TrademarksHubThe worldwide trademark network
Feed

Country guide · Updated October 2026

Trademark registration in China

Who registers trademarks in China, what it costs, how long it takes and what foreign owners need — with links to the official sources and IP firms that can file for you.

Find a trademark firm in China

Quick answer

Trademarks in China are registered with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA); the official application fee is CNY 270 per class, and third parties can oppose within 3 months from preliminary publication. A registration lasts 10 years from the registration date and can be renewed. China can be designated through the Madrid System.

Checked against official sources on 11 October 2026 · see sources

Office
CNIPA
Official fee
CNY 270 / class
Madrid Protocol
Member since 1995
Opposition
3 months from preliminary publication; reduced …
Protection
10 years from registration date
Multi-class filing
Allowed

Featured trademark firms in China

Your firm here Reach brand owners looking for trademark help in China. Get featured →

Featured places go to the firms with the highest monthly bid. Bid for a place →

Official fees in China

Official feeAmount
Application, e-filing (per class, up to 10 items)
CNY 27 for each additional item in the class		CNY 270
Application, paper filing (per class, up to 10 items)
CNY 30 for each additional item in the class		CNY 300
Collective or certification mark application, e-filing
paper CNY 1,500		CNY 1,350
Renewal, e-filing (per class)
paper CNY 500		CNY 450
Renewal in grace period surcharge, e-filing
paper CNY 250		CNY 225
Opposition, e-filing
paper CNY 500		CNY 450

Official office fees only (schedule as of 2019-07). Official fee schedule. Professional fees of a local firm are extra — compare fixed-fee packages.

How to register a trademark in China

  1. Search the CNIPA trademark database, checking similarity by CNIPA subclass.
  2. File the application in Chinese with CNIPA online or on paper (foreign applicants without a domicile or business in China must file through a registered Chinese trademark agency).
  3. CNIPA examines formalities and then substance on absolute and relative grounds.
  4. If approved, the mark is preliminarily published in the CNIPA Trademark Gazette for opposition.
  5. If no opposition is filed (or the opposition fails), CNIPA registers the mark and issues the registration certificate.
  6. If the application is refused in whole or part, the applicant may request review within 15 days of receiving the refusal.

Examination, publication and opposition

  • Examination: CNIPA examines the application; under the 2019 Trademark Law, substantive examination must be completed within 9 months of filing.
  • Publication: Preliminarily approved marks are published in the Trademark Gazette issued by CNIPA.
  • Opposition period: 3 months from preliminary publication; reduced to 2 months under the revised Trademark Law effective 1 January 2027

Protection, renewal and use

  • Term: 10 years from the registration date, renewable.
  • Late renewal: 6 months after expiry, with surcharge (CNY 225 online / CNY 250 paper); renewal can be filed in the 12 months before expiry
  • Use requirement: a registration can be challenged after 3 years of non-use.
  • Rights system: first to file.

Filing from abroad

  • Local agent: Foreign individuals and companies without a habitual residence or business establishment in China must appoint a legally established Chinese trademark agency.
  • Power of attorney: A signed power of attorney is filed with the application; notarisation or legalisation is generally not required. Proof of the applicant's identity (e.g. company certificate) is also submitted.
  • Language: Chinese; foreign-language documents must be accompanied by a Chinese translation

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

Madrid Protocol

China is a member of the Madrid System (in force since 1995). 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), applied through CNIPA's Classification of Similar Goods and Services, which divides each class into subclasses used to assess similarity. One application can cover several classes. Not sure which classes you need? See all 45 classes or classes by business type.

How China compares

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

Good to know in China

  • China applies its own subclass system within each Nice class; similarity and the scope of protection are assessed by subclass, so goods should be chosen carefully.
  • Strict first-to-file system: trademark squatting is common, so early filing (including the Chinese-language version of a mark) is advisable.
  • Registration in mainland China does not cover Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan, which have separate systems.
  • A revised Trademark Law was adopted on 26 June 2026 and takes effect on 1 January 2027; it shortens the opposition period to two months, allows CNIPA to cancel marks unused for three years on its own initiative, and allows fines of up to CNY 100,000 for bad-faith filings.
  • Customs recordal of registered marks with China Customs is available for border enforcement.

Questions

How much does it cost to register a trademark in China?
The official CNIPA fee for an online application is CNY 270 per class covering up to 10 goods or services, plus CNY 27 for each additional item (CNY 300 and CNY 30 on paper).
Is China part of the Madrid Protocol?
Yes. The Madrid Protocol has been in force for China since 1 December 1995, so China can be designated in an international registration.
How long is the opposition period for trademarks in China?
Currently three months from preliminary publication in the Trademark Gazette; under the revised Trademark Law it becomes two months from 1 January 2027.
Do foreign companies need an agent to register a trademark in China?
Yes. Foreign applicants without a habitual residence or business establishment in China must file through a legally established Chinese trademark agency.
How long does a Chinese trademark registration last?
Ten years from the date of registration, renewable for 10-year periods; late renewal is possible within a 6-month grace period with a surcharge.
Does a Chinese trademark registration cover Hong Kong?
No. Mainland China registration does not extend to Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan.