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Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Mozambique

Mozambique can be reached through a Madrid designation, a direct filing with the Industrial Property Institute (IPI) through an official local agent, or an ARIPO designation. On every route, a declaration of intention to use (DIU) is due at IPI every 5 years; without it the registration is unenforceable against third parties and may lapse.

Order online · Mozambique 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.

Key facts

Trademarks in Mozambique: key facts

OfficeThe Industrial Property Institute (Instituto da Propriedade Industrial, IPI), a public body supervised by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, headquartered in Maputo. Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
Legal basisIndustrial Property Code (approved by Decree No. 47/2015, in force since 31 March 2016); official fees under Joint Ministerial Diploma No. 39/2017 (published 15 May 2017, in force 60 days later)
Madrid SystemParty to both the Madrid Agreement and the Madrid Protocol (since 7 October 1998). Mozambique has declared neither an individual fee nor an 18-month refusal period, so a designation costs the CHF 100 complementary fee (plus a supplementary fee for more than 3 classes) and the refusal period is 12 months; for offices of origin bound by both treaties, such as China, Article 9sexies of the Protocol leads to the same result
ARIPOContracting state of the Banjul Protocol (since 15 August 2020 according to ARIPO); an ARIPO trademark application can designate Mozambique, which IPI examines under national law and publishes in the Industrial Property Bulletin for opposition; see ARIPO trademark registration
Local agent and power of attorneyApplicants without a domicile or establishment in Mozambique must act through an official industrial property agent (AOPI) accredited by IPI and file a notarised power of attorney granting special powers (Articles 10 and 125 of the Code)
Language and scriptApplications are in Portuguese; marks containing uncommon characters, such as Chinese, need a transliteration and, where possible, a translation (Articles 12, 123 and 125 of the Code)
Multi-class applicationsAllowed: goods and services are grouped under the Nice Classification and fees are charged per class (filing fee MZN 3,037.50 per class); the same mark for the same goods can have only one registration
Publication and opposition period (statutory)Published in the Industrial Property Bulletin (issued monthly by law) immediately after passing formal examination; oppositions within 30 days of publication, extendable once by up to 60 days at the opponent's request; the applicant has 30 days from receipt of the opposition to reply (extendable by 30), and failing to reply counts as withdrawing the application
Order of examination and reply periods (statutory)Substantive examination takes place only after the opposition period or the opposition proceedings end, mainly against earlier registrations for the same or similar goods; a provisional refusal must be answered within 30 days or becomes final; IPI then approves or refuses within 30 days of the reply
Declaration of intention to use, DIU (statutory)Every 5 years from the registration or renewal date, a declaration of intention to use is filed with a fee, in a window from 6 months before to 6 months after the 5-year date; without it the registration cannot be enforced against third parties and any interested party can request a declaration of lapse; Madrid and ARIPO registrations are subject to it too
Term and renewal10 years from the filing date, renewable indefinitely for 10 years at a time; the renewal fee is paid in the last 6 months of the term, and within 6 months after expiry with a 50% surcharge; after that the registration lapses
Consequences of non-useThe trademark chapter of the Code has no provision for cancellation after a set number of years of non-use; non-use bites through the declaration-of-use system: a registration without the declaration can be declared lapsed and recovers its effect only once the declaration and evidence of use are filed
PriorityParis Convention priority can be claimed within 6 months of an earlier application filed abroad; a copy of that application certified by the office where it was filed must be submitted, otherwise the priority claim is void and only the Mozambican filing date counts
Fee currencyMeticais (MZN), at the same rates for residents and non-residents; the filing fee is paid with the application and the certificate is requested separately for MZN 1,275 (expedited MZN 4,000)

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

Which route

Direct filing or a Madrid designation

All three routes lead to protection in Mozambique: a Madrid designation, a direct filing with IPI through a local agent, or an ARIPO trademark application designating Mozambique. The table compares the first two; the ARIPO route suits applicants covering several Banjul Protocol states at once, with IPI examining under national law and publishing the application in the Industrial Property Bulletin for opposition; details in ARIPO trademark registration. On all three routes a declaration of intention to use is due every 5 years after registration.

