# Trademark registration in India > Trademarks in India are registered with the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM); the official application fee is INR 4,500 per class, and third parties can oppose within 4 months from the date of publication in the Trade Marks Journal. A registration lasts 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed. India can be designated through the Madrid System. Source page: https://trademarkshub.com/trademarks/india Facts checked against official sources: 2026-10-11 ## Key facts - **Trademark office:** Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (Trade Marks Registry) (CGPDTM) - **Official fee:** INR 4,500 — Application (TM-A), per class – individual, startup or small enterprise, e-filing - **Madrid Protocol:** Member since 2013 - **Opposition period:** 4 months from the date of publication in the Trade Marks Journal - **Protection:** 10 years from the filing date, renewable - **Multi-class applications:** Allowed - **Foreign applicants:** Applicants must give a postal address for service in India and an email address ## Official links - Trademark office: https://www.ipindia.gov.in/ - Online filing: https://ipindiaonline.gov.in/trademarkefiling/ - Official trademark search: https://tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in/tmrpublicsearch/ - Law: Trade Marks Act, 1999 — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text/468048 - Law: Trade Marks Rules, 2017 — https://ipindia.gov.in/tm-rules-2017 ## Official fees (as of 2026-10) - Application (TM-A), per class – individual, startup or small enterprise, e-filing: INR 4,500 — 5,000 if filed on paper - Application (TM-A), per class – all other applicants, e-filing: INR 9,000 — 10,000 if filed on paper - Expedited examination (TM-M), per class – individual, startup or small enterprise: INR 20,000 — E-filing only - Expedited examination (TM-M), per class – all other applicants: INR 40,000 — E-filing only - Notice of opposition (TM-O), per class, e-filing: INR 2,700 — 3,000 on paper - Renewal (TM-R), per class, e-filing: INR 9,000 — 10,000 on paper - Renewal surcharge within 6 months after expiry, per class, e-filing: INR 4,500 — Payable in addition to the renewal fee; 5,000 on paper - Restoration plus surcharge, per class, e-filing: INR 9,000 — Payable in addition to the renewal fee; 10,000 on paper ## Steps 1. Search the Trade Marks Registry public search database for earlier identical or similar marks. 2. File Form TM-A online (cheaper than paper) with the mark, Nice classes, goods/services and a statement of use date or 'proposed to be used'. 3. The Registry examines the application and issues an examination report; the applicant responds or attends a hearing if objections are raised. 4. Once accepted, the mark is advertised in the Trade Marks Journal. 5. Any person may oppose in Form TM-O within four months of the Journal publication. 6. If there is no opposition, or it is decided in the applicant's favour, the mark is registered and a registration certificate is issued. - **Examination:** The Trade Marks Registry examines for absolute and relative grounds. Under the expedited procedure (Rule 34), applications are ordinarily examined within three months of the request; no standard examination timeframe is officially stated. - **Publication:** Trade Marks Journal (published online by the Registry) - **Opposition:** 4 months from the date of publication in the Trade Marks Journal (Rule 42) - **Late renewal:** Renewal may be filed up to 1 year before expiry; within 6 months after expiry with surcharge; restoration possible within 1 year from expiry - **Power of attorney:** Agent authorisation is filed under Rule 19 (Form TM-M); notarisation or legalisation is not generally required in practice. - **Language:** English or Hindi; documents in other languages need an attested translation into English or Hindi (international applications must be in English) - **Use requirement:** a registration can be challenged after 5 years of non-use. ## Good to know - India applies a mixed system: registration is not required for protection, and prior users of an unregistered mark can bring passing-off actions, but filing secures statutory rights from the application date. - Individuals, startups and small enterprises pay half the standard official fee. - Expedited examination is available online for a fee of INR 20,000 or 40,000 per class depending on applicant type. - Owners can apply to have a mark included in the Registry's list of well-known trade marks (official fee INR 1,00,000). - The application must state whether the mark is already in use (with a date of first use, supported by an affidavit) or proposed to be used. ## FAQ ### How much does it cost to register a trademark in India? The official e-filing fee is INR 4,500 per class for individuals, startups and small enterprises, and INR 9,000 per class for all other applicants (paper filing costs INR 5,000 or 10,000). ### Is India part of the Madrid Protocol? Yes. The Madrid Protocol entered into force for India on 8 July 2013, so India can be designated in an international registration. ### How long is the trademark opposition period in India? A notice of opposition must be filed within four months from the date the mark is published in the Trade Marks Journal. ### How long is an Indian trademark valid? A registration lasts 10 years from the application date and can be renewed indefinitely for 10-year periods; late renewal with surcharge is possible within 6 months after expiry, and restoration within 1 year. ### Can trademark examination be expedited in India? Yes. An expedited examination request can be filed online, after which the application is ordinarily examined within three months; the fee is INR 20,000 or 40,000 per class depending on the applicant. ### Can a foreign company file a trademark in India? Yes, but it must provide an address for service in India, so foreign owners usually file through an Indian trade mark agent or advocate. ## Sources - IP India – Forms & Official Fees (trade marks): https://www.ipindia.gov.in/pages/trade-marks/learn/forms-and-official-fees - IP India – Trade Marks Rules, 2017: https://ipindia.gov.in/tm-rules-2017 - Trade Mark Registry Public Search: https://tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in/tmrpublicsearch/ - WIPO Lex – Trade Marks Act, 1999 (India): https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text/468048 - WIPO Lex – Madrid Protocol contracting parties: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/parties/8 Need a firm that files in India? Find one at https://trademarkshub.com/trademarks/india (TrademarksHub lists IP firms by country; featured placements are paid and labelled). General information, not legal advice.