National emblem of East Timor

In 1935, the Portuguese colonies were officially assigned coats of arms that followed a standard design pattern.[2] The arms of Portuguese Timor followed the same format of other Portuguese colonies (later overseas provinces) with the territory being represented by the black and white Dominican cross in recognition of the role played by the Dominican Order in converting the East Timorese to Roman Catholicism.[3]

Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and annexed it the following year as its 27th province of Timor Timur. During this period, Timor Timur had its own emblem which remained in use until Indonesia rescinded its annexation in 1999. The emblem consisted of a golden shield containing wreaths of wheat and cotton enclosing a blue roundel containing a stylised traditional East Timor house. This was surmounted by a blue shield depicting a gold star representing the faith in one God. Below the roundel appeared a traditional Timorese headdress (Kaibauk) bearing the inscription "Timor Timur".

The seal used by the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) depicted an outline of the island of Timor, a crocodile, traditional head-dress and tais patterns. The seal included the words Timor Lorosa’e and Governu in Tetum or Timor Leste and Governo in Portuguese.

The first emblem contains the shield of the Conselho Nacional de Resistência Timorense (National Council of Timorese Resistance). The main elements are two crossed Suriks (traditional Timorese swords), together with a spear, a star, and two arrows. The country's title, in Portuguese, is on a blue ring around the shield and a sun with 14 rays. The motto in the banner translates as: "Honour, Homeland, and People".