Skip to main content
Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in France

To register a trademark in France, file with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) or apply for an EU trademark. The INPI examines only whether the sign itself can be registered; owners of similar earlier marks can oppose within 2 months of publication. Applicants based outside the EU and the EEA need a representative.

Order online · France 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 (France selected) Run a free search first

Five questions first

Which route?File with the INPI if France is your main market and you want to control costs; choose an EU trademark to cover several member states; with a home application or registration, you can also designate France through Madrid.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name and address, the mark, and a list of goods or services written in French; applicants outside the EU and the EEA must appoint a representative.Details ↓How are official fees charged?EUR 190 for an online application including 1 class, plus EUR 40 for each additional class, paid on filing. Service fees are quoted after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?Publication within 6 weeks, then a 2-month opposition period; with no objections and no opposition, registration takes about 5 months at the earliest (estimate, based on INPI guidance).Details ↓What are the main risks?The list of goods must be entirely in French; owners of earlier marks can oppose within 2 months of publication; French Polynesia must be selected as an extension when you file.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in France: key facts

OfficeNational Institute of Industrial Property (Institut national de la propriété industrielle, INPI). Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawBook VII of the Intellectual Property Code (Code de la propriété intellectuelle); the current trademark procedure follows the reform rules in force since 11 December 2019
Territorial scopeFrench territory except French Polynesia, which has its own industrial property system (an extension can be selected when filing)
Madrid SystemMember (the Madrid Protocol has applied to France since 7 November 1997); France can be designated through Madrid
Foreign applicantsApplicants whose domicile or head office is outside the EU and the EEA must appoint a qualified representative domiciled in the EU or the EEA; the power of attorney needs no legalisation
LanguageFrench; the application details and the list of goods or services must be in French, and applications can only be filed online
Examination scopeThe INPI examines only whether the sign can serve as a trademark (distinctiveness, descriptiveness, etc.); it does not search earlier marks, whose owners must oppose
Multi-class applicationsAllowed; official fees are charged per application including the first class, plus each additional class
Publication (statutory)Within 6 weeks of receipt of the application, in the Official Bulletin of Industrial Property (BOPI)
Opposition period (statutory)2 months from publication; for Madrid designations of France, 2 months from publication in the WIPO Gazette of International Marks
Term and renewal10 years from the filing date, renewable indefinitely; renew within the year before expiry, or for an extra fee within 6 months after expiry
Non-use (statutory)Liable to revocation after 5 consecutive years without genuine use and without proper reason; since 1 April 2020, revocation can be requested directly from the INPI
Filing feeEUR 190 for an online application including 1 class, EUR 40 for each additional class (in force since 11 December 2019)

Checked on 2026-10-06; general information only — the office's published rules and fees prevail.

Which route

A French trademark or an EU trademark

France is an EU member state: both a French trademark and an EU trademark are protected in France, and the two can coexist. They differ in coverage, fees, language and risk. If you already have a home application or registration, you can also designate France (a party to the Madrid Protocol since 1997) or the EU through the Madrid System; for details of EU trademarks, see EU trademark registration.

ItemFrench trademark (INPI)EU trademark (EUIPO)
CoverageFrench territory; French Polynesia must be selected as an extension when filing and accepted locallyAll 27 member states, including France's Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion, Mayotte and Saint-Martin; not French Polynesia, New Caledonia or Wallis and Futuna
Official feesEUR 190 including 1 class, EUR 40 for each additional classBasic fee EUR 850 including 1 class, EUR 50 for the 2nd class and EUR 150 for each class from the 3rd
LanguageApplication details and list of goods entirely in FrenchAny one of the 24 official languages, plus a different second language
Earlier-mark conflictsOnly earlier rights valid in France can support an opposition, and the effect is limited to FranceAn earlier mark in any member state can support an opposition, and a conflict affects the whole application
Representation of foreign applicantsApplicants outside the EU and the EEA must appoint a representativeNot required to file; later proceedings require a professional representative in the EEA
Use requirementGenuine use in France after registration; 5 consecutive years of non-use can lead to revocationGenuine use in the EU within 5 years of registration, assessed across the EU as a whole
Best forFrance is your main market; a limited budget; the mark may be descriptive or face conflicts in another EU languageYou plan to enter several member states and want one registration to manage

The two can be combined: register in France first, then claim the seniority of the French registration when you later apply for an EU trademark. 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 French trademark application to the INPI, prepare the following information and documents. Signed documents such as a power of attorney are provided following the agent's instructions.

