Skip to main content
Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Mauritius

In Mauritius, a locally practising law practitioner or an approved agent files with the Industrial Property Office of Mauritius (IPOM), or you designate Mauritius through the Madrid System (possible since 6 May 2023). Mauritius is an ARIPO member state but has not joined the Banjul Protocol, so an ARIPO trademark application cannot designate Mauritius.

Order online · Mauritius trademark registration

Enter the mark, classes and applicant; an agent quotes after you submit. Once you accept the quote you pay online and can follow progress in your account.

Start your order (Mauritius selected) Get a trademark search report first

Five questions first

Which route?For Mauritius alone, file directly with IPOM through a local agent; with a home application and several countries to cover, designate Mauritius through Madrid. An ARIPO trademark application does not cover Mauritius.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name, address and nationality, the mark (Chinese or other non-Latin script with a transliteration or translation), goods or services by Nice class, a company's certificate of incorporation, and a power of attorney to be registered with the Registrar-General.Details ↓How are official fees charged?Paid in Mauritian rupees: filing fee MUR 6,000 for the first class and MUR 2,000 for each additional class, with no separate registration or certificate fee; renewal MUR 5,000 for the first class. Service fees are quoted after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?IPOM publishes no statistics on examination time. Statutory steps: 2 months to correct deficiencies, a 2-month opposition period after publication, and 6 months to request reconsideration of a refusal; without opposition, the certificate issues after the opposition period.Details ↓What are the main risks?IPOM searches earlier marks ex officio; the power of attorney must be registered with the Registrar-General; Chinese characters need a transliteration or translation; 3 years of non-use can lead to removal; after lapse the former owner has 1 year's priority to re-file.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in Mauritius: key facts

OfficeThe Industrial Property Office of Mauritius (IPOM), a department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, headed by the Director. Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
Legal basisThe Industrial Property Act 2019 (in force since 31 January 2022); procedure and official fees are set out in the Industrial Property Regulations 2022
Madrid SystemMember of the Madrid Protocol (since 6 May 2023), so Mauritius can be designated through Madrid; not a member of the Madrid Agreement, so its declared individual fee and 18-month refusal period apply whatever your office of origin
ARIPOARIPO member state since 25 September 2020, and party to the Harare Protocol (patents, utility models and industrial designs) since 27 August 2025; not a contracting state of the Banjul Protocol on marks (ARIPO's list as at 1 January 2026), so an ARIPO trademark application cannot designate Mauritius
Multi-class applicationsYes; one application may cover one or more classes, with official fees charged as "first class + each additional class"
Local agent and power of attorneyAn applicant whose residence or principal place of business is abroad must be represented by a law practitioner residing and practising in Mauritius or an agent approved by the Minister; the power of attorney must be registered with the Registrar-General of Mauritius and may be filed within 2 months of the filing date
Language and translationsApplications are in English, with an English translation of any document in another language; a mark containing non-Latin script such as Chinese characters must come with a transliteration or translation stating the language
Scope of examinationFormal requirements and absolute grounds such as distinctiveness, plus a search for similar marks among earlier registrations and earlier applications; registrable types include word, figurative, three-dimensional, position and colour marks
Replying to an examination report (statutory)Corrections or amendments must be made within 2 months of the notice, otherwise the application lapses; after a refusal, a written request for reconsideration by the Director may be made within 6 months, otherwise the application is deemed abandoned
Opposition period (statutory)2 months from publication in the Government Gazette; the applicant must file a counter-statement within 2 months of receiving the opposition, otherwise the application is deemed abandoned
Term and renewal10 years from the filing date, renewable for 10 years at a time; renewal is filed within the 6 months before expiry, with a 6-month grace period after expiry on payment of a surcharge
Consequences of non-use (statutory)If the mark has not been used by the owner or a licensee for 3 consecutive years after registration, any interested person may ask the Director to remove it from the register
Filing feesMUR 6,000 for the first class and MUR 2,000 for each additional class (in force since 31 January 2022); no separate fee for registration or the certificate

Checked on 2026-10-15; general information only — the office's published rules and fees prevail.

