Trademark Registration in Dominican Republic

Quick answer

Trademarks in the Dominican Republic are registered with the Oficina Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial (ONAPI); the official application fee is DOP 5,720 for one class, and third parties can oppose within 45 days from publication of the application notice. A registration lasts 10 years from the registration date and can be renewed. The Dominican Republic is not in the Madrid System, so a national filing is needed.

Checked against official sources on 11 October 2026 · see sources

Office: ONAPI
Official fee: DOP 5,720
Madrid Protocol: Not a member
Opposition: 45 days from publication of the application not…
Protection: 10 years from registration date
Multi-class filing: Allowed

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The trademark office and official links

Trademarks in Dominican Republic are registered by the Oficina Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial (National Industrial Property Office) (ONAPI).

Trademark office: Oficina Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial (National Industrial Property Office) (ONAPI)
Online filing: official e-filing portal
Trademark search: official trademark database
Law: Law No. 20-00 on Industrial Property (2000, as amended)
Law: Decree No. 599-01 establishing the regulations for implementing Law No. 20-00 (2001)

Official fees in Dominican Republic

Official fee	Amount
Application, single class or base fee for a multi-class application	DOP 5,720
Each additional class (multi-class application)	DOP 4,110
Publication, word marks and slogans	DOP 1,210
Publication, figurative, mixed, 3D, sound and olfactory marks	DOP 1,645
Publication, each additional class	DOP 1,210
Renewal	DOP 3,305
Publication of renewal	DOP 1,210
Late renewal surcharge (per month or part of a month)	DOP 545
Opposition	DOP 3,545
Prior-mark search	DOP 600

Official office fees only (schedule as of 2023-03). Official fee schedule. Professional fees of a local firm are extra — compare fixed-fee packages.

How to register a trademark in Dominican Republic

Search for earlier marks using ONAPI's online sign search or request an official prior-mark search.
File the application with ONAPI, online or in person, listing goods and services grouped by Nice class.
Non-resident applicants must act through a representative in the Dominican Republic.
ONAPI checks formalities; formal defects must be corrected within 30 days.
Pay for publication of the application notice in ONAPI's official gazette.
Third parties have 45 days from publication to oppose.
ONAPI completes substantive examination (objections allow 60 days to respond) and grants the registration.

Examination, publication and opposition

Examination: ONAPI conducts formal and substantive examination; applicants have 30 days to correct formal defects and 60 days to respond to substantive objections. No overall official time frame was found.
Publication: ONAPI's official gazette (órgano oficial de la ONAPI), at the applicant's expense
Opposition period: 45 days from publication of the application notice (Law 20-00, art. 80)

Protection, renewal and use

Term: 10 years from the registration date, renewable.
Late renewal: 6 months after expiry, with a surcharge
Rights system: mixed.

Filing from abroad

Local agent: Applicants with no domicile or establishment in the Dominican Republic must appoint a representative in the country (Law 20-00, art. 75).
Language: Spanish

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

Madrid Protocol

Dominican Republic is not a member of the Madrid System, so an international registration cannot cover it. You need a national filing, usually through a local agent.

Trademark classes

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

How Dominican Republic compares

Opposition: 45 days from publication of the application notice (Law 20-00, art. 80) — compare all countries
Renewal: every 10 years; grace period 6 months after expiry, with a surcharge — compare all countries
Foreign owners: required — rules in every country
Official search: www.onapi.gob.do — all search databases

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

Good to know in Dominican Republic

Exclusive rights are acquired through registration; where a mark is not in use in the country, the first applicant has priority (Law 20-00, art. 71).
A sworn statement on use of the mark is required when renewing (Law 20-00, art. 83).
Publication fees are charged separately and vary by mark type (word marks cost less than figurative, mixed, 3D, sound and olfactory marks).
The Dominican Republic is not a member of the Madrid System, so protection requires a national application with ONAPI.

Questions

How much does it cost to register a trademark in the Dominican Republic?

ONAPI's 2023 schedule charges RD$5,720 to file for one class, RD$4,110 per additional class, plus a publication fee of RD$1,210 (word marks) or RD$1,645 (other mark types).

Is the Dominican Republic part of the Madrid Protocol?

No. The Dominican Republic is not a Madrid System member, so trademarks must be filed nationally with ONAPI.

How long is the opposition period in the Dominican Republic?

45 days from publication of the application notice in ONAPI's official gazette.

How long does a trademark registration last in the Dominican Republic?

Ten years from the date of grant, renewable for further 10-year periods, with a 6-month grace period after expiry on payment of a surcharge.

Can foreigners register a trademark in the Dominican Republic?

Yes, but applicants without a domicile or establishment in the country must appoint a local representative.

Trademark registration in Dominican Republic