ItemDirect filing with IPIMadrid designation of Mozambique
PrerequisiteNoneA basic application or registration at your office of origin
Official feesIn meticais: filing fee MZN 3,037.50 per class; after approval, certificate MZN 1,275Basic fee paid to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), plus only the CHF 100 complementary fee for Mozambique (and a supplementary fee for more than 3 classes): Mozambique has declared no individual fee, and for offices of origin bound by both the Agreement and the Protocol, such as China, Article 9sexies of the Protocol would exclude one in any case. See the WIPO fee calculator
Mozambican agentRequired from filing for applicants based abroad, with a notarised power of attorneyNot needed to file; required to answer a provisional refusal or an opposition; the 5-yearly declaration of use must also be filed with IPI on the Portuguese form by an agent domiciled in Mozambique
LanguagePortugueseThe international application is filed through your office of origin in the language it accepts; IPI's refusal notices are transmitted through WIPO
Examination timeStatutory: 30-day opposition period after publication, provisional refusal answered within 30 days, IPI decides within 30 days of the reply; no official statisticsRefusal period 12 months (Mozambique has not declared the 18-month period); if no refusal arrives by then, the mark is protected
Declaration of use (DIU)Every 5 years from the registration or renewal date, within a window of 6 months either side; fee MZN 900Designating Mozambique counts as declaring an intention to use, but after registration a separate declaration is still due at IPI every 5 years: IPI counts from the date it receives notification of the international registration or subsequent designation, then from each international renewal; fee MZN 900
Dependency riskNoneIf the basic application or registration is refused or cancelled within 5 years, the Mozambican designation falls with it
Best forYou only need Mozambique; you have no home filing to rely on; you need flexibility to adjust the goodsYou already have a home filing and want protection in several countries

For marks used in the Portuguese-speaking market, the goods and services in a direct application are drafted in Portuguese by the agent and can be tailored to Mozambique; a Madrid designation cannot go beyond the basic application or registration.

For a general comparison of the two routes, see Madrid designation or direct national filing: which one fits your case. 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 IPI, applicants based abroad usually prepare the following information and documents. The power of attorney must be notarised and grant special powers (Article 125 of the Code); whether legalisation is needed in addition to notarisation, follow your agent's instructions.

Applicant

  • Name (for a company, the name on its registration certificate, with an English or Portuguese version), address and nationality or place of incorporation
  • The business you actually carry on: the Code allows a trademark only for activities the applicant actually and lawfully carries on, and the agent completes the form accordingly
  • If the applicant is the Mozambican agent or distributor of a foreign trademark owner, attach the owner's authorisation

Agent and power of attorney

  • A notarised power of attorney for an official industrial property agent (AOPI) accredited by IPI, stating the special powers to file, reply and oppose
  • The agent's address in Mozambique is the address for service; changing agent requires an application to IPI and a fee

The mark

  • A representation of the mark; if colour is claimed, state the colours
  • Uncommon characters such as Chinese: add a transliteration and, where possible, a Portuguese translation (Article 125(2) of the Code)
  • Series marks or three-dimensional signs are indicated at filing

Goods and services

  • Specific goods or services under the Nice Classification with the class numbers; one application can cover several classes, and fees are charged per class
  • If the description for a class exceeds 3 pages, each extra page costs MZN 100

Basis of the application

  • Earlier application filed abroad: priority can be claimed within 6 months; submit a copy certified by the office of first filing, with a translation; without it the priority claim is void and only the Mozambican filing date counts
  • No evidence of use is needed at filing, but a declaration of intention to use is due every 5 years after registration

The application is in Portuguese and completed by the agent; sign the documents and have them notarised as your agent instructs.

If formal examination finds documents missing, you have 30 days from IPI's notice to supply them, otherwise the application is deemed abandoned.

How long

Process and timeline

Example: a direct application through an agent with no opposition. All periods are statutory; IPI publishes no average times.

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Search earlier marks and settle the classes and wording; IPI offers a search of earlier marks per class (MZN 1,050), and WIPO's Global Brand Database also covers Mozambican national marks

  2. Step 2

    Filing

    The agent files in Portuguese with IPI, attaching the representation, the list of goods and the notarised power of attorney, and pays the filing fee (MZN 3,037.50 per class); if the formal requirements are met, the date of filing is the filing date

  3. Step 3

    Publication

    After passing formal examination, IPI publishes the application at once in the Industrial Property Bulletin (issued monthly by law)

