Trademark registration in Nicaragua

The trademark office and official links

Trademarks in Nicaragua are registered by the Registro de la Propiedad Intelectual (Intellectual Property Registry), Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade (MIFIC) (RPI).

• Trademark office: Registro de la Propiedad Intelectual (Intellectual Property Registry), Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade (MIFIC) (RPI)
• Law: Law No. 380 on Trademarks and Other Distinctive Signs (consolidated text)
• Law: Law No. 1024 of 2020 amending and adding to Law No. 380 on Trademarks and Other Distinctive Signs (La Gaceta No. 65, 3 April 2020)
• Law: Decree No. 83-2001 approving the Regulation of Law No. 380, as amended by Decree No. 25-2012

Official fees in Nicaragua

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

How to register a trademark in Nicaragua

1. Search existing registrations for identical or similar marks.
2. Appoint a lawyer domiciled in Nicaragua (required for applicants domiciled abroad) and file the power of attorney, or register it once in the Registry's power-of-attorney register and cite its number.
3. File the application form in person at the Registro de la Propiedad Intelectual (MIFIC) in Managua with ID or residence documents, eight reproductions of any design element (max. 4 x 4 cm), C$16 stamps per folio and the official fee.
4. After examination, the application is published in La Gaceta, Diario Oficial.
5. Any person may oppose within 30 business days of publication; the applicant has 30 business days from notification to answer.
6. If there is no opposition, or it fails, the Registry issues the registration certificate (about four months from filing, according to MIFIC).

Examination, publication and opposition

• Publication: La Gaceta, Diario Oficial.
• Opposition period: 30 business days from publication in La Gaceta, extendable once by 15 business days; the applicant then has 30 business days to respond (Art. 16 as amended in 2020).
• Typical timeline: About 4 months from filing to the registration certificate for an in-person filing, according to MIFIC's procedure page.

Protection, renewal and use

• Term: 10 years, renewable.
• Late renewal: 6 months after expiry, with a surcharge on top of the renewal fee; the registration remains fully valid during the grace period. Renewal can be filed in the year before expiry.

Filing from abroad

• Local agent: Applicants or owners domiciled abroad must be represented by a lawyer domiciled in Nicaragua (Art. 87 of Law 380 as amended by Law 1024 of 2020).
• Power of attorney: The power of attorney is filed with the application, or its number in the Registry's power-of-attorney register (Registro de Poderes) is cited; registered powers carry a fee and must be updated every five years. In urgent cases a lawyer may file as an unauthorised agent (gestor oficioso) and must ratify with a power of attorney within 30 business days (Arts. 9 and 87, as amended). Notarisation/legalisation formalities were not verified.
• Language: Spanish

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

Madrid Protocol

Nicaragua 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

Nice Classification; goods and services are grouped by class in the application.. One application can cover several classes. Not sure which classes you need? See all 45 classes or classes by business type.

How Nicaragua compares

• Opposition: 30 business days from publication in La Gaceta, extendable once by 15 business days; the applicant then has 30 business days to respond (Art. 16 as amended in 2020). — compare all countries
• Renewal: every 10 years; grace period 6 months after expiry, with a surcharge on top of the renewal fee; the registration remains fully valid during the grace period. Renewal can be filed in the year before expiry. — compare all countries
• Foreign owners: required — rules in every country

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

Good to know in Nicaragua

• Applicants domiciled abroad must act through a lawyer domiciled in Nicaragua.
• One application can cover several Nice classes; fees for additional classes are paid within 8 business days of the acceptance notice.
• Official fees are set in Central American pesos and paid in córdobas at the Central Bank exchange rate; micro and small producers get a 50% reduction.
• Applications are filed in person at the Registry in Managua; MIFIC lists online filing as 'coming soon'.
• Nicaragua is not a member of the Madrid Protocol, so marks must be filed directly with the national Registry; it is party to the Paris Convention (since 3 July 1996) and the Trademark Law Treaty (since 22 September 2009).

Questions