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Regional guide · 17 countries and territories · 2 regional organisations · Updated

Trademark registration in Africa: country guides

Africa has national registration and two regional organisations: one OAPI application covers all member states, while an ARIPO registration takes effect in the states you designate. Start with the key points for each, then open its guide for routes and fees.

Trademark registration in Africa: country guides

Regional registration

OAPI trademark registrationOne registration covers all 17 member states and you cannot choose only some; file directly with OAPI or designate OAPI through Madrid.Madrid designation
ARIPO trademark registrationOne application can designate any of the 13 Banjul Protocol states, each examining and protecting the mark separately; Ghana and Kenya are not among them.

North Africa

Trademark registration in EgyptForeign-language documents need an Arabic translation, and filings through an agent need a certified power of attorney.Madrid designation
Trademark registration in MoroccoOMPIC examines only whether the sign itself can be registered, not earlier marks.Madrid designation
Trademark registration in AlgeriaApplicants based abroad must use a local representative.Madrid designation
Trademark registration in TunisiaINNORPI examines only the sign itself, not earlier marks: earlier right holders must oppose within 2 months of publication.Madrid designation
Trademark registration in SudanSudan can be designated through Madrid but has not joined ARIPO's Banjul Protocol on marks.Madrid designation

West Africa

Trademark registration in NigeriaA registration lasts 7 years at first and is then renewed every 14 years.
Trademark registration in GhanaEach application covers one class only.Madrid designation

Central Africa

Trademark registration in the Democratic Republic of the CongoDR Congo is not a member of Madrid, OAPI or ARIPO: direct filing only.

East and Southern Africa

Trademark registration in KenyaKenya is an ARIPO member but has not joined the Banjul Protocol, so a trademark application filed through ARIPO cannot designate Kenya.Madrid designation
Trademark registration in South AfricaAfter acceptance, you arrange publication in the Patent Journal.
Trademark registration in TanzaniaTanzania is not a Madrid member, and after a 2025 court ruling ARIPO has suspended designations of Tanzania.
Trademark registration in EthiopiaA Paris Convention member since 15 August 2025, it allows priority claims within 6 months.
Trademark registration in MozambiqueOn every route, a declaration of intention to use (DIU) is due at IPI every 5 years.Madrid designation
Trademark registration in ZambiaZambia joined the Madrid Protocol in 2001.Madrid designation
Trademark registration in ZimbabweTerm 10 years, renewable.Madrid designation
Trademark registration in MauritiusMauritius is an ARIPO member state but has not joined the Banjul Protocol, so an ARIPO trademark application cannot designate Mauritius.Madrid designation
Trademark registration in MadagascarMadagascar is neither an OAPI nor an ARIPO member state, so neither regional system covers it.Madrid designation

Where to register

Registering a trademark in mainland China as a foreign applicantFiled with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). Order online
Trademark registration in the United StatesFiled with the USPTO; foreign applicants must be represented by a US-licensed attorney. Order online
EU trademark registrationFiled with the EUIPO; one application covers all EU member states. Order online
Trademark registration in the United KingdomSee the guide: routes, official fees, timelines and local rules. Order online
Trademark registration in JapanSee the guide: routes, official fees, timelines and local rules. Order online
Trademark registration in the Republic of KoreaSee the guide: routes, official fees, timelines and local rules. Order online
Trademark registration in VietnamSee the guide: routes, official fees, timelines and local rules. Order online
Trademark registration in the United Arab EmiratesSee the guide: routes, official fees, timelines and local rules. Order online
More countries and regions, Madrid International Registration134 more jurisdictions and Madrid filings can be ordered online, 96 with a registration guide; open to browse by region, or search above

Asia →

Trademark registration in Hong Kong SAR, ChinaTrademark registration in Macao SAR, ChinaTrademark registration in the Taiwan region, ChinaTrademark registration in SingaporeTrademark registration in IndiaTrademark registration in ThailandTrademark registration in MalaysiaTrademark registration in IndonesiaTrademark registration in Saudi ArabiaTrademark registration in the PhilippinesTrademark registration in CambodiaTrademark registration in LaosTrademark registration in MyanmarTrademark registration in BruneiTrademark registration in MongoliaTrademark registration in PakistanTrademark registration in BangladeshTrademark registration in Sri LankaTrademark registration in KazakhstanTrademark registration in UzbekistanTrademark registration in IsraelTrademark registration in QatarTrademark registration in KuwaitTrademark registration in BahrainTrademark registration in OmanTrademark registration in JordanTrademark registration in TajikistanTrademark registration in AzerbaijanTrademark registration in IraqTrademark registration in TurkmenistanTrademark registration in ArmeniaTrademark registration in KyrgyzstanTrademark registration in GeorgiaTrademark registration in IranTrademark registration in Lebanon

Europe →

Trademark registration in SpainTrademark registration in GermanyTrademark registration in FranceTrademark registration in RussiaTrademark registration in TurkeyTrademark registration in ItalyTrademark registration in SwitzerlandTrademark registration in IrelandTrademark registration in SwedenTrademark registration in DenmarkTrademark registration in NorwayTrademark registration in PolandTrademark registration in CzechiaTrademark registration in HungaryTrademark registration in GreeceTrademark registration in UkraineTrademark registration in SerbiaTrademark registration in BelarusTrademark registration in Albania

Africa →

Trademark registration in South AfricaTrademark registration in EgyptTrademark registration in NigeriaTrademark registration in KenyaTrademark registration in MoroccoTrademark registration in AlgeriaTrademark registration in TunisiaTrademark registration in EthiopiaTrademark registration in GhanaTrademark registration in TanzaniaTrademark registration in the Democratic Republic of the CongoTrademark registration in MauritiusTrademark registration in MadagascarTrademark registration in MozambiqueTrademark registration in SudanTrademark registration in ZambiaTrademark registration in Zimbabwe

North America →

Trademark registration in CanadaTrademark registration in MexicoTrademark registration in PanamaTrademark registration in Costa RicaTrademark registration in GuatemalaTrademark registration in the Dominican RepublicTrademark registration in HondurasTrademark registration in El SalvadorTrademark registration in CubaTrademark registration in Jamaica

South America →

Trademark registration in BrazilTrademark registration in ArgentinaTrademark registration in ChileTrademark registration in ColombiaTrademark registration in PeruTrademark registration in EcuadorTrademark registration in UruguayTrademark registration in ParaguayTrademark registration in BoliviaTrademark registration in Venezuela

Oceania →

Trademark registration in AustraliaTrademark registration in New Zealand

Regional organizations →

Benelux trademark registrationOAPI trademark registrationARIPO trademark registration

Other jurisdictions (order directly)

Madrid System (WIPO)

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Other regions

Asia · Europe · North America · South America · Oceania · Regional organisations

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