Applicant

  • Name (for a company, its full legal name as registered, in Latin characters) and legal form
  • Address and contact email
  • Individuals and companies can both apply

Representative

  • Applicants whose domicile or head office is outside the EU and the EEA must appoint a representative: a French industrial property attorney (conseil en propriété industrielle), a lawyer or another qualified representative in the EU or the EEA
  • If the representative is an industrial property attorney or a lawyer, no separate power of attorney is needed; where one is required, it needs no legalisation

The mark

  • Word mark: the wording
  • Figurative or combined mark: a clear image
  • Foreign-language wording can be accompanied by a French translation, and Chinese or other non-Latin characters by a transliteration into Latin letters

Goods and services

  • List them by Nice class with specific names in French; foreign words are in principle not accepted and must be replaced by their French equivalents
  • You can draw on the EU TMclass database, where about 65,000 terms have been pre-approved by the participating offices, including the INPI; English terms can be looked up first in EU trademark classification table on this site
  • Five class headings are not clear enough and must be replaced by specific items: "machines", "repair", "installation services", "treatment of materials" and, in class 45, "personal and social services rendered by others to meet the needs of individuals"
  • After filing, goods or services can only be removed, not added

Priority and extension

  • Earlier application filed abroad: priority can be claimed within 6 months, with an official copy of the earlier application and a French translation filed within 3 months
  • For protection in French Polynesia, select the extension and pay the extension fee when filing

Applications must be filed through the INPI's online system and paid for at the time of filing; paper filings are not accepted.

How long

Process and timeline

Example: a direct online application to the INPI with no opposition.

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Search similar marks in France, the EU and Madrid designations of France, and check the meaning of the mark in French

  2. Step 2

    Online filing and payment

    Receive an application number and filing date

  3. Step 3

    Publication

    Published in the BOPI within 6 weeks of receipt (statutory)

  4. Step 4

    Opposition and observations

    Within 2 months of publication, owners of earlier rights can oppose and anyone can submit observations (statutory)

  5. Step 5

    Examination

    Formalities and whether the sign can serve as a trademark; any objection must be notified within 4 months of receipt of the application (statutory)

  6. Step 6

    Registration

    With no objections and no opposition, the registration is published in the BOPI and the certificate issued after about 5 months at the earliest (estimate, based on INPI guidance)

The INPI does not publish average times from filing to registration. In opposed cases, a decision is due within 4 months of the end of the written phase (statutory, since 2 July 2026); the INPI says oppositions generally take 6 months to 1 year in total.

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 charged per application (including the first class) plus each additional class, paid in full on filing; there is no separate registration fee. The table below shows the current fees published by the INPI.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Filing fee (online, first class included)Per application190 EUR≈ USD 213
Filing: each additional classEach additional class40 EUR≈ USD 45
Keeping the registration
Renewal (every 10 years, first class included)Per application290 EUR≈ USD 325
Renewal: each additional classEach additional class40 EUR≈ USD 45

Source: INPI Tarifs applicables au 2 juillet 2026 · current fees in force since 2019-12-11 · checked on 2026-10-07 · 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: an online application covering 3 classes costs EUR 190 + 2 × EUR 40 = EUR 270 in official fees.

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

Watch out

Rules specific to France and common refusals

These are common issues in French applications, along with French-specific rules that are easy to overlook.

Application details must be in French

The INPI requires all application details in French. Foreign words in the list of goods or services are in principle not accepted and must be replaced by French equivalents; the only exceptions are words that have entered everyday French and appear in French dictionaries (such as marketing). The mark itself can be in Chinese or English, but an English list of goods cannot simply be copied over.

Earlier marks are handled by opposition, not examination

The INPI does not search earlier marks or refuse applications because of similar ones, but owners of earlier marks, company names, trade names, domain names, geographical indications and other rights can oppose within 2 months of publication. If the opposing mark has been registered for at least 5 years, you can require proof of its genuine use in France.

