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Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Zambia

In Zambia, a registered local trademark agent files with the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA). Zambia joined the Madrid Protocol in 2001; the Trade Marks Act 2023, in force since December 2025, adopts it, but the implementing regulations are pending. Zambia is not party to ARIPO's Banjul Protocol, so ARIPO applications cannot designate Zambia.

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Five questions first

Which route?Direct filing with PACRA through a registered Zambian agent is the safe choice; a Madrid designation is now legally possible, but the implementing regulations are pending and its effect is unclear. ARIPO does not cover Zambia.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name and address, the mark (non-Latin script such as Chinese with a transliteration and translation), goods or services by Nice class, and a power of attorney for the Zambian agent (Form TM 1, to be recorded).Details ↓How are official fees charged?Foreign applicants pay in kwacha per class: filing fee ZMW 2,000; on acceptance, publication fee ZMW 500 and registration fee ZMW 2,000; recording the power of attorney ZMW 266.80. Service fees are quoted after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?PACRA's service charter sets 6 months (120 working days) as its standard for trademark registration; with the 60-day opposition period, publication and payments, about 8 months without a refusal or opposition (estimate).Details ↓What are the main risks?The new Act is in force but the regulations are not, so forms and fees still follow the old rules; after acceptance you must pay for publication within 90 days or the application is deemed abandoned; foreign applicants pay three times the local fees.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in Zambia: key facts

OfficeThe Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA), a statutory body established under the Patents and Companies Registration Agency Act 2020 and headed by the Registrar, who is also its chief executive; trademarks are handled by its intellectual property department. Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
Legal basisThe Trade Marks Act, 2023 (Act No. 11 of 2023), brought into force in December 2025 by Statutory Instrument No. 86 of 2025, repealing the Trade Marks Act of 1958 (Cap. 401); the draft Trade Marks (General) Regulations and Trade Marks (Madrid Protocol) Regulations were put out for comment in November 2025 and had not been issued as at the date of checking, so PACRA's forms and fees still follow the old Trade Marks Regulations
Madrid SystemMember of the Madrid Protocol (since 15 November 2001), not of the Madrid Agreement; section 154 of the new Act empowers the Minister to implement the Protocol by regulations, and until they are issued it remains unclear how an international registration designating Zambia is examined in Zambia and when it takes effect
ARIPOZambia is an ARIPO member state (Lusaka Agreement 1978; Harare Protocol on patents and designs 1986) but 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 Zambia; the new Act has no provision recognising ARIPO marks either
Multi-class applicationsThe new Act allows one application to cover several classes, with fees paid per class; until the regulations are issued PACRA still uses the old forms, and whether a multi-class application can actually be filed is for the agent to confirm with PACRA
Local agentAn applicant not resident in Zambia must file through a registered trademark agent domiciled in Zambia; agents must be lawyers with at least 5 years' practice or pass a PACRA-approved examination, and be registered with PACRA; the power of attorney (Form TM 1) must be recorded and carries a fee
Fee currencyZambian kwacha (ZMW), converted from statutory "fee units" (currently ZMW 0.40 per unit); foreign applicants pay higher rates than local applicants, the filing fee being 3 times higher
Scope of examinationAfter formal examination, substantive examination of absolute grounds such as distinctiveness and an ex officio search of earlier applications and registrations; a similar earlier mark leads to refusal, but a mark can be registered with the written consent of the earlier right holder
Replying to an examination report (statutory)60 days from the notice of intended refusal to amend or submit arguments, otherwise the application is refused; an appeal lies to the High Court within 3 months
Publication and opposition period (statutory)After acceptance, the applicant must pay for publication in the monthly Intellectual Property Journal within 90 days or the application is deemed abandoned; oppositions may be filed within 60 days of publication, and the applicant has 60 days from receiving the opposition to file a counter-statement
Term and renewal10 years from the filing date, with the registration date backdated to the filing date; renewals of 10 years each, filed within the 6 months before expiry, with a late renewal possible within 6 months after expiry on payment of a surcharge; registrations granted under the old Act for 7 or 14 years run to expiry and are then renewed under the new Act
Consequences of non-use (statutory)A mark unused for 5 or more consecutive years can be removed from the register on application by an interested person; a right holder who has knowingly acquiesced in another's use for 5 years can no longer oppose or apply for cancellation
Filing fees (foreign applicants)Filing fee ZMW 2,000 per class; on acceptance, publication fee ZMW 500 and registration fee ZMW 2,000; recording the power of attorney ZMW 266.80
Online filingSince 1 July 2025 new trademark applications are filed only through PACRA's online system by the agent; since 19 August 2026 registration certificates are issued only electronically to the e-mail address given in the application

