On 5 August 2026, IP Vietnam introduced procedural changes for international trademark registrations designating Vietnam under the Madrid System. For provisional refusals issued through WIPO, the system will now provide one automatic three-month extension without a separate form or official extension fee. The measure addresses a persistent practical problem: delayed transmission of refusal notices could leave applicants with a very compressed period in which to appoint local counsel and prepare a response.
IP Vietnam has also opened a dedicated electronic channel allowing local representatives to submit responses to Madrid provisional refusals directly into the examination system, bypassing part of the traditional paper-based routing. The new route is expected to shorten review completion by roughly two to three months. The extra time should reduce deadline pressure, but applicants should not treat it as a reason to wait: early coordination with Vietnamese counsel remains important, particularly where evidence, specification amendments or substantive arguments may be required.