French Polynesia is not covered by default

French Polynesia has its own industrial property system, and an INPI registration does not cover it by default. For protection there, select the extension and pay the fee when filing; after the registration is published, the local authority decides within 2 months whether to accept it. EU trademarks do not cover French Polynesia, New Caledonia or Wallis and Futuna either.

Official notices are served online only

Since July 2026, INPI notifications are posted only in its online system and count as received when opened; if not opened within 15 days, they count as received on the day they were sent, and response deadlines run as normal. If you use a representative, the representative receives and follows them up.

Revocation for non-use can be requested from the INPI

Since 1 April 2020, revocation and invalidity requests are generally filed with the INPI in an administrative procedure, with official fees from EUR 600. If a similar mark standing in your way has not been used for 5 consecutive years, you can request its revocation; equally, keep your own French registration in use and keep evidence.

Free search: can your mark be registered in France?

Each account gets 1 free preliminary search a day: sign in, enter the mark and goods, and the report goes to your account and email.

Free search
After registration

Keeping the registration

A French registration needs no periodic declarations of use, but a mark that is not used can be revoked, and a registration not renewed within the grace period lapses.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
Throughout the life of the registrationKeep using the mark genuinely in France and keep evidence; after 5 consecutive years of non-use, third parties can request revocation from the INPINone
Within the year before expiry, then every 10 yearsRenew, for all or only some of the goods or services; the INPI sends a reminder no later than 6 months before expiryEUR 290 including 1 class, EUR 40 for each additional class
Within 6 months after expiryLate renewal for an extra feeRenewal fee plus 50%
Any timeRecord assignments, licences and other transactions; changes of name, legal form or addressEUR 27 per recording (up to EUR 270 for several); changes free

Once registered, you can file an application for action (demande d'intervention) with French customs, asking them to detain suspected infringing goods at import or export; it is free, valid for 1 year and renewable. E-commerce brand registries usually also require a registered or pending trademark.

FAQ

Trademark registration in France

How much does a French trademark cost?

The official fee for an online application is EUR 190, including 1 class, plus EUR 40 for each additional class, paid in full on filing; there is no separate registration fee. For 3 classes, for example, it is EUR 270. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

How long does French trademark registration take?

The INPI publishes the application within 6 weeks of receipt, followed by a 2-month opposition period. With no objections and no opposition, INPI guidance puts registration at about 5 months at the earliest; the INPI does not publish average times. If the application is opposed, the INPI says the opposition generally takes 6 months to 1 year.

I already have an EU trademark. Do I also need a French trademark?

An EU trademark is valid in France, so a French trademark is generally not needed. But an EU trademark stands or falls as a whole, and a conflict in any member state can block the entire application; EU trademarks also do not cover French Polynesia, New Caledonia or Wallis and Futuna. If France is a core market, a separate French registration is the safer choice. See EU trademark registration.

Do foreign applicants need a representative in France?

Yes. Applicants whose domicile or head office is outside the EU and the EEA must appoint a qualified representative domiciled in the EU or the EEA, such as a French industrial property attorney or a lawyer. If the representative is an industrial property attorney or a lawyer, no separate power of attorney is needed; where one is required, it needs no legalisation.

Can I write the list of goods in English?

No. The INPI requires all application details in French, and foreign words for goods or services are in principle not accepted, except words that have entered everyday French. The mark itself can be in Chinese, English or another language; foreign wording can be accompanied by a French translation, and non-Latin characters such as Chinese by a transliteration into Latin letters.

Does a French trademark cover the overseas territories?

An INPI registration is valid in French territory but not in French Polynesia, which has its own industrial property system: select the extension and pay the fee when filing, and the local authority decides whether to accept it.

Other IP rights

Patents: French patents for inventions last 20 years from the filing date and utility certificates 10 years; both are filed with the INPI. A European patent granted by the European Patent Office can also be validated in France. PCT applications can only enter France through the European Patent Office, as France has closed the PCT national route.

Designs: registered designs are protected for 5 years from the filing date, renewable every 5 years up to a maximum of 25 years; France can also be designated through the Hague Agreement, or you can apply for an EU design valid throughout the EU.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

IP news: France

Other countries and territories in the region

European Union Intellectual Property Office　·　United Kingdom　·　Germany　·　Spain　·　Italy　·　Benelux Office for Intellectual Property

Downloads

Ready to file?

Order online · France 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 (France selected) Run a free search 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