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 a Zambian registration: direct filing with PACRA through a registered Zambian agent, or a Madrid designation of Zambia. Today they differ a great deal: for direct filing, the procedure, forms and fees are all in place; a Madrid designation is recognised in law by the Trade Marks Act 2023, but the implementing regulations have not been issued.

Where Madrid stands: Zambia joined the Madrid Protocol in 2001, but the old Act never transposed it into national law. Section 154 of the new Act empowers the Minister to lay down, by regulations, the procedure and effect of an international registration extended to Zambia; PACRA invited comments on the draft Trade Marks (Madrid Protocol) Regulations in November 2025, and no notice of their issue could be found as at the date of checking. Until the regulations take effect, there is no express rule on how an international registration designating Zambia is examined in Zambia or from when it has effect; if you need Zambian protection quickly, file directly first.

ARIPO is not available: Zambia has joined only ARIPO's Lusaka Agreement and the Harare Protocol on patents and industrial designs, not the Banjul Protocol on marks, so an ARIPO trademark application cannot designate Zambia, and the new Act has no provision recognising ARIPO marks. For the position in contracting states such as Zimbabwe and Mozambique, see ARIPO trademark registration.

ItemDirect filing with PACRAMadrid designation of Zambia
PrerequisiteNoneA basic application or registration at your office of origin
Official feesFiling fee ZMW 2,000 per class; on acceptance, publication fee ZMW 500 and registration fee ZMW 2,000, all paid to PACRABasic fee paid to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), plus Zambia's declared individual fee; as Zambia is party to the Protocol only, the Article 9sexies complementary-fee arrangement does not apply whatever your office of origin. See the WIPO fee calculator
Local agentA registered Zambian trademark agent must be appointed at filing, with the power of attorney recordedNot needed to file; if PACRA issues a provisional refusal or an opposition is filed and a reply is needed, appoint a Zambian agent as your agent advises
Examination and refusal periodEx officio examination of absolute grounds and earlier marks; a notice of intended refusal must be answered within 60 daysZambia has made no 18-month declaration, so under the Protocol a provisional refusal must be notified within 12 months; but the implementing regulations are pending, and the national examination procedure and effect remain to be settled
Dependency riskNoneIf the basic application or registration is refused or cancelled within 5 years, the Zambian designation falls with it
Best forAt present almost every applicant who needs protection in Zambia; you have no home filing to rely on; you want a local agent to handle the whole processYou already have a home filing, are covering several countries at once, and can accept that the effect of a Zambian designation awaits the regulations

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

What to prepare

Documents checklist

For a direct application to PACRA through a Zambian agent, applicants based abroad usually prepare the following information and documents. Signed documents such as the power of attorney are provided as the agent instructs.

Applicant

  • Name (for a company, the name on its certificate of incorporation, with an English version), address, and nationality or country of incorporation
  • The application must state that the applicant is the proprietor of the mark, or is using or intends to use it; no evidence of use is required
  • The applicant's e-mail address: the registration certificate is issued only electronically to the address given in the application

Agent and power of attorney

  • A power of attorney for a registered Zambian trademark agent (Form TM 1), signed by the applicant; the agent records it with PACRA and pays the fee
  • Documents are served through the agent; agents must be registered with PACRA and renew their registration every year

Mark

  • A representation of the mark; if colour is claimed, state the colours, otherwise the mark is protected in all colours
  • Marks containing non-Latin script such as Chinese characters: under current practice, attach a transliteration and translation and state the language
  • Marks containing words in a language other than English: PACRA may require an accurate translation
  • Series marks and non-traditional marks such as three-dimensional, sound or smell marks must be identified as such at filing

Goods and services

  • Specific goods or services under the Nice Classification; the edition published by PACRA is the 13th
  • The new Act allows one application to cover several classes with fees per class; until the regulations are issued, file in the manner the agent confirms with PACRA

Basis of the application

  • Earlier application filed abroad: priority can be claimed within 6 months; it must be declared at filing, and the priority claim is published in the Journal
  • Priority cannot be based on an earlier application that has been withdrawn, abandoned or refused

If the mark contains generic or descriptive words that cannot be registered on their own, the Registrar may require a disclaimer; consider offering one before filing.