  4. Step 4

    Opposition period

    30 days from publication (statutory), extendable once by up to 60 days at the opponent's request; if an opposition is filed, the applicant replies within 30 days of receiving a copy (extendable by 30); no reply counts as withdrawing the application

  5. Step 5

    Substantive examination

    After the opposition period IPI checks earlier registrations; a provisional refusal must be answered within 30 days (statutory) or becomes final; IPI then approves or refuses within 30 days of the reply (statutory)

  6. Step 6

    Registration and certificate

    After approval, request the certificate (MZN 1,275; expedited MZN 4,000); the registration runs 10 years from the filing date; remember the first declaration of use within 5 years of registration

The Code sets reply and decision periods for each stage but no overall time limit from filing to approval, and IPI publishes no examination statistics, so this page gives no average duration.

A deadline missed for reasons not attributable to the applicant can be restored within 2 months after the obstacle ceases and no later than 1 year after the original deadline (not for publication and opposition deadlines).

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 meticais (MZN), at the same rates for residents and non-residents, charged per class under the schedule to Joint Ministerial Diploma No. 39/2017 (published 15 May 2017, in force 60 days after publication); as at the check date IPI had published no new schedule. The filing fee is paid with the application and the certificate is requested separately after approval.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Application fee (per class)Per class3,037.50 MZN≈ USD 48
Paid on registration
Registration certificate (issued on request after grant, per mark, normal)Per application1,275 MZN≈ USD 20
Keeping the registration
Declaration of intention to use (DIU, every 5 years from registration or renewal, per mark)Per application900 MZN≈ USD 14
Renewal fee (every 10 years, per class, payable in the last 6 months of the term)Per class3,037.50 MZN≈ USD 48
Late renewal surcharge (within 6 months after expiry, 50% of the renewal fee, per class)Per class1,518.75 MZN≈ USD 24
Other
Opposition (filed within 30 days of publication)Per application1,425 MZN≈ USD 23
Request to extend the opposition period (once, up to 60 days)Per application900 MZN≈ USD 14
Request to extend the time to file counter-statements (once, 30 days)Per application1,500 MZN≈ USD 24
Request to extend the time to file the priority documentPer application1,500 MZN≈ USD 24
Recordal of assignment (transmissão)Per application937.50 MZN≈ USD 15
Recordal of a licence of usePer application8,212.50 MZN≈ USD 130
Change of owner's namePer application802.50 MZN≈ USD 13
Change of owner's addressPer application802.50 MZN≈ USD 13
Change of representativePer application1,500 MZN≈ USD 24
IPI prior-mark search (per class)Per class1,050 MZN≈ USD 17

Source: Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas, IV. Marca – Registo Nacional;Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas, X. Certificados – Pedido Normal;Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas, IV. Marca – Apresentação de Declaração de Intenção de Uso;Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas, IV. Marca – Pedido de renovação (por classe);Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Código da Propriedade Industrial (Decreto n.º 47/2015) art. 231(6) ; Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas;Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas, XV. Outros Serviços – Oposição;Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas, XV. Outros Serviços – Pedido de extensão de prazo para a apresentação de oposição;Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas, XV. Outros Serviços – Pedido de extensão de prazo para a apresentação de alegações;Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas, XV. Outros Serviços – Pedido de extensão de prazo para apresentação de documento de prioridade;Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas, IV. Marca – Contratos – Transmissão;Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas, IV. Marca – Contratos – Licença de uso;Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas, XV. Outros Serviços – Mudança de nome, firma ou denominação social;Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas, XV. Outros Serviços – Mudança de domicílio ou sede;Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas, XV. Outros Serviços – Pedido de mudança de mandatário;Instituto da Propriedade Industrial (IPI), Diploma Ministerial n.º 39/2017 Tabela de Taxas, XII. Pesquisas – Anterioridade por classe (Marca) · current fees in force since 2017-07-17 · 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: 1 class, filing fee MZN 3,037.50 at filing; after approval, certificate MZN 1,275, MZN 4,312.50 in official fees in total. With 3 classes the filing fee is MZN 9,112.50, the certificate fee is per application and unchanged, so the total is MZN 10,387.50.

After registration: declaration of intention to use every 5 years MZN 900; renewal MZN 3,037.50 per class, with a 50% surcharge in the 6-month grace period after expiry, i.e. MZN 4,556.25 per class.

Other common items: opposition 1,425; extension of the opposition period 900; extension of the reply period 1,500; recording an assignment 937.50; change of name 802.50; change of address 802.50; recording a licence 8,212.50; change of agent 1,500; search per class MZN 1,050.

