Trademark registration in GambiaQuick answer
Trademarks in the Gambia are registered with the Registrar General's Department, Ministry of Justice; the official application fee is GMD 2,500 for one class, and third parties can oppose within 3 months from publication. A registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed. The Gambia can be designated through the Madrid System.
Checked against official sources on 11 October 2026 · see sources
- Office
- Registrar General's Department, Ministry of Justice
- Official fee
- GMD 2,500
- Madrid Protocol
- Member since 2015
- Opposition
- 3 months from publication, extendable by the Re…
- Protection
- 10 years
- Multi-class filing
- Allowed
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The trademark office and official links
Trademarks in Gambia are registered by the Registrar General's Department, Ministry of Justice.
- Trademark office: Registrar General's Department, Ministry of Justice
- Law: Industrial Property Act (Act No. 12 of 1989), version in force from 2 April 2007, Part V (Marks)
- Law: Industrial Property (Amendment) Act, 2015 (Act No. 5 of 2015), adding Madrid Protocol procedures
- Law: Industrial Property Regulations, 2010
Official fees in Gambia
| Official fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application, first class Applicants from The Gambia; foreign applicants pay USD 200 | GMD 2,500 |
| Each additional class Foreign applicants pay USD 100 | GMD 1,250 |
| Publication (advertisement) fee Foreign applicants pay USD 100 | GMD 1,250 |
| Renewal Foreign applicants pay USD 250 | GMD 3,125 |
Official office fees only. Official fee schedule. Professional fees of a local firm are extra — compare fixed-fee packages.
How to register a trademark in Gambia
- Foreign applicants appoint a local agent, using a simply signed power of attorney (no notarisation required).
- File the application with the Registrar General's Department, listing goods and services under the Nice Classification; additional classes carry an extra fee.
- The Registrar examines formalities and relative and substantive grounds.
- Once the application is accepted, pay the publication fee within three months of the notice of acceptance, or the application is treated as abandoned.
- Third parties may oppose within three months of publication; the Registrar may extend this, up to nine months in total.
- If there is no opposition, or it fails, the mark is registered and a certificate is issued.
Examination, publication and opposition
- Examination: The Registrar examines formalities and relative and substantive grounds; no official examination time is stated.
- Publication: Published by the Registrar after acceptance (Official Gazette per one practitioner source)
- Opposition period: 3 months from publication, extendable by the Registrar up to 9 months in total
Protection, renewal and use
- Term: 10 years, renewable.
Filing from abroad
- Local agent: Applicants whose principal place of business is outside The Gambia must appoint a local agent; for local applicants an agent is optional (per a 2022 EU IP Helpdesk country fiche).
- Power of attorney: Simply signed power of attorney; no notarisation or legalisation.
- Language: English
Firms on TrademarksHub that cover Gambia can act as your local agent — see firms.
Madrid Protocol
Gambia is a member of the Madrid System (in force since 2015). 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). One application can cover several classes. Not sure which classes you need? See all 45 classes or classes by business type.
How Gambia compares
- Opposition: 3 months from publication, extendable by the Registrar up to 9 months in total — compare all countries
- Renewal: every 10 years — compare all countries
- Foreign owners: required — rules in every country
Guides: registering in any country · costs by country · Madrid
Good to know in Gambia
- The Gambia can be covered by a national filing, a Madrid designation (in force since 18 December 2015), or an ARIPO application under the Banjul Protocol (in force for The Gambia since 3 August 2021).
- The Industrial Property (Amendment) Act, 2015 added Madrid Protocol procedures to the national law; a 2022 EU IP Helpdesk fiche says the law had not yet been amended to give ARIPO marks the same effect as national marks.
- Official fees are lower for Gambian applicants (paid in dalasi) than for foreign applicants (paid in US dollars).
- Contested oppositions are ultimately heard by the High Court, and the opponent may be required to give security for costs.
- The Registrar General's Department filed its first online Madrid international application in April 2024 after joining WIPO's Madrid e-filing service.