How long

Process and timeline

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

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

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

  2. Step 2

    Filing

    The agent files Form TM 2 through PACRA's online system, pays the filing fee and records the power of attorney (Form TM 1); the applicant's rights run from the filing date

  3. Step 3

    Formal and substantive examination

    Formalities first, then absolute grounds and earlier marks; if refusal is intended, amend or submit arguments within 60 days (statutory), otherwise the application is refused

  4. Step 4

    Payment and publication

    After acceptance the applicant must pay the publication fee within 90 days for publication in the monthly Intellectual Property Journal (statutory); otherwise the application is deemed abandoned

  5. Step 5

    Opposition period

    60 days from publication (statutory); if an opposition is filed, a counter-statement is due within 60 days of receiving it (statutory), otherwise the application is deemed abandoned

  6. Step 6

    Registration fee and certificate

    After the opposition period, request registration and pay the registration fee; the registration date is backdated to the filing date and the electronic certificate is sent to the registered e-mail address. PACRA's service charter sets 6 months (120 working days) as its standard for trademark registration; about 8 months in all (estimate)

The application must be completed within 12 months of the filing date; PACRA gives notice 3 months before the deadline, and an application not completed in time is deemed abandoned, unless an opposition or other proceedings are pending. PACRA publishes no statistics on examination time; the estimate above is based on the standard in its service charter, and cases with an examination report or opposition take longer.

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 Zambian kwacha (ZMW), converted from statutory "fee units" (ZMW 0.40 per unit since April 2024), with separate rates for local and foreign applicants, the foreign rates being markedly higher. They are charged per class and paid in three stages: filing, publication and registration. The table below shows the current rates published on PACRA's website; the amounts may change once the new Trade Marks (General) Regulations are issued.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Application fee (foreign applicant, per class, Form TM 2)Per class2,000 ZMW≈ USD 100
Authorisation of agent (foreign applicant, Form TM 1)Per application266.80 ZMW≈ USD 13
Paid on registration
Advertisement of acceptance in the IP Journal (payable within 90 days of acceptance)Per application500 ZMW≈ USD 25
Registration fee (foreign applicant, payable after the opposition period, per class, Form TM 10)Per class2,000 ZMW≈ USD 100
Keeping the registration
Renewal fee (foreign applicant, every 10 years, per class, Form TM 12)Per class6,666.80 ZMW≈ USD 334
Additional fee for late renewal (foreign applicant, within 6 months after expiry, paid with the renewal fee, Form TM 13)Per class666.80 ZMW≈ USD 33
Restoration fee (foreign applicant, within 6 months of removal, in addition to the renewal fee, Form TM 14)Per class2,000 ZMW≈ USD 100
Other
Recordal of assignment (foreign applicant, within 6 months of acquisition, Form TM 17; 1,733.60 within 6–12 months, 2,000 thereafter)Per application1,000 ZMW≈ USD 50
Change of proprietor's name (foreign applicant, first mark, Form TM 22)Per application444.80 ZMW≈ USD 22
Change of trade or service address (foreign applicant, first entry, Form TM 19; 333.60 for each additional entry)Per application1,000 ZMW≈ USD 50
Registration of licensee / registered user (foreign applicant, Form TM 50)Per application1,733.60 ZMW≈ USD 87
Notice of opposition (foreign party, per application opposed, Form TM 6)Per application2,000 ZMW≈ USD 100
Counter-statement in opposition (foreign party, per application, Form TM 7)Per application266.80 ZMW≈ USD 13

