Trademark registration in India: process, fees and timeline
India’s official fees are modest, but the process has more stages than in Europe: examination report, reply, sometimes a hearing, then a four-month opposition window. Plan the filing well before the launch date.
Trademark registration in India: the process for a foreign brand
Trademark registration in India is handled by the Trade Marks Registry under the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (IP India). You file form TM-A, for one class or several. The official fee per class is ₹9,000 for an e-filing by a company that is not a startup or small enterprise, and ₹4,500 for individuals, recognised startups and small enterprises. The Registry examines the application, may raise objections, and then advertises the accepted mark in the Trade Marks Journal, where third parties have four months to oppose. A registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed.
A company with no principal place of business in India must give an address for service in India, a postal address and an email, which is normally its Indian trademark agent’s. Without it, the Registrar is not obliged to send notices, and you can miss a deadline without knowing about it.
What makes India different
IP India does not publish a standard turnaround figure, and applications are examined in filing order. Objections are common for words that describe the product or resemble existing marks, and the reply often decides the case. Use matters later: a registered mark can be removed if it has not been used in good faith for a continuous five years. India is also a Madrid member, so a designation from your home mark is possible; WIPO lists India’s individual fee at CHF 83 per class. Our Madrid guide covers when that route makes sense.
This is general information as of November 2026, not a legal opinion. When we coordinate a filing, an Indian trademark agent or advocate files in the client’s company name. Product requirements are on our India market page; other countries are compared here.
Indian trademark registration at a glance
Fees from the IP India fee schedule (Trade Marks Rules 2017), checked on 3 November 2026.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | Trade Marks Registry, Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (IP India) |
| Who can file / local address | Any proprietor; applicants without a principal place of business in India must give an address for service in India, usually the agent’s |
| Application | Form TM-A, single-class or multi-class, filed online or on paper |
| Classes | Nice classes; the fee is charged per class |
| Official fees | ₹9,000 per class (e-filing) for other applicants, ₹10,000 on paper; ₹4,500 (e-filing) or ₹5,000 for individuals, startups and small enterprises with supporting proof. No separate registration fee in the schedule |
| Examination | Examination report; the applicant replies to objections, and a hearing may follow |
| Publication and opposition | Advertisement in the Trade Marks Journal; four months for oppositions (opposition fee ₹2,700 e-filing) |
| Typical timing | No official standard timeline; depends on objections and oppositions. Plan for many months, not weeks |
| Validity and renewal | 10 years, renewable for 10-year periods; renewal ₹9,000 per class (e-filing); late renewal within six months after expiry with a surcharge; restoration possible within one year |
| Use requirement | Removal possible after a continuous five years without bona fide use |
General information, not legal advice. The Indian agent confirms the fee category that applies to your company.
How an Indian filing runs
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1
Search
Check the Registry database for identical and phonetically similar marks, including transliterations into Hindi and other scripts used on packs.
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2
Agent and address for service
Appoint an Indian agent by authorisation; their address becomes the address for service.
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3
File TM-A
In the name of the owning company, with the goods described plainly per class.
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4
Examination report
Reply to objections on distinctiveness or earlier marks within the time the Registry sets.
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5
Hearing, if needed
If the reply does not satisfy the examiner, the agent argues the case at a hearing.
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6
Journal and opposition
Four months for anyone to oppose; an opposition becomes a contested proceeding.
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7
Registration and renewal
Certificate issued; diary the ten-year renewal and keep evidence of use.
What to prepare
- Company legal name, nationality or country of incorporation, and address
- Authorisation of the Indian agent
- Mark in its final form; logo file for a device mark
- Goods list per class
- Priority document and translation, if claiming priority from an earlier filing
- Startup or small enterprise proof if you claim the reduced fee
Mistakes that slow Indian filings
Unmonitored address
Notices go to the address for service. If no one watches it, deadlines lapse.
Search in English only
Similar-sounding marks in other scripts can be cited against you.
Wrong fee category
A foreign company normally pays the standard fee; claiming the reduced rate without proof causes a deficiency.
Launch timed to registration
With objections and a four-month opposition window, the certificate may arrive after the product does.
Filing after the distributor
If a local partner files the brand first, recovering it is slow and costly.
Frequently asked questions
What are the trademark registration fees in India?
The official fee for form TM-A is ₹9,000 per class for e-filing by a standard applicant and ₹4,500 per class for individuals, startups and small enterprises, as of November 2026. Agent fees and any opposition costs are separate.
How long does trademark registration take in India?
IP India publishes no standard timeline. The application passes examination, any reply and hearing, then a four-month opposition period after advertisement, so the total is usually many months and longer if opposed.
Can a foreign company register a trademark in India?
Yes. It files form TM-A and must give an address for service in India, usually through an Indian trademark agent.
How do I check my trademark registration status in India?
IP India offers a public online status search by application number. Your agent also receives the official notices at the address for service.
Is an Indian trademark valid forever?
No. It lasts 10 years and is renewable for further 10-year periods. Unused marks can be removed after five continuous years of non-use.
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Send a short brief. We tell you what we think, including when we think you should not do it.
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What happens next
- 1We review your briefand may ask a few questions
- 2A short callabout goals, budget and limits
- 3Written proposalstages, scope, fees and timing
- 4First stage startswith a decision gate at its end
- usually 300–1 000 units per product in a first order
- usually 6–12 months from brief to first sales
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