# Trademark registration in China

> 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.

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

## Key facts
- **Trademark office:** China National Intellectual Property Administration (Trademark Office) (CNIPA)
- **Official fee:** CNY 270 — Application, e-filing (per class, up to 10 items)
- **Madrid Protocol:** Member since 1995
- **Opposition period:** 3 months from preliminary publication
- **Protection:** 10 years from the registration date, renewable
- **Multi-class applications:** Allowed
- **Foreign applicants:** Foreign individuals and companies without a habitual residence or business establishment in China must appoint a legall…

## Official links
- Trademark office: https://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/
- Online filing: https://wssq.sbj.cnipa.gov.cn:9443/tmsve/
- Official trademark search: https://wcjs.sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/
- Law: Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China (amended up to June 26, 2026; revised text effective 1 January 2027) — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/23875
- Law: Regulations for the Implementation of the Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China (amended 2014) — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/15011
- Law: Trademark Examination Guidelines 2021 (CNIPA Announcement No. 462) — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/22684

## Official fees (as of 2019-07)
- Application, e-filing (per class, up to 10 items): CNY 270 — CNY 27 for each additional item in the class
- Application, paper filing (per class, up to 10 items): CNY 300 — CNY 30 for each additional item in the class
- Collective or certification mark application, e-filing: CNY 1,350 — paper CNY 1,500
- Renewal, e-filing (per class): CNY 450 — paper CNY 500
- Renewal in grace period surcharge, e-filing: CNY 225 — paper CNY 250
- Opposition, e-filing: CNY 450 — paper CNY 500

## Steps
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:** 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:** 3 months from preliminary publication; reduced to 2 months under the revised Trademark Law effective 1 January 2027
- **Late renewal:** 6 months after expiry, with surcharge (CNY 225 online / CNY 250 paper); renewal can be filed in the 12 months before expiry
- **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
- **Use requirement:** a registration can be challenged after 3 years of non-use.

## Good to know
- 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.

## FAQ
### 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.

## Sources
- CNIPA - Trademark fees (English): https://english.cnipa.gov.cn/col/col3005/index.html
- CNIPA - China Revises Trademark Law (26 June 2026): https://english.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2026/6/26/art_2975_206932.html
- CNIPA Announcement No. 316 (fee reduction from 1 July 2019): https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2019/8/5/art_74_27645.html
- WIPO Lex - China profile: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/members/profile/CN
- WIPO Lex - Trademark Law of the PRC (amended up to 2026): https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/23875
- WIPO - Madrid Protocol contracting parties: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/ShowResults?search_what=C&treaty_id=8

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