Source: PACRA, Forms and Fees – Trademark Form 2；PACRA, Forms and Fees – Trademark Form 1；PACRA, Forms and Fees – Notice of Acceptance of Trade Mark Application ; Zambia Intellectual Property Journal (advertisement rates)；PACRA, Forms and Fees – Trademark Form 10；PACRA, Forms and Fees – Trademark Form 12；PACRA, Forms and Fees – Trademark Form 13；PACRA, Forms and Fees – Trademark Form 14；PACRA, Forms and Fees – Trademark Form 17；PACRA, Forms and Fees – Trademark Form 22；PACRA, Forms and Fees – Trademark Form 19；PACRA, Forms and Fees – Trademark Form 50；PACRA, Forms and Fees – Trademark Form 6；PACRA, Forms and Fees – Trademark Form 7 · current fees in force since 2024-04-19 · 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: a foreign applicant covering 1 class pays at filing the filing fee of ZMW 2,000 and the fee for recording the power of attorney of ZMW 266.80; on acceptance, the publication fee of ZMW 500; after the opposition period, the registration fee of ZMW 2,000: ZMW 4,766.80 in official fees in total. With several classes, the filing and registration fees are multiplied by the number of classes.

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

Watch out

Rules specific to Zambia and common refusals

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

The new Act is in force, but the regulations are not

The Trade Marks Act 2023 came into force in December 2025, but as at the date of checking the Trade Marks (General) Regulations and the Trade Marks (Madrid Protocol) Regulations were still drafts out for comment. PACRA's forms and fee table keep the numbering and amounts of the old Trade Marks Regulations, and opposition notices in the Journal still say "two months" rather than the 60 days of the new Act. Multi-class applications and the national examination of Madrid designations both await the regulations; before filing, have the agent confirm PACRA's practice at the time.

An ARIPO application cannot cover Zambia

Zambia is an ARIPO member state, but the 13 contracting states of the Banjul Protocol as at 1 January 2026 do not include Zambia, and ARIPO's member-state information lists Zambia only under the Harare Protocol and the Lusaka Agreement. Protection in Zambia comes only from a direct application to PACRA or, once the regulations are in force, a Madrid designation; see ARIPO trademark registration.

After acceptance you must pay for publication within 90 days, and complete the application within 12 months

Zambia leaves publication to the applicant: if the publication fee is not paid within 90 days of the notice of acceptance, the application is deemed abandoned, and restoration is possible only within 9 months of the filing date. The whole application must also be completed within 12 months of the filing date; PACRA gives notice 3 months before the deadline, after which the application is deemed abandoned. Your agent needs to watch both deadlines.

Foreign applicants pay three times the local fees and must appoint a registered agent

PACRA's fee table has a local and a foreign rate: the filing fee is ZMW 666.80 for local and ZMW 2,000 for foreign applicants, and the same applies to registration and renewal fees. An applicant not resident in Zambia cannot file in person and must appoint a trademark agent domiciled in Zambia and registered with PACRA; the power of attorney must be recorded and carries a fee, and nobody who is not registered may practise as a trademark agent.

Similar earlier marks are refused ex officio, and Chinese characters need a transliteration and translation

In substantive examination PACRA searches earlier applications and registrations, and a similar mark for identical or similar goods is refused outright, without waiting for the earlier right holder to oppose; you have only 60 days to reply, by arguing the case, limiting the goods or obtaining the earlier right holder's written consent. Under current practice, a mark containing non-Latin script such as Chinese characters must come with a transliteration and translation stating the language, and PACRA may require a translation of words in any language other than English.

Missing the 6-month renewal grace period means removal, and old registrations move to 10-year terms

A registration runs 10 years from the filing date and is renewed within the 6 months before expiry; a late renewal with a surcharge is still possible within 6 months after expiry, after which the mark is removed, and restoration can be requested within 6 months of removal. For 1 year after removal, another party's application for a similar mark on similar goods is also refused. Registrations granted under the 1958 Act for 7 or 14 years run to expiry and are renewed under the new Act for 10 years at a time.

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After registration

Keeping the registration

A Zambian registration needs no periodic declarations of use, but a mark left unused for long can be removed, and so can a registration whose renewal grace period is missed. The official fees below are the rates for foreign applicants.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
Continuously after registrationUse the mark genuinely in Zambia and keep evidence; a mark unused for 5 or more consecutive years can be removed on application by an interested personNone
Within the 6 months before expiry, then every 10 yearsRenewal (Form TM 12)ZMW 6,666.80
Within 6 months after expiryLate renewal with a surcharge (current Form TM 13)Renewal fee plus ZMW 666.80
Within 6 months after removalApply for restoration and renewal (Form TM 14), at the Registrar's discretionZMW 2,000, plus the renewal fee
At any timeRecording an assignment (TM 17); change of name (TM 22); change of address or address for service (TM 19); recording a licensee (TM 50)Assignment ZMW 1,000 (if recorded within 6 months of acquiring the right, rising to ZMW 2,000 afterwards); change of name ZMW 444.80; change of address ZMW 1,000 (first item); recording a licensee ZMW 1,733.60
When you need border enforcementFile a border-measures notice with the Commissioner of Customs at the Zambia Revenue Authority; PACRA verifies the registration and customs detain suspected counterfeit goods, except goods in transitAs set by customs

