Skip to main content
Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Greece

To register a trademark in Greece, file with the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI), apply for an EU trademark or designate Greece through Madrid. The OBI examines absolute grounds only, but searches earlier marks and notifies their owners, who can oppose within 3 months of publication of the acceptance decision.

Order online · Greece 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 (Greece selected) Get a trademark search report first
Trademark registration in Greece

Five questions first

Which route?File with the OBI if Greece is your main market, with low official fees; choose an EU trademark to enter several EU countries; with a home application or registration, you can also designate Greece through Madrid.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name, address, phone and email; a procedural representative; the mark, with a transliteration of any characters other than Greek or Latin; clearly worded goods or services; Greek translations of foreign-language documents.Details ↓How are official fees charged?EUR 100 for an online application including 1 class, plus EUR 20 for each additional class; there is no separate registration fee. Service fees are quoted after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?By law, the acceptance decision is published within 50 days of filing, followed by a 3-month opposition period; with no objections and no opposition, registration takes about 5 months (estimate).Details ↓What are the main risks?The OBI tells owners of earlier marks about your application, so similar marks are often opposed; religious symbols cannot be registered; some class headings are too vague and need specific goods.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in Greece: key facts

OfficeHellenic Industrial Property Organisation (Οργανισμός Βιομηχανικής Ιδιοκτησίας, OBI), Trademarks Directorate; trademark matters passed from the former Ministry of Development trademark office to the OBI on 16 May 2022. Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawLaw No. 4679/2020 on trademarks, transposing EU Trade Marks Directive 2015/2436
Other routesAn EU trademark covers Greece; Greece has been a party to the Madrid Protocol since 10 August 2000 and can be designated through Madrid
Examination scopeExaminers check absolute grounds only (distinctiveness, descriptiveness, public order, etc.); a searcher separately looks for earlier marks and notifies their owners, but does not refuse on that basis
Procedural representativeEvery application must name a procedural representative (an agent for service who receives official documents), with address, phone and email; the law does not require a lawyer
Language and transliterationProceedings are in Greek; foreign-language documents need a Greek translation; a mark containing characters other than Greek or Latin (such as Chinese) needs a Greek or Latin transliteration
Multi-class applicationsAllowed; official fees are charged per application including the first class, plus each additional class
Publication of acceptance (statutory)With no absolute grounds, the acceptance decision is published on the OBI website within 50 days from the day after filing
Corrections and replies (statutory)30 days each to remedy formal deficiencies, amend the list of goods or reply to an objection; extended by 30 days for applicants abroad
Opposition period (statutory)3 months from the day after publication of the acceptance decision
Term and renewal10 years from the filing date; renew within the 6 months before expiry, or within 6 months after expiry for the renewal fee plus 50%
Non-use (statutory)Liable to revocation if not genuinely used within 5 years of registration, or if use is suspended for 5 consecutive years
Filing feeEUR 100 for an online application (including 1 class), EUR 20 for each additional class; EUR 120 for a paper application (including 1 class) (since 16 May 2022)

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

Which route

A national application or an EU trademark

Trademark protection in Greece can come from three routes: a national application to the OBI, an EU trademark application to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), with one registration covering all 27 member states, or a designation of Greece or the EU in a Madrid international application. The table compares the first two; for details of EU trademarks, see EU trademark registration.

ItemNational application (OBI)EU trademark (EUIPO)
CoverageGreece onlyAll 27 member states (including Greece); registered and maintained only as a whole
Official feesEUR 100 for an online application including 1 class, EUR 20 for each additional classEUR 850 including 1 class, EUR 50 for the 2nd class and EUR 150 for each class from the 3rd
LanguageGreek; foreign-language documents need a Greek translation, characters other than Greek or Latin a transliterationFile in any of the 24 official languages and choose a second language
Refusal riskOnly registrability in Greece counts; earlier marks are not a ground for refusal, and their owners must opposeA ground for refusal in any member state or any official language leads to refusal of the whole application
Opposition3 months from the day after publication of the acceptance decision, decided at a hearing before the Administrative Trademark Committee3 months from publication, by owners of earlier rights in any member state
Representation and serviceA procedural representative is required; a lawyer is optionalAll proceedings other than filing require a professional representative in the EEA
Use requirementGenuine use in Greece within 5 years of registrationGenuine use in the EU within 5 years of registration, assessed across the EU as a whole
Best forGreece is your main market; a limited budget; the meaning of the mark is risky in other EU languagesYou are entering several member states at once and want one registration to manage

The Madrid route: with a home application or registration, you can designate Greece or the EU in an international application. For designations of Greece, the OBI must issue any provisional refusal within 18 months, and you have 3 months to reply; replies, oppositions and appeals all require a lawyer resident in Greece acting as procedural representative. If your basic application or registration is refused or cancelled within 5 years, the international registration falls with it and can be converted into a Greek national application within 3 months.

A refused EU trademark application can be converted into a Greek national application, keeping the EU filing date; a Greek translation must be filed within 2 months of the OBI's notice, and the official fee is EUR 150 including 1 class, plus EUR 20 for each additional class. 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 Greek trademark application to the OBI, prepare the following information and documents.

Applicant

  • Name (for a company, its name as registered, with an English version)
  • Address, phone number and email, which the law requires; any change of address or email must be notified to the OBI

Procedural representative and filing

  • Name, address, phone and email of the procedural representative, to whom all OBI documents are served; a Greek lawyer you instruct can also act as procedural representative
  • Online applications are submitted after logging in with a Greek tax system (TAXISnet) account; a company applicant attaches proof of the signatory's authority (such as a company register extract)
  • Foreign-language documents need a Greek translation by a lawyer or the translation service of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs; signed documents such as a power of attorney are provided following the agent's instructions

The mark

  • Representation of the mark: for online filing, a JPEG file of up to 2 MB, between 150 × 150 and 300 × 300 pixels
  • Characters other than Greek or Latin, such as Chinese, need a Greek or Latin transliteration (for Chinese, for example, pinyin)

Goods and services

  • List them by Nice class, clearly and specifically; a class heading covers only the goods or services within its literal meaning
  • The headings of classes 7, 37, 40 and 45 are too vague and must be replaced by specific goods or services; choosing accepted terms in the filing system speeds up examination

Priority

  • Earlier application filed abroad: priority can be claimed within 6 months; a copy of the earlier application, with a Greek translation, must be filed within 3 months of the Greek filing date

The OBI points applicants to the EU TMclass database for acceptable terms; for EU trademark wording, you can also consult EU trademark classification table on this site.

How long

Process and timeline

Example: a direct online application with no objections and no opposition.

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    The OBI recommends searching TMview first; when you file online, the system also lists similar marks from TMview for reference

  2. Step 2

    Filing and payment

    File online and pay by card; the filing date is the day of submission

  3. Step 3

    Formalities check

    Missing items or unclear wording of goods lead to a deficiency notice: 30 days to remedy, plus 30 days for applicants abroad (statutory)

  4. Step 4

    Search and absