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Country guide · Updated October 2026

Trademark registration in Tanzania

Who registers trademarks in Tanzania, 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 Tanzania are registered with the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA); the official registration of one mark in one class fee is TZS 60,000 for one class. A registration lasts 7 years from the filing date and can be renewed. Tanzania is not in the Madrid System, so a national filing is needed.

Checked against official sources on 11 October 2026 · see sources

Office
BRELA
Official fee
TZS 60,000
Madrid Protocol
Not a member
Protection
7 years from filing date

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Official fees in Tanzania

Official feeAmount
Search (regulation 95)TZS 10,000
Registration of one mark in one class
Per class		TZS 60,000
Advertisement of an application in the GazetteTZS 15,000
Certificate of the RegistrarTZS 30,000
Notice of opposition (per opposed application)TZS 60,000
Renewal of registration (single mark)TZS 30,000

Official office fees only (schedule as of 2026-10). Official fee schedule. Professional fees of a local firm are extra — compare fixed-fee packages.

How to register a trademark in Tanzania

  1. Search the register for conflicting marks (BRELA charges a search fee).
  2. Create or log in to an account on BRELA's Online Registration System (ORS) and select the trade/service mark service.
  3. Enter the mark details and goods or services by class, upload a representation of the mark, the consolidated form and, if using a representative, Form TM/SM 1, then pay by mobile money or bank.
  4. BRELA examines the application, including for conflicts with marks already on the register.
  5. Accepted applications are advertised in the Gazette, after which third parties may file an opposition within the prescribed time.
  6. If there is no successful opposition, the mark is registered and a certificate is issued.

Examination, publication and opposition

  • Examination: BRELA's Registrar examines applications, including whether the mark is identical or confusingly similar to a mark already on the register; no official processing time is published.
  • Publication: Gazette (Tanzania)

Protection, renewal and use

  • Term: 7 years from the filing date, renewable.
  • Use requirement: a registration can be challenged after 3 years of non-use.
  • Rights system: first to file.

Filing from abroad

  • Local agent: Foreign applicants must give an address for service within Tanzania, and anyone acting as an agent before the Registrar must be entered on the Register of Trade and Service Mark Agents.
  • Power of attorney: Representatives are appointed using Form TM/SM 1; notarisation or legalisation requirements were not verified.

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

Madrid Protocol

Tanzania 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 (International) Classification (45 classes). Not sure which classes you need? See all 45 classes or classes by business type.

How Tanzania compares

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

Good to know in Tanzania

  • BRELA's registration covers mainland Tanzania; Zanzibar has its own separate IP registry and regime, so protection there requires a separate filing.
  • The first registration lasts 7 years from the filing date; each renewal is for 10 years, and renewal requires a statement of bona fide use in Tanzania in the 3 years before expiry or proof of special circumstances.
  • A registered mark can be removed after 3 continuous years of non-use, though non-use is not counted in the first five years after advertisement.
  • Tanzania is not a Madrid Protocol member; it is reported to be party to the ARIPO Banjul Protocol, but ARIPO coverage excludes Zanzibar.
  • Unregistered marks cannot be enforced through infringement proceedings; only passing-off claims are available.

Questions

How much does it cost to register a trademark in Tanzania?
BRELA's published fee schedule lists TZS 60,000 to register one mark in one class, TZS 15,000 for Gazette advertisement and TZS 10,000 for a search. Agent fees are extra.
How long is a Tanzanian trademark valid?
A registration lasts 7 years from the filing date and can then be renewed for periods of 10 years. Renewal requires a statement of bona fide use in Tanzania or proof of special circumstances.
Is Tanzania part of the Madrid Protocol?
No. Tanzania is not a member of the Madrid Protocol, so marks are filed nationally with BRELA (and separately in Zanzibar).
Does a Tanzanian trademark cover Zanzibar?
No. Registration with BRELA covers mainland Tanzania; Zanzibar has a separate IP registry.
Can a Tanzanian trademark be cancelled for non-use?
Yes. A mark can be removed after a continuous period of 3 years or more of non-use, subject to exceptions for special circumstances and the first years after advertisement.