# Trademark registration in North Macedonia > Trademarks in North Macedonia are registered with the State Office of Industrial Property (SOIP); third parties can oppose within 3 months from publication of the application in SOIP's Official Gazette. A registration lasts 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed. North Macedonia can be designated through the Madrid System. Source page: https://trademarkshub.com/trademarks/north-macedonia Facts checked against official sources: 2026-10-11 ## Key facts - **Trademark office:** State Office of Industrial Property (SOIP) - **Madrid Protocol:** Member since 2002 - **Opposition period:** 3 months from publication of the application in SOIP's Official Gazette - **Protection:** 10 years from the filing date, renewable - **Multi-class applications:** Allowed - **Foreign applicants:** Foreign natural and legal persons must act before SOIP through a domestic representative registered for industrial prop… ## Official links - Trademark office: https://www.ippo.gov.mk/EN/Index_en.aspx - Online filing: https://e-prijava.ippo.gov.mk - Official trademark search: https://www.ippo.gov.mk/Search/TrademarkSearch.aspx - Law: Law on Industrial Property (Official Gazette No. 21/2009, as amended) — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/5332 - Law: Regulation on Trade Mark (2009) — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/5335 - Law: Tariff of the State Office of Industrial Property (Official Gazette No. 128/09) — https://ippo.gov.mk/docs/xFiles/articles/Tariff%20of%20SOIP/Tariff%20of%20SOIP.pdf ## Steps 1. Search the SOIP national trademark database for earlier identical or similar marks. 2. Foreign applicants appoint a representative registered with SOIP for industrial property matters. 3. File the application with SOIP, including the request, applicant details, a representation of the mark and the list of goods and services by Nice class. 4. SOIP checks the mandatory elements, sets the filing date, and then examines whether the conditions for registration are met. 5. If the application complies and the fees are paid, it is published in SOIP's Official Gazette. 6. Third parties may file an objection within three months of publication. 7. After the objection period, SOIP decides on grant, enters the mark in the Trademark Register, publishes the registration and issues a certificate within six months of that publication. - **Examination:** SOIP checks the mandatory filing elements and then examines whether the legal conditions for registration are met. No official examination period is stated. - **Publication:** Official Gazette of the State Office of Industrial Property (applications and granted marks). - **Opposition:** 3 months from publication of the application in SOIP's Official Gazette. - **Late renewal:** SOIP's guidance allows the renewal request in the last year of validity or within nine months after expiry (with the applicable fees). - **Power of attorney:** A power of attorney must be attached when a representative files the application (Law on Industrial Property, Art. 54). Notarisation or legalisation requirements could not be verified. - **Language:** Macedonian; under the Law on Industrial Property a document filed in a foreign language needs a Macedonian translation within 90 days ## Good to know - Objections against published applications can be filed within three months, which is longer than in many European systems. - Late payment of maintenance fees is possible within three months with a 25% surcharge, or within a further six months at double the amount (Law on Industrial Property, Art. 24). - SOIP's search page links to EUIPO's TMview and TMclass as well as WIPO's Global Brand Database for wider clearance searches. - The 10-year term runs from the filing date, and renewals run in further 10-year periods without limit. ## FAQ ### Is North Macedonia part of the Madrid Protocol? Yes. The Madrid Protocol has been in force for North Macedonia since 30 August 2002. ### How long is a trademark valid in North Macedonia? Ten years from the filing date, renewable indefinitely for further 10-year periods. ### How long is the opposition period in North Macedonia? Third parties can file an objection within three months of the application's publication in SOIP's Official Gazette. ### Do foreign companies need a local representative to register a trademark in North Macedonia? Yes. Foreign persons must act through a domestic representative registered with SOIP for industrial property matters. ### Where can I search trademarks in North Macedonia? SOIP provides an online national trademark database on its website. ## Sources - SOIP – English home page: https://www.ippo.gov.mk/EN/Index_en.aspx - SOIP – Trade marks: who can register: https://www.ippo.gov.mk/EN/TradeMarks.aspx - SOIP – Examination procedure and recognition of trademark: http://www.ippo.gov.mk/EN/TradeMarks.aspx?ln=EN&sid=225 - SOIP – Validity of trademark: http://www.ippo.gov.mk/EN/TradeMarks.aspx?ln=EN&sid=226 - SOIP – What an application should contain: http://www.ippo.gov.mk/EN/TradeMarks.aspx?ln=EN&sid=30 - SOIP – Legislation: https://www.ippo.gov.mk/EN/Legislation.aspx - SOIP – Law on Industrial Property (English): https://ippo.gov.mk/docs/xFiles/articles/LAW%20ON%20INDUSTRIAL%20PROPERTY/LAW%20ON%20INDUSTRIAL%20PROPERTY.pdf - SOIP – Tariff of SOIP: https://ippo.gov.mk/docs/xFiles/articles/Tariff%20of%20SOIP/Tariff%20of%20SOIP.pdf - SOIP – Law on Administrative Fees (extract): https://ippo.gov.mk/docs/xFiles/articles/LAW%20ON%20ADMINISTRATIVE%20FEES/LAW%20ON%20ADMINISTRATIVE%20FEES.pdf - WIPO Lex – North Macedonia profile: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/members/profile/MK - WIPO Lex – Law on Industrial Property: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/5332 Need a firm that files in North Macedonia? Find one at https://trademarkshub.com/trademarks/north-macedonia (TrademarksHub lists IP firms by country; featured placements are paid and labelled). General information, not legal advice.