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China Trademark Official Fees (2026): What CNIPA Charges to File, Defend and Keep a Mark

A shopkeeper drops coins into glass jars, each holding a different product: China trademark fees charged per class

"How much does a Chinese trademark cost?" has two parts: the official fees paid to the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), and the agency's service fee. Official fees are the same for everyone and follow the schedule published by CNIPA's Trademark Office, in force since 1 July 2019; service fees vary. This guide covers the official fees only: what you pay to file, how extra items are charged, and what falls due later, with worked examples. Amounts are in Chinese yuan (RMB) and taken from the Trademark Office's published schedule; the official payment notice is what counts.

Filing: per class, with up to 10 items included

The trademark application fee is charged per class:

  • Online filing with electronic notices: RMB 270 per class, covering up to 10 goods or services in that class; RMB 27 for each item beyond 10.
  • Paper filing: RMB 300 per class for up to 10 items; RMB 30 for each extra item.

Foreign applicants without a business establishment in China file through a Chinese trademark agency, which normally files online; the full process is in Registering a trademark in mainland China as a foreign applicant. The cost depends on the number of classes and items, not on whether the mark is a word or a logo. An English mark, a Chinese-character mark and a logo filed separately are separate applications, each charged per class.

Worked examples (online filing)

  • One class, 8 items: RMB 270.
  • One class, 12 items: 270 + 2 × 27 = RMB 324.
  • Three classes, 10 items each: 3 × 270 = RMB 810.
  • An English mark and a Chinese-character mark, each in two classes with 10 items: 2 × 2 × 270 = RMB 1,080.

Because the first 10 items cost the same, use them to cover more Chinese subclasses rather than stacking items in one. See China's Trademark Subclasses: How to Draft a Specification That Actually Protects You.

Refusals, oppositions and disputes

Paper fee first, online fee in brackets:

  • Review and adjudication fee: RMB 750 (675). This covers reviews of refusals and invalidation requests.
  • Opposition fee: RMB 500 (450).
  • Cancellation fee: RMB 500 (450), for example for non-use cancellation.

Which route to use against a squatter is covered in Trademark Squatting in China: Opposition, Invalidation and Non-Use Cancellation.

After registration

  • Renewal: RMB 500 (450). A registration lasts 10 years. Renew in the 12 months before expiry, or within a 6-month grace period with a late fee of RMB 250 (225).
  • Assignment: RMB 500 (450).
  • Change of name or address: RMB 150, waived for online filing with electronic notices.
  • Licence recordal: RMB 150 (135).
  • Replacement registration certificate: RMB 500 (450); certificate of trademark status: RMB 50 (45).

How each of these is done is explained in Keeping a China Trademark Alive: Renewal, Changes, Assignment and Licence Recordal.

Collective and certification marks

Applications for collective or certification marks, including geographical indications, cost RMB 1,500 (1,350) each.

Madrid designations are priced differently

If you designate China through the Madrid System, you pay WIPO's basic fee and China's individual fee in Swiss francs, not the national fees above. See How Madrid Trademark Fees Are Calculated: China and Saudi Arabia Examples (2026).

Frequently asked questions

If the application is refused, is the fee refunded? No. Once an application has been accepted, the filing fee is not refunded if it is refused. A clearance search before filing is cheaper than a review afterwards.

Why do agency quotes differ so much? The service fee depends on what is included: searching, drafting the specification, responding to office actions, watching the gazette. Ask which official fees and which services a quote covers.

Do the fees change with the 2027 Trademark Law? The revised law takes effect on 1 January 2027. Fees are set by separate pricing notices, so check the Trademark Office's schedule before filing.

Qingdao Jiancheng Intellectual Property Agency Co., Ltd., founded in 2008, is a CNIPA-recorded trademark agency. We handle trademark filings and customs recordals in China for foreign brands.

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The content in this section is provided for general reference only and does not constitute legal advice or formal service recommendations. For any specific matter, please consider the particular facts of your case and refer to the latest laws, policies, and practices of the relevant authorities.