GRANT of Arms, but one must really take under consideration the cost of the “product” received versus (essentially) the same item (a frameable piece of paper, published and recorded, with the ability to pass same down to all future generations).

“I understand what the College does. How much does a Registration of Arms cost?”

Currently, the total fee for REGISTRATION of Arms with our organization – whether one wishes to merely register Arms granted by another legitimate heraldic authority, or chooses to have the College aid in the design and execution of wholly new Arms – is US$395, payable to The American College of Heraldry, whether through the secure Payment Portal on this website via credit card, billing through PayPal, or personal check. This includes a color certificate of the REGISTRATION of Arms, as well as a Black & White line art drawing suitable for use on stationery, etc., by the armiger. On request, we can also supply a Black & White TIF file, as well as a Color JPG, of the registered Arms.

Further, the Arms would appear in the College’s quarterly, The Armiger’s News, as well as a listing on the College’s index of all issues of that same publication to include Registration dates (along with all eligible descendants). Details on REGISTRATION fees may be found under CURRENT FEES.

As to the cost of a REGISTRATION with our organization, as opposed to a GRANT received from one of the international granting bodies most commonly queried by Americans, here is a breakdown of current costs:

• The College of Arms as published on their website (as of 1 January 2025):
  • Personal GRANT of Arms and Crest are £9,250 – The American College of Heraldry helps design and registers the same for US$395
  • Similar GRANT of Arms and Crest to an impersonal but non-profit making body, £18,940 – The American College of Heraldry helps design and registers the same for US$395 – no upcharge, unless supporters are added
  • GRANT of Arms to a commercial company, £28,235 – The American College of Heraldry helps design and registers the same for US$395 – no upcharge, unless supporters are added
  • When a GRANT of Arms includes the Grant of a Badge or (to eligible grantees) Supporters, or the exemplification of a standard, a further fee is payable – The American College of Heraldry does not register badges
  • A special reduced fee of £10,945 has been introduced for parish, town and community councils, to cover the GRANT of Arms alone, without crest – The American College of Heraldry helps design and registers the same for US$395 – no upcharge, unless supporters are added
• The Court of The Lord Lyon also publishes their fees (in much greater detail, including fees for specific “additaments”). For example:
  • Patent of Arms for a Private Individual, with Crest and without Supporters, is £3,220 (includes all fees for Patent of Arms, Patent of Crest, Matriculation in the Public Register, Affixing Seal of Office, Extracting from Public Register, Vellum (half sheet)†, Container, Herald Painter, and Writing/Calligraphy).
    • The entire listing (as of April 2024) may be seen HERE.
• Those interested in obtaining a Grant of Arms from the Chief Herald of Ireland, through the Genealogical Office, will be expected to provide genealogical information including birth, marriage, and death certificates back to an ancestor that bore arms. Alternatively, an entirely new grant of arms can be discussed and designed. The Costs of granting and preparing arms (as of 11 August 2024):
  • Individual €4,400
  • Corporate bodies (Commercial) €17,250
  • Local authorities, government offices and agencies €8,600
  • Schools, clubs, professional associations and other non-profit organizations €8,600
    • The sum of €400 is payable when lodging the application; half of the remaining fee is payable when work on the design begins, and the balance must be paid before work on the actual grant of arms is put in hand by the Herald Painter.
  • Note: As of January 2025 the Office of the Chief Herald of Ireland’s website states: “The Office of the Chief Herald is currently not accepting any new applications for grants or confirmations of arms. We are not in a position to answer general queries about heraldry.”
• The Canadian Heraldic Authority has an extensive and very specific pricing structure for Granting Arms, based on what elements the armiger wishes to have included. Costs include an initial CAD$435 for all applications, to which are added costs for the Preliminary Design, and then pricing for the various elements of the Final Art of the Achievement itself, as well as Calligraphy on the Grant Certificate. The entire Pricing List may be seen HERE.

For those interested in a comparison with another REGISTERING body (like the College):

• The Bureau of Heraldry (South Africa) – this heraldic authority is headed by a State Herald (known unofficially as the National Herald since 2004); together with the Heraldry Council, it forms part of the National Archives and Records Service, which is currently under the authority of the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture – it should be noted, however, that this office does not GRANT Armorial Bearings, but rather REGISTERS them – an important difference
  • The initial amount for an application is R2309 (US$125). The balance of the fee depends on the type of representation being registered or amended.
  • Registration (or amendment) of a badge, flag, pennant, gonfalon, decoration, medal, seal, insignia of rank, any office, or order (excluding a coat of arms): R6102 (US$327) – The American College of Heraldry does not involve itself with these items
    
  • Registration (or amendment) of arms consisting of a shield only: R5574 (US$300) – The American College of Heraldry does not Register the Shield alone
    
  • Registration (or amendment) of arms with a crest: R14164 ($760) – The American College of Heraldry helps design and registers the same for US$395 
  • Registration (or amendment) of arms with a crest and supporters: R18781 (US$1,007) –
    The American College of Heraldry is not in the practice of Registering Armorial Bearings with Supporters, unless they are included a verified Grant from one of the extant Granting bodies
  • Registration (or amendment) of arms complete with crest, supporters, and special compartment: R21522 (US$1,150) – The American College of Heraldry is not in the practice of Registering Armorial Bearings with Supporters and Compartment, unless they are included a verified Grant from one of the extant Granting bodies
    
• Note: At one time it was a fairly simple process for non-citizens of South Africa  to have assumed Arms Registered with this Office. However, as of January 2025 the Bureau of Heraldry’s website states: “The Bureau of Heraldry has temporarily suspended registrations for foreign nationals to improve internal capacity. This will ensure the Bureau can meet the high demand from international applicants without impacting quality of service to local applicants.”

Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact The Executive Director at info@americancollegeofheraldry.org.