# Trademark registration in Afghanistan

> Trademarks in Afghanistan are registered with the Afghanistan Central Business Registry & Intellectual Property, Ministry of Commerce and Industries (ACBR-IP); third parties can oppose within 30 days from publication in the Official Gazette. A registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed. Afghanistan can be designated through the Madrid System.

Source page: https://trademarkshub.com/trademarks/afghanistan
Facts checked against official sources: 2026-10-11

## Key facts
- **Trademark office:** Afghanistan Central Business Registry & Intellectual Property, Ministry of Commerce and Industries (ACBR-IP)
- **Madrid Protocol:** Member since 2018
- **Opposition period:** 30 days from publication in the Official Gazette
- **Protection:** 10 years, renewable
- **Multi-class applications:** No — one class per application
- **Foreign applicants:** The 2009 law does not require a local agent

## Official links
- Trademark office: https://moci.gov.af/
- Law: Trademark Registration Law (2009) — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/10201

## Steps
1. Search existing registrations at the trademarks registration section before filing.
2. File the application, personally or through a legal representative, with the Central Registration Office (Trademarks Registration Section), describing the goods or services.
3. Foreign applicants from reciprocal states may claim priority if they file within six months of their earlier application.
4. The office examines and registers the mark; the owner must then publish the registered mark in the Official Gazette and other media within 15 days, at their own expense.
5. Objections may be filed within 30 days of publication; unresolved disputes go to the commercial court.

- **Publication:** Official Gazette and other media, arranged by the owner within 15 days of registration
- **Opposition:** 30 days from publication in the Official Gazette
- **Late renewal:** Renewal is filed within 6 months before expiry; the right ends if not renewed within 6 months after expiry
- **Use requirement:** a registration can be challenged after 3 years of non-use.

## Good to know
- Under the 2009 law, ownership of a mark belongs to the person who first used it, unless a court decides otherwise, while protection runs from the application date.
- The owner is responsible for publishing the registered mark in the Official Gazette and other media within 15 days of registration.
- According to an ACBR-IP presentation at a WIPO meeting, multi-class applications were accepted until September 2017; since then each application (and renewal) covers a single class.
- The commercial court may terminate a registration if the mark is proven unused for three consecutive years without justification.
- Afghanistan joined the Paris Convention and the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks (both in force 14 May 2017) and the Madrid Protocol (26 June 2018).

## FAQ
### Is Afghanistan part of the Madrid Protocol?
Yes. WIPO lists the Madrid Protocol as in force for Afghanistan since 26 June 2018.

### How long does a trademark registration last in Afghanistan?
Registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed for successive 10-year periods; renewal is filed within six months before expiry.

### How long is the opposition period for trademarks in Afghanistan?
Objections must be filed within 30 days of publication in the Official Gazette.

### Can an Afghan trademark be cancelled for non-use?
Yes. The commercial court may terminate a registration if the mark is proven unused for three consecutive years without justification.

### Can one trademark application cover several classes in Afghanistan?
No. According to the registry, single-class registration has applied to new applications and renewals since September 2017.

## Sources
- WIPO Lex - Trademark Registration Law (2009): https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/10201
- WIPO Lex - Afghanistan profile: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/members/profile/AF
- WIPO Directory of IP offices - Afghanistan: https://www.wipo.int/directory/en/details.jsp?country_code=AF
- WIPO - Madrid Protocol contracting parties: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/ShowResults?search_what=C&treaty_id=8
- ACBR-IP presentation at a WIPO trademark meeting (Tokyo): https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/aspac/en/wipo_tm_tyo_17/wipo_tm_tyo_17_t4.pdf

Need a firm that files in Afghanistan? Find one at https://trademarkshub.com/trademarks/afghanistan (TrademarksHub lists IP firms by country; featured placements are paid and labelled).
General information, not legal advice.