The exchange rate on the day of payment applies. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

Watch out

Rules specific to Mozambique and common refusals

These are rules specific to Mozambique that are easy to overlook, along with common issues in examination.

A declaration of intention to use every 5 years, on all three routes

Article 138 of the Code requires a declaration of intention to use to be filed with IPI, with a fee (MZN 900), every 5 years from the registration or renewal date, in a window from 6 months before to 6 months after that date. Without it the registration cannot be enforced against third parties, and any interested party can ask the Director to declare it lapsed; IPI can also declare it lapsed when it finds a conflict while examining another application. The registration recovers its effect only once the declaration and evidence of use are filed. Madrid registrations are subject to it too: designating Mozambique counts as declaring an intention to use, but after registration a separate declaration must still be filed on the Portuguese form by an agent domiciled in Mozambique; IPI counts the 5 years from the date it receives notification of the international registration or subsequent designation, then from each international renewal, while Article 162 of the Code counts from the international registration date. The two dates usually differ by a few months, so plan by the earlier one. For ARIPO registrations the period runs from the date ARIPO notifies IPI.

No reply to an opposition means the application is withdrawn

Within 30 days of publication anyone who considers themselves harmed can oppose, and can ask for an extension of up to 60 days. Once IPI serves the opposition on the applicant, the applicant has only 30 days to reply (extendable by 30); Article 130(6) of the Code expressly provides that failing to reply in time counts as withdrawing the application, not as a decision in the applicant's absence. The same rule applies to Madrid designations: once the refusal notice arrives through WIPO, appoint a local agent quickly.

Publication first, examination later: earlier marks are checked only after the opposition period

In Mozambique the order is: publication as soon as formal examination is passed, then substantive examination only after the opposition period or opposition proceedings end, mainly against earlier registrations for the same or similar goods (Article 131 of the Code). Publication therefore does not mean acceptance: an application identical or similar to, or a translation of, a registered mark can still receive a provisional refusal after the opposition period, which becomes final if not answered within 30 days. A pre-filing search matters more here than in most countries.

No priority document, no priority

When claiming priority from an earlier application filed abroad, Article 128 of the Code requires a copy of that application certified by the office where it was filed; without it the priority claim is void and only the Mozambican filing date counts. IPI's fee schedule includes an extension of the period for filing the priority document (MZN 1,500), which your agent can request if time is short.

Portuguese application, notarised power of attorney, transliteration of non-Latin characters

The application and all procedural documents are in Portuguese; applicants based abroad must act through an official industrial property agent accredited by IPI, under a notarised power of attorney granting special powers. Marks containing uncommon characters, such as Chinese, need a transliteration and, where possible, a translation; purely descriptive signs, generic names and a single colour not combined with words or figures are statutory grounds for refusal.

6-month renewal grace period with a 50% surcharge, then the registration lapses

The registration runs 10 years from the filing date and the renewal fee is paid in the last 6 months of the term; within 6 months after expiry it can still be paid with a 50% surcharge, after which the registration lapses for non-payment. A registration lapsed for non-payment can be revived within 1 year of the lapse being published in the Industrial Property Bulletin by paying three times the fees due. When renewing, check the declaration-of-use cycle too: an approved renewal does not mean the declarations are up to date.

After registration

Keeping the registration

After registration in Mozambique the key obligation is the declaration of intention to use every 5 years; renewal follows a separate 10-year cycle. Both are filed with IPI by the local agent.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
Continuously after registrationUse the mark in Mozambique and keep evidence; evidence of use is needed to restore a registration after a missed declarationNone
Every 5 years from the registration or renewal date (6 months before to 6 months after)File the declaration of intention to use (DIU) on IPI's Portuguese form through the local agent; for Madrid designations, counted from the date IPI receives notification and then from each international renewalMZN 900
In the last 6 months of the term (every 10 years from the filing date)Renew, and arrange the declaration of use for that cycle at the same timeMZN 3,037.50 per class
Within 6 months after expiryLate renewal with a 50% surcharge; after that the registration lapses, and can be revived within 1 year of publication of the lapse by paying three times the fees dueMZN 4,556.25 per class
After approvalRequest the registration certificate (issued on request)MZN 1,275; expedited MZN 4,000
Any timeRecord an assignment; record a licence (an unrecorded licence cannot be enforced against third parties); change of name; change of address; change of agentAssignment 937.50; licence 8,212.50; change of name 802.50; change of address 802.50; change of agent MZN 1,500

Customs recordal: neither IPI nor the Code provides a separate customs recordal procedure for trademarks; border enforcement relies on a valid registration, and your agent advises case by case. E-commerce brand registries usually also require a registered or pending trademark.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Mozambique

How much does a Mozambique trademark cost?

Official fees are in meticais, at the same rates for residents and non-residents, under the schedule in force since 2017: filing fee MZN 3,037.50 per class and, after approval, certificate MZN 1,275, so MZN 4,312.50 in official fees for 1 class; after registration, the declaration of use every 5 years costs MZN 900 and renewal MZN 3,037.50 per class. Through Madrid, the designation costs only the CHF 100 complementary fee paid to WIPO, but the later declarations of use are still filed and paid locally in Mozambique. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

How long does trademark registration in Mozambique take?

IPI publishes no average examination times, so this page gives no estimate. The statutory sequence is: publication immediately after formal examination, a 30-day opposition period from publication (extendable by up to 60 days), then substantive examination after the opposition period; a provisional refusal must be answered within 30 days, and IPI decides within 30 days of the reply. For a Madrid designation, Mozambique's refusal period is 12 months; if no refusal arrives by then, the mark is protected.

Can I designate Mozambique through Madrid or ARIPO?

Both. Mozambique has been party to both the Madrid Agreement and the Madrid Protocol since 7 October 1998; a designation costs only the CHF 100 complementary fee and the refusal period is 12 months, whatever your office of origin, because Mozambique has declared neither an individual fee nor the 18-month period. Mozambique is also a contracting state of ARIPO's Banjul Protocol (since August 2020), so it can be designated in an ARIPO trademark application, which IPI examines under national law and publishes for opposition; see ARIPO trademark registration. On every route, a declaration of intention to use is due at IPI every 5 years after registration.

What is Mozambique's declaration of intention to use (DIU), and what if I miss it?

It is the written declaration required by Article 138 of the Industrial Property Code that the owner intends to use the mark in Mozambique for the registered goods and services. It is filed every 5 years from the registration or renewal date, in a window from 6 months before to 6 months after that date, with a fee of MZN 900, on the Portuguese form through the local agent. Without it the registration cannot be enforced against third parties and any interested party can request a declaration of lapse, which IPI can also make when examining another application; the registration recovers its effect once the declaration and evidence of use are filed. Madrid registrations are subject to it too: IPI counts from the date it receives notification of the international registration, then from each international renewal.

Does a foreign company need a local agent in Mozambique?

Yes. Under Article 10 of the Code, an applicant without a domicile in Mozambique can act only through an official industrial property agent (AOPI) accredited by IPI, and Article 125 requires applicants based abroad to file a notarised power of attorney granting special powers with the application. Agents must be Mozambican citizens who have passed IPI's examination and have an office in Mozambique. For a Madrid designation no agent is needed to file, but replying to a provisional refusal or an opposition and filing the 5-yearly declaration of use must all be done by an agent domiciled in Mozambique.

How long does a Mozambican trademark last, and how is it renewed?

10 years from the filing date, renewable indefinitely for 10 years at a time. The renewal fee (MZN 3,037.50 per class) is paid in the last 6 months of the term; within 6 months after expiry it can still be paid with a 50% surcharge, after which the registration lapses, and it can be revived within 1 year of publication of the lapse by paying three times the fees due. Renewal and the declaration of use run on separate cycles: renewal every 10 years, the declaration every 5; an approved renewal does not mean the declarations are up to date.

Other IP rights

Patents: handled by IPI under the Industrial Property Code; you can enter the Mozambican national phase through the PCT (since 18 May 2000) or file through ARIPO under the Harare Protocol with a designation of Mozambique (since 2000); invention patents run 20 years from the filing date, with annual fees paid after grant.

Industrial designs: Mozambique is not a member of the Hague Agreement; designs are filed directly with IPI or through ARIPO under the Harare Protocol, with the term maintained by periodic fees under the Code and renewable.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

Other countries and territories in the region

African Regional Intellectual Property Organization · South Africa · Tanzania · Zambia · Zimbabwe

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Order online · Mozambique trademark registration

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