Brand registries of e-commerce platforms usually also require a registered or pending trademark.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Zambia

How much does trademark registration in Zambia cost?

Foreign applicants pay official fees in kwacha at the foreign rates published by PACRA: a filing fee of ZMW 2,000 per class and ZMW 266.80 for recording the power of attorney; on acceptance, a publication fee of ZMW 500; after the opposition period, a registration fee of ZMW 2,000. For one class, official fees total ZMW 4,766.80. Local applicants pay less (filing fee ZMW 666.80). Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order.

How long does trademark registration in Zambia take?

PACRA publishes no statistics on examination time. Its Client Service Charter sets 6 months (120 working days) as the service standard for trademark registration; under the new Act, publication follows within 90 days of acceptance, then a 60-day opposition period, then payment of the registration fee, so a case with no refusal or opposition takes about 8 months (estimate). Cases with an examination report or opposition take noticeably longer, and the whole application must be completed within 12 months of the filing date.

Can I protect a mark in Zambia through Madrid or ARIPO?

Not through ARIPO: Zambia has not joined the Banjul Protocol on marks, and an ARIPO trademark application can only designate contracting states of that Protocol. Through Madrid, yes in law: Zambia has been a member of the Madrid Protocol since 2001, and the Trade Marks Act 2023 writes the Protocol into national law; but as at the date of checking the implementing regulations had not been issued, and there is no express rule on how an international registration designating Zambia is examined in Zambia or when it takes effect. To secure protection in Zambia now, a direct application to PACRA is the safe choice. For ARIPO's coverage, see ARIPO trademark registration.

Does a foreign applicant need a local agent in Zambia?

Yes. Section 4 of the Trade Marks Act 2023 requires an applicant not resident in Zambia to file through a trademark agent domiciled in Zambia; agents must be lawyers with at least 5 years' practice or pass a PACRA-approved examination, be Zambian citizens or hold a residence permit, and be registered with PACRA with yearly renewal. The power of attorney (Form TM 1) is signed by the applicant, and the agent records it with PACRA and pays the fee.

What did Zambia's new Trade Marks Act change, and what happens to old registrations?

The Trade Marks Act 2023 came into force in December 2025 and replaced the 1958 Act: the term changed from a first period of 7 years and renewals of 14 years to a uniform 10 years; service marks can expressly be registered and one application can cover several classes; protection of well-known marks, geographical indications and border measures were added; and the Madrid Protocol was written into national law. Registrations obtained under the old Act run to expiry and are then renewed under the new Act for 10 years at a time; applications filed under the old Act and still pending are dealt with under the new Act. Until the regulations are issued, PACRA keeps using the old forms and fee amounts.

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

10 years from the filing date, with the registration date backdated to the filing date. Renewal can be filed within the 6 months before expiry, for 10 years at a time; a late renewal with a surcharge is still possible within 6 months after expiry, after which the mark is removed, and restoration can be requested within 6 months of removal. The renewal fee for foreign applicants is ZMW 6,666.80. A mark unused for 5 consecutive years can be removed on application by another party.

Other IP rights

Patents: Zambian patents are examined by PACRA under the Patents Act 2016; you can enter the Zambian national phase through the PCT (since 15 November 2001) or file through ARIPO under the Harare Protocol with a designation of Zambia (since 1986).

Industrial designs: registered by PACRA under the Industrial Designs Act 2016; Zambia is not a member of the Hague Agreement, but designs can be filed through ARIPO under the Harare Protocol with a designation of Zambia.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

Other countries and territories in the region

African Regional Intellectual Property Organization　·　Zimbabwe　·　Mozambique　·　Tanzania　·　South Africa　·　DR Congo

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