Trademark registration in Tunisia

The trademark office and official links

Trademarks in Tunisia are registered by the Institut National de la Normalisation et de la Propriété Industrielle (INNORPI).

• Trademark office: Institut National de la Normalisation et de la Propriété Industrielle (INNORPI)
• Law: Law No. 2001-36 of 17 April 2001 on the Protection of Trademarks and Service Marks
• Law: Decree No. 2001-1603 of 11 July 2001 on registration and opposition procedures for marks
• Law: Decree No. 2001-1934 of 14 August 2001 fixing trademark fees

Official fees in Tunisia

Official office fees only (schedule as of 2025-07). Official fee schedule. Professional fees of a local firm are extra — compare fixed-fee packages.

How to register a trademark in Tunisia

1. Optionally order a prior-mark search from INNORPI before filing.
2. File the application on the INNORPI form at its Tunis headquarters or a regional office, listing the goods or services and their Nice classes (one mark per application).
3. Applicants without a domicile or establishment in Tunisia file through a local representative (mandataire).
4. INNORPI checks the application formally; national filings are not examined on substance.
5. The application is published, and owners of earlier marks have two months from publication to oppose.
6. Oppositions go first to conciliation at INNORPI; if none is filed or the opposition fails, the mark is entered in the National Trademark Register.

Examination, publication and opposition

• Examination: INNORPI carries out a formal examination only; national trademark applications are not examined on substantive grounds, leaving conflicts to the opposition procedure.
• Opposition period: 2 months from publication

Protection, renewal and use

• Term: 10 years from the filing date, renewable.
• Use requirement: a registration can be challenged after 5 years of non-use.
• Rights system: first to file.

Filing from abroad

• Local agent: Applicants with no domicile or head office in Tunisia must act through a local representative (mandataire).

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

Madrid Protocol

Tunisia is a member of the Madrid System (in force since 2013). You can designate it in an international application filed through your home office, or file a national application directly. A local firm can advise which route is cheaper for your classes and timeline.

Trademark classes

Nice Classification (45 classes). One application can cover several classes. Not sure which classes you need? See all 45 classes or classes by business type.

How Tunisia compares

• Opposition: 2 months from publication — compare all countries
• Renewal: every 10 years — compare all countries
• Foreign owners: required — rules in every country

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

Good to know in Tunisia

• Tunisia has no substantive examination of national applications, so watching publications and filing oppositions is the main way to stop conflicting marks.
• Oppositions are usually handled first through conciliation at INNORPI; if conciliation fails, the opponent must show it has started court proceedings within two months.
• Tunisia joined the Madrid Protocol with effect from 16 October 2013 and can be designated in an international registration.
• Customs can suspend clearance of suspected counterfeit goods, after which the right holder has 10 days to start legal action.
• Official fees were doubled by a decree effective 27 January 2020.

Questions