# Trademark registration in Gambia

> 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.

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

## Key facts
- **Trademark office:** Registrar General's Department, Ministry of Justice
- **Official fee:** GMD 2,500 — Application, first class
- **Madrid Protocol:** Member since 2015
- **Opposition period:** 3 months from publication, extendable by the Registrar up to 9 months in total
- **Protection:** 10 years, renewable
- **Multi-class applications:** Allowed
- **Foreign applicants:** Applicants whose principal place of business is outside The Gambia must appoint a local agent

## Official links
- Trademark office: https://www.moj.gov.gm/registrar-generals
- Law: Industrial Property Act (Act No. 12 of 1989), version in force from 2 April 2007, Part V (Marks) — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/9366
- Law: Industrial Property (Amendment) Act, 2015 (Act No. 5 of 2015), adding Madrid Protocol procedures — https://aripo.org/storage/resources-member-state-laws/1730128581_gm008en.pdf
- Law: Industrial Property Regulations, 2010 — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/9379

## Official fees
- Application, first class: GMD 2,500 — Applicants from The Gambia; foreign applicants pay USD 200
- Each additional class: GMD 1,250 — Foreign applicants pay USD 100
- Publication (advertisement) fee: GMD 1,250 — Foreign applicants pay USD 100
- Renewal: GMD 3,125 — Foreign applicants pay USD 250

## Steps
1. Foreign applicants appoint a local agent, using a simply signed power of attorney (no notarisation required).
2. File the application with the Registrar General's Department, listing goods and services under the Nice Classification; additional classes carry an extra fee.
3. The Registrar examines formalities and relative and substantive grounds.
4. Once the application is accepted, pay the publication fee within three months of the notice of acceptance, or the application is treated as abandoned.
5. Third parties may oppose within three months of publication; the Registrar may extend this, up to nine months in total.
6. If there is no opposition, or it fails, the mark is registered and a certificate is issued.

- **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:** 3 months from publication, extendable by the Registrar up to 9 months in total
- **Power of attorney:** Simply signed power of attorney; no notarisation or legalisation.
- **Language:** English

## Good to know
- 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.

## FAQ
### Is Gambia part of the Madrid Protocol?
Yes. The Madrid Protocol has been in force for The Gambia since 18 December 2015, and the Industrial Property (Amendment) Act, 2015 added Madrid procedures to the national law.

### Can I protect a trademark in Gambia through ARIPO?
Yes. The Gambia has been party to the ARIPO Banjul Protocol on Marks since 3 August 2021, so an ARIPO application can designate it.

### How much does it cost to register a trademark in Gambia?
Official fees for a Gambian applicant are GMD 2,500 for the first class, GMD 1,250 per additional class and GMD 1,250 for publication; foreign applicants pay USD 200, USD 100 and USD 100. Renewal is GMD 3,125 or USD 250.

### How long is the trademark opposition period in Gambia?
Three months from publication, which the Registrar can extend up to nine months in total.

### Do foreign applicants need a local agent in Gambia?
Yes. Applicants whose principal place of business is outside The Gambia must appoint a local agent, and a simply signed power of attorney is enough.

## Sources
- WIPO Lex – Gambia profile: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/members/profile/GM
- WIPO Lex – Industrial Property Act: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/9366
- WIPO Lex – Industrial Property Regulations 2010: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/9379
- WIPO – Gambia IP office contact: https://www.wipo.int/en/web/country-profiles/contact?code=gm
- WIPO Lex – Madrid Protocol contracting parties: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/ShowResults?search_what=C&treaty_id=8
- ARIPO – Trademarks (Banjul Protocol member states): https://www.aripo.org/ip-services/trademarks
- ARIPO – Gambia Industrial Property (Amendment) Act, 2015: https://aripo.org/storage/resources-member-state-laws/1730128581_gm008en.pdf
- EU IP Helpdesk – Africa IP Country Fiche: Gambia (2022): https://intellectual-property-helpdesk.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2022-05/Africa_IP-Country-Fiche_Gambia.pdf

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