Which route

Direct filing or a Madrid designation

Two routes lead to protection in Mauritius: a direct application to IPOM, or a Madrid designation of Mauritius. They differ in prerequisites, fee structure, when a local agent becomes involved, and dependency risk.

An ARIPO trademark application (Banjul Protocol) cannot designate Mauritius: Mauritius joined ARIPO in 2020 and, in 2025, the Harare Protocol on patents and designs, but not the Banjul Protocol on marks, and the Industrial Property Act 2019 has no provision recognising ARIPO marks. For the position in contracting states such as Uganda and Zimbabwe, see ARIPO trademark registration.

ItemDirect application to IPOMMadrid designation of Mauritius
PrerequisiteNoneA basic application or registration at your office of origin
Official feesFiling fee MUR 6,000 for the first class and MUR 2,000 for each additional class, paid in full at filing; no separate registration or certificate feeBasic fee paid to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), plus the individual fee declared by Mauritius (an amount for the first class plus an amount for each additional class); renewals are likewise charged at Mauritius's individual fee. See the WIPO fee calculator
Local agentA law practitioner or approved agent in Mauritius must be appointed at filing; IPOM acts on the power of attorney only once it is registered with the Registrar-GeneralNot needed to file; to reply to a provisional refusal or an opposition, an applicant without an address for service in Mauritius must act through a local agent in Mauritius
Examination and refusal periodExamination of absolute grounds and a search of earlier marks; deficiencies are corrected within 2 months, and a written request for reconsideration of a refusal may be made within 6 monthsMauritius has declared an 18-month period for notifying provisional refusals, and refusals based on an opposition may be notified after 18 months; after a provisional refusal you have 6 months to request review or reply, otherwise the designation of Mauritius is deemed abandoned
Dependency riskNoneIf the basic application or registration is refused or cancelled within 5 years, the designation of Mauritius falls with it
Best forYou only need Mauritius; you have no home filing to rely on; you want a local agent to handle the whole processYou already have a home filing and are covering several countries at once

Not sure? Run a free search first, then submit an order online; the agent will recommend a route based on the search results.

What to prepare

Documents checklist

For a direct application to IPOM, applicants based abroad usually prepare the following information and documents. Signed documents such as the power of attorney are provided as the agent instructs; under the Industrial Property Regulations 2022, the power of attorney must also be registered with the Registrar-General of Mauritius before IPOM will act on it.

Applicant

  • Name (for a company, the name on its certificate of incorporation, with an English version), nationality or country of incorporation, and registered address
  • A company applicant files its certificate of incorporation or other proof of registration; documents in another language come with an English translation

Agent and power of attorney

  • Appoint a law practitioner residing and practising in Mauritius or an agent approved by the Minister, and sign the power of attorney
  • The power of attorney may be filed with the application or within 2 months of the filing date; the agent handles its registration

Mark

  • A clear, precise and legible representation of the mark; if colour is claimed, state the colours using a generally recognised colour code
  • Marks containing non-Latin script such as Chinese characters: attach a transliteration or translation and state the language
  • Three-dimensional, position and colour marks must be identified as such at filing

Goods and services

  • Specific goods or services under the Nice Classification, with the class numbers
  • One application may cover several classes, charged per class; goods or services cannot be added after filing, only by a new application

Basis of the application

  • No evidence of use is required at filing
  • Earlier application filed abroad: priority can be claimed within 6 months, and a certified copy of the earlier application with proof of its filing date must be filed within 3 months of the claim

If the mark contains generic or descriptive words, IPOM may require a disclaimer (for example, "no claim is made to the exclusive right to use the word COFFEE"); the mark as a whole remains protected.

How long

Process and timeline

Example: a direct application through a local agent, with no opposition.

