# Trademark registration in Maldives

> 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.

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

## Key facts
- **Trademark office:** Maldives Intellectual Property Office (under the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade) (MIPO)
- **Madrid Protocol:** Not a member
- **Opposition period:** 3 months from publication
- **Protection:** 10 years, renewable
- **Foreign applicants:** Secondary sources report that foreign persons and entities may apply directly without local business registration, and…

## Official links
- Trademark office: https://trade.gov.mv/en/intellectual-property/
- Law: Trademark Act (Law No. 19/2025), ratified 11 November 2025; commences 11 November 2026
- Law: Maldives Intellectual Property Office Act (Law No. 13/2025), in force 1 January 2026 — https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/36000

## Steps
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:** 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:** 3 months from publication; the applicant may respond within 3 months of notification of the objection.
- **Late renewal:** 6 months after expiry with a late filing fee
- **Use requirement:** a registration can be challenged after 5 years of non-use.

## Good to know
- 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.

## FAQ
### 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.

## Sources
- Ministry of Economic Development and Trade – Intellectual Property Office: https://trade.gov.mv/en/intellectual-property/
- President's Office – MIPO Act takes effect (1 Jan 2026): https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/36000
- WIPO – Madrid Protocol contracting parties: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/parties/8

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