Trademark registration in Canada

The trademark office and official links

Trademarks in Canada are registered by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO).

• Trademark office: Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
• Trademark search: official trademark database
• Law: Trademarks Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. T-13)

Official fees in Canada

Official office fees only (schedule as of 2026-01). Official fee schedule. Professional fees of a local firm are extra — compare fixed-fee packages.

How to register a trademark in Canada

1. Search the Canadian Trademarks Database for earlier conflicting marks.
2. File the application with CIPO, listing goods and services grouped by Nice class, and pay the fee for the first and each additional class.
3. A CIPO examiner reviews the application for formal requirements, registrability and confusion with earlier marks, and may issue an examiner's report.
4. Once approved, the application is advertised in the Trademarks Journal.
5. Any person may file a statement of opposition within two months after advertisement.
6. If there is no opposition, or an opposition is decided in the applicant's favour, the Registrar registers the trademark and issues a certificate.

Examination, publication and opposition

• Examination: CIPO trademark examiners examine each application for compliance and registrability, including confusion with earlier marks; no fixed official timeframe was confirmed from an official page.
• Publication: Trademarks Journal (published by CIPO)
• Opposition period: Two months after advertisement in the Trademarks Journal (Trademarks Act s. 38(1))

Protection, renewal and use

• Term: 10 years from the registration date, renewable.
• Late renewal: Renewal can be made in a window beginning 6 months before and ending 6 months after expiry; the registration is expunged if the fee is not paid within that period. The official fee table lists no late-renewal surcharge.
• Use requirement: a registration can be challenged after 3 years of non-use.
• Rights system: mixed.

Filing from abroad

• Local agent: A Canadian trademark agent is not mandatory, but an owner without an office or place of business in Canada can appoint a representative for service in Canada to receive correspondence from CIPO.
• Language: English or French

Firms on TrademarksHub that cover Canada can act as your local agent — see firms.

Madrid Protocol

Canada is a member of the Madrid System (in force since 2019). You can designate it in an international application filed through your home office, or file a national application directly. A local firm can advise which route is cheaper for your classes and timeline.

Trademark classes

Nice Classification (45 classes); goods and services must be grouped by Nice class, and fees are charged per class.. One application can cover several classes. Not sure which classes you need? See all 45 classes or classes by business type.

How Canada compares

• Opposition: Two months after advertisement in the Trademarks Journal (Trademarks Act s. 38(1)) — compare all countries
• Renewal: every 10 years; grace period Renewal can be made in a window beginning 6 months before and ending 6 months after expiry; the registration is expunged if the fee is not paid within that period. The official fee table lists no late-renewal surcharge. — compare all countries
• Foreign owners: not required — rules in every country
• Official search: ised-isde.canada.ca — all search databases

Guides: registering in any country · costs by country · Madrid

Good to know in Canada

• Since 17 June 2019, use of a trademark is no longer required before registration, and goods and services must be classified under the Nice Classification.
• After 3 years from registration, anyone can ask the Registrar to require the owner to show use in Canada (section 45); unused marks can be expunged.
• Fees are adjusted every 1 January; online filing is cheaper than filing by other means.
• Applications may be filed in English or French.

Questions