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Search for similar marks and settle the classes and wording of the goods; IPOM searches earlier marks of its own motion, so a search matters more here

  2. Step 2

    Filing

    The agent files Form TM 1 and pays the filing fee; a complete application takes the date of receipt as its filing date, while deficiencies must be corrected within 2 months of the notice and the date of correction becomes the filing date (statutory)

  3. Step 3

    Examination

    IPOM examines formal requirements, distinctiveness and earlier marks; amendments it requires must be made within 2 months (statutory); after a refusal, a written request for reconsideration may be made within 6 months, and the Director replies within 1 month (statutory)

  4. Step 4

    Publication

    Once the application passes examination, IPOM publishes it in the Government Gazette; from publication until registration the applicant already enjoys the same rights as after registration

  5. Step 5

    Opposition period

    2 months from publication (statutory); if an opposition is filed, the applicant must file a counter-statement within 2 months of receiving a copy of it (statutory)

  6. Step 6

    Registration

    If no opposition is filed by the end of the period, or the opposition is decided in the applicant's favour, IPOM registers the mark, publishes the registration and issues the certificate, with no separate registration fee

IPOM publishes no statistics on examination time and has no public service standard, so no average is given here; only the statutory periods for each step are certain. The registration runs from the filing date, so examination time does not shorten the term of protection.

How to read the periods: "statutory" = set by law; "official statistics" = averages published by the office; "estimate" = typical cases. Actual timing varies.

How much

Official fees

Official fees are in Mauritian rupees (MUR), at the same rate for local and foreign applicants, charged as "first class + each additional class" and paid in full at filing; there is no separate fee for registration or the certificate. The current rates are in the First Schedule to the Industrial Property Regulations 2022, in force since 31 January 2022.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Application fee (first class included, Form TM 1; no separate registration fee)Per application6,000 MUR≈ USD 125
Application fee: each additional classEach additional class2,000 MUR≈ USD 42
Keeping the registration
Renewal fee (within 6 months before expiry, Form TM 4, first class included)Per application5,000 MUR≈ USD 104
Renewal fee: each additional classEach additional class2,000 MUR≈ USD 42
Surcharge for late renewal (within the 6-month grace period, in addition to the renewal fee)Per application2,000 MUR≈ USD 42
Other
Notice of opposition (within 2 months of publication, Form IP 6)Per application5,000 MUR≈ USD 104
Recordal of change in application or ownership (assignment, merger, change of name, etc., Form IP 4)Per application3,000 MUR≈ USD 62
Recordal of change of address (Form IP 4)Per application2,000 MUR≈ USD 42
Handling fee for an international application (Madrid, Mauritius as office of origin, payable to IPOM)Per application3,000 MUR≈ USD 62
Request to replace a national registration by an international registrationPer application1,000 MUR≈ USD 21
Application resulting from transformation of an international registration (first class included)Per application6,000 MUR≈ USD 125
Transformation application: each additional classEach additional class2,000 MUR≈ USD 42

Source: Industrial Property Office of Mauritius, Trademarks – Prescribed Fees ; Industrial Property Regulations 2022 First Schedule, reg. 74(1)；Industrial Property Office of Mauritius, Trademarks – Prescribed Fees ; Industrial Property Regulations 2022 First Schedule, reg. 84(2)(b)；Industrial Property Office of Mauritius, Trademarks – Prescribed Fees ; Industrial Property Regulations 2022 First Schedule, reg. 84(4) and Act s.97(3)；Industrial Property Office of Mauritius, Trademarks – Prescribed Fees ; Industrial Property Regulations 2022 First Schedule, reg. 83(1)；Industrial Property Office of Mauritius, Trademarks – Prescribed Fees ; Industrial Property Regulations 2022 First Schedule, reg. 119(1)(b)；Industrial Property Office of Mauritius, Trademarks – Prescribed Fees ; Industrial Property Regulations 2022 First Schedule, reg. 88(2)；Industrial Property Office of Mauritius, Trademarks – Prescribed Fees ; Industrial Property Regulations 2022 First Schedule, reg. 98(1)(a)；Industrial Property Office of Mauritius, Trademarks – Prescribed Fees ; Industrial Property Regulations 2022 First Schedule, reg. 98(2) · current fees in force since 2023-05-06 · checked on 2026-10-15 · USD figures are approximate, converted at the Bank of China spot selling rate (or, for currencies it does not quote, at the central bank's published USD rate); the official fee is the amount in the original currency

Official fees are as published by the office; the service fee is quoted by an agent after you submit, and you pay only after accepting the quote.

Example: for 2 classes you pay MUR 6,000 + 2,000 = MUR 8,000 at filing, with no further official fees up to registration and the certificate; for 1 class, MUR 6,000. A pre-filing search of the register at IPOM costs MUR 300 per search. Filing fees are not refundable.

Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

Watch out

Rules specific to Mauritius and common refusals

These are the most common problems in examination in Mauritius, and the rules specific to Mauritius that are easy to overlook.

An ARIPO application cannot cover Mauritius

Mauritius has been an ARIPO member state since 25 September 2020 and can be designated in ARIPO patent, utility model and industrial design applications since 27 August 2025, but the Banjul Protocol on marks had only 13 contracting states as at 1 January 2026, and Mauritius is not among them. Protection in Mauritius comes only from a direct application or a Madrid designation of Mauritius; see ARIPO trademark registration.

The power of attorney must be registered with the Registrar-General, or IPOM will not act on it

Under the Industrial Property Regulations 2022, the power of attorney appointing the agent must be registered with the Registrar-General of Mauritius before the Director acts on it; it may be filed with the application or within 2 months of the filing date. Sign it and pass it to the agent for registration as early as possible, so that the application does not stall for want of a registered power of attorney.

Similar earlier marks are refused ex officio, and you have only 6 months to seek reconsideration

Under the Industrial Property Act 2019, a mark that is similar to an earlier registered or earlier-filed mark for similar goods, so as to be likely to cause confusion, is not registered, and IPOM searches of its own motion once it receives the application. A written request for reconsideration by the Director may be made within 6 months of the notice of refusal, otherwise the application is deemed abandoned. In addition, a prior user who has neither registered nor applied may oppose a similar mark on the strength of evidence of earlier use.

Chinese characters need a transliteration or translation, and descriptive elements must be disclaimed

A mark containing non-Latin script such as Chinese characters, or numerals other than Arabic numerals, must be filed with a transliteration or translation stating the language, unless the Director directs otherwise. For generic or descriptive words, IPOM may require a disclaimer; you can still use them after the disclaimer, but cannot claim exclusive rights in them on their own.

3 years of non-use can lead to removal, and after lapse the former owner has 1 year's priority

If the mark has not been used by the owner or a licensee for 3 consecutive years after registration (counted up to 1 month before the request), any interested person may ask the Director to remove it; the owner has 2 months from notice to state its case. If renewal is missed and the grace period too, the registration lapses and is removed from the register; a former owner who re-files within 1 year of expiry takes precedence over anyone else, and other applications filed during that year are not processed until it ends.

Unrecorded assignments and licences have no effect against third parties

An assignment, or a change of name or address, must be applied for at IPOM, recorded and published in the Government Gazette, and has no effect against third parties until recorded; the Director may refuse an assignment likely to mislead or cause confusion. Licence contracts must also be recorded with IPOM, have no effect against third parties until recorded, and their terms are kept confidential.

Get a trademark search report: can your mark be registered in Mauritius?

Sign in, enter the mark and goods and submit a preliminary search; charged per search, with the report delivered to your account and email.

Get a search report
After registration

Keeping the registration

A Mauritian registration needs no periodic declarations of use, but a mark left unused for long can be removed, and a registration whose renewal deadline is missed lapses.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
Continuously after registrationUse the mark genuinely in Mauritius and keep evidence; a mark unused for 3 consecutive years can be removed at the request of another partyNone
Within the 6 months before expiry, then every 10 yearsRenewal (Form TM 4)MUR 5,000 for the first class and MUR 2,000 for each additional class
Within the 6-month grace period after expiryLate renewal with a surchargeRenewal fee plus MUR 2,000
Within 1 year after lapseRe-filing by the former owner, which takes precedence over other applicantsCharged as a new application: MUR 6,000 for the first class and MUR 2,000 for each additional class
At any timeAssignment or change of name (Form IP 4); change of address (Form IP 4); recording a licenceAssignment, change of name and similar changes MUR 3,000; change of address MUR 2,000; recording a licence is not listed separately in the fee schedule

If a registration is not renewed, IPOM publishes the lapse in the Government Gazette within 1 month after expiry. Infringement actions must be brought before the Supreme Court within 5 years of the date on which the owner knew or ought to have known of the infringement.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Mauritius

How much does trademark registration in Mauritius cost?

Official fees are in rupees, at the same rate for local and foreign applicants: a filing fee of MUR 6,000 for the first class and MUR 2,000 for each additional class, paid in full at filing, with no further official fee for registration or the certificate once the application passes examination. Official fees total MUR 6,000 for 1 class and MUR 8,000 for 2 classes. Renewal costs MUR 5,000 for the first class and MUR 2,000 for each additional class. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order.

How long does trademark registration in Mauritius take?

IPOM publishes no statistics on examination time and has no public service standard, so no average is given here. What is certain are the statutory periods: deficiencies are corrected within 2 months, the opposition period runs 2 months from publication, and reconsideration of a refusal may be requested within 6 months. An application with no examination report and no opposition is registered, and the certificate issued, after the opposition period.

Can an ARIPO application protect my mark in Mauritius?

No. Mauritius is an ARIPO member state and has been party to the Harare Protocol on patents and designs since 27 August 2025, but it has not joined the Banjul Protocol on marks, and an ARIPO trademark application can only designate contracting states of that Protocol. To protect a mark in Mauritius, file directly with IPOM or designate Mauritius through Madrid; for ARIPO's coverage, see ARIPO trademark registration.

Does a foreign company need a local agent in Mauritius? Must the power of attorney be notarised?

Yes, an agent is required. Section 136 of the Industrial Property Act 2019 requires an applicant whose residence or principal place of business is outside Mauritius to be represented by a law practitioner residing and practising in Mauritius or an agent approved by the Minister. IPOM acts on the power of attorney only once it is registered with the Registrar-General of Mauritius; it may be filed within 2 months of the filing date. Whether notarisation or legalisation is needed is not stated in the official documents; provide it as the agent instructs.

Can I designate Mauritius through the Madrid System, and how does it differ from a direct application?

Yes. Mauritius has been a member of the Madrid Protocol since 6 May 2023, so with a basic application or registration at your office of origin you can designate Mauritius in an international application. Mauritius is not a member of the Madrid Agreement, so its declared individual fee and 18-month refusal period apply whatever your office of origin. After a provisional refusal or an opposition notified by IPOM, you have 6 months to request review or reply; an applicant without an address for service in Mauritius must act through a local agent, otherwise the designation of Mauritius is deemed abandoned.

Can one application cover several classes?

Yes. The Industrial Property Regulations 2022 allow one application to cover goods or services in one or more classes, with official fees of MUR 6,000 for the first class and MUR 2,000 for each additional class. Before registration you can ask to divide the application by class or by goods into two or more applications, each keeping the original filing date and priority.

Other IP rights

Patents: Mauritian patents are examined by IPOM under the Industrial Property Act 2019, with a term of 20 years from the filing date; you can enter the Mauritian national phase through the PCT (since 15 March 2023), and since 27 August 2025 you can also file through ARIPO under the Harare Protocol with a designation of Mauritius.

Industrial designs: registered protection runs 5 years from the filing date, renewable 3 times for a maximum of 20 years. Mauritius has been a member of the Hague Agreement since 6 May 2023, so you can designate Mauritius through the Hague System or file a national application with IPOM.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

Other countries and territories in the region

African Regional Intellectual Property Organization　·　Madagascar　·　South Africa　·　Kenya　·　Tanzania

Ready to file?

Order online · Mauritius trademark registration

Enter the mark, classes and applicant; an agent quotes after you submit. Once you accept the quote you pay online and can follow progress in your account.

Start your order (Mauritius selected) Get a trademark search report first

Questions first?

Leave your question and an agent will reply.
Have a question? Tell us…
Please enter your name (without web addresses)
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid phone number
Please describe your inquiry (no HTML code or link markup, and at most one web address)
Verification pending or too many submissions, please try again later

Notice: the services described on this page are carried out by locally licensed partner firms; J&C is your point of contact and coordinates and delivers the work. Fees shown are estimates; official fees are those actually charged by the office and the final quote is confirmed by an agent. Examination times are set by each office and the outcome depends on official examination; we make no promise as to results. By submitting an order you agree that the information needed for the work is shared with the relevant partner firm (which may be outside your country). This page is general information, not legal advice.

Terms of Use · Privacy Policy