visa authorities
as defined in Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of…, Article 4, point (3) (Definitions)
the authorities which in each Member State are responsible for examining and for taking decisions on visa applications or for decisions whether to annul, revoke or extend visas, including the central visa authorities and the authorities responsible for issuing visas at the border in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 415/2003 of 27 February 2003 on the issue of visas at the border, including the issue of such visas to seamen in transit