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Country guide · Updated October 2026

Trademark registration in Maldives

Who registers trademarks in Maldives, what it costs, how long it takes and what foreign owners need — with links to the official sources and IP firms that can file for you.

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Quick answer

Trademarks in the Maldives are registered with the Maldives Intellectual Property Office (MIPO); third parties can oppose within 3 months from publication. A registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed. The Maldives is not in the Madrid System, so a national filing is needed.

Checked against official sources on 11 October 2026 · see sources

Office
MIPO
Madrid Protocol
Not a member
Opposition
3 months from publication; the applicant may re…
Protection
10 years

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Official fees in Maldives

The office does not publish an up-to-date fee schedule we could verify. Ask firms that cover Maldives for a quote that shows official and professional fees separately — post a request or compare packages.

How to register a trademark in Maldives

  1. Until the Trademark Act commences on 11 November 2026, there is no statutory registration; owners have relied on publishing cautionary notices in local newspapers.
  2. Once the Act commences and MIPO opens filings, file an application with the Registrar of IP identifying the mark and the goods and services.
  3. The application is examined on absolute and relative grounds.
  4. Complete applications are published, and third parties have 3 months from publication to file an objection.
  5. If an objection is filed, the applicant may respond within 3 months of being notified.
  6. If no objection succeeds, the mark is registered for an initial 10-year term.

Examination, publication and opposition

  • Examination: Applications are to be examined by the Registrar of IP on absolute and relative grounds; no official examination timeframe has been published.
  • Publication: The Registrar of IP must publish all complete applications; the publication medium has not yet been specified in published regulations.
  • Opposition period: 3 months from publication; the applicant may respond within 3 months of notification of the objection.

Protection, renewal and use

  • Term: 10 years, renewable.
  • Late renewal: 6 months after expiry with a late filing fee
  • Use requirement: a registration can be challenged after 5 years of non-use.
  • Rights system: first to file.

Filing from abroad

  • Local agent: Secondary sources report that foreign persons and entities may apply directly without local business registration, and may appoint a local representative; whether a local agent or address for service is mandatory has not been confirmed in published regulations.

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

Madrid Protocol

Maldives 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

Goods and services are grouped into the 45 Nice classes. Not sure which classes you need? See all 45 classes or classes by business type.

How Maldives compares

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

Good to know in Maldives

  • The Trademark Act (Law No. 19/2025) is the Maldives' first statutory trademark law; it was ratified on 11 November 2025 and commences on 11 November 2026, so as of October 2026 registrations are not yet available.
  • Implementing regulations, fee schedules and forms are due within six months of commencement, so the filing system may not be fully operational until 2027.
  • Before the Act, brand owners relied on cautionary notices published in local newspapers (English and Dhivehi); these do not automatically convert into registrations.
  • Existing marks recorded with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade are reported to require a regularisation application within 12 months of commencement (by 11 November 2027).
  • The Maldives is not a member of the Madrid Protocol, so international registrations cannot designate it.

Questions

Can I register a trademark in the Maldives?
The Maldives' first Trademark Act (Law No. 19/2025) commences on 11 November 2026. Until then there is no statutory registration, and owners have relied on cautionary notices published in newspapers.
Who registers trademarks in the Maldives?
The Maldives Intellectual Property Office (MIPO), established on 1 January 2026 under the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, administers the new system through its Registrar of IP.
Is the Maldives part of the Madrid Protocol?
No. The Maldives is not a Madrid Protocol member, so protection must be sought by a national filing.
How long does a Maldives trademark registration last?
A registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed for further 10-year periods, with a 6-month late-renewal grace period.
What is the opposition period for trademarks in the Maldives?
Third parties can file an objection within 3 months of publication of the application.