# Trademark registration in Tanzania

> 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.

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

## Key facts
- **Trademark office:** Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA)
- **Official fee:** TZS 60,000 — Registration of one mark in one class
- **Madrid Protocol:** Not a member
- **Protection:** 7 years from the filing date, renewable
- **Foreign applicants:** Foreign applicants must give an address for service within Tanzania, and anyone acting as an agent before the Registrar…

## Official links
- Trademark office: https://www.brela.go.tz/
- Online filing: https://ors.brela.go.tz/ors/start
- Law: The Trade and Service Marks Act, Cap. 326 (R.E. 2023) — https://www.brela.go.tz/uploads/documents/sw-1758107699-The%20Trade%20and%20Service%20Marks%20Act.pdf

## Official fees (as of 2026-10)
- Search (regulation 95): TZS 10,000
- Registration of one mark in one class: TZS 60,000 — Per class
- Advertisement of an application in the Gazette: TZS 15,000
- Certificate of the Registrar: TZS 30,000
- Notice of opposition (per opposed application): TZS 60,000
- Renewal of registration (single mark): TZS 30,000

## Steps
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:** 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)
- **Power of attorney:** Representatives are appointed using Form TM/SM 1; notarisation or legalisation requirements were not verified.
- **Use requirement:** a registration can be challenged after 3 years of non-use.

## Good to know
- 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.

## FAQ
### 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.

## Sources
- BRELA – Trade and service marks fees: https://www.brela.go.tz/pages/trade-and-service-marks-fees
- BRELA – Trade and service marks registration: https://www.brela.go.tz/services/business-licence
- BRELA – The Trade and Service Marks Act (Cap. 326): https://www.brela.go.tz/uploads/documents/sw-1758107699-The%20Trade%20and%20Service%20Marks%20Act.pdf
- BRELA – Online Registration System: https://ors.brela.go.tz/ors/start
- WIPO Lex – Madrid Protocol contracting parties: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/ShowResults?search_what=C&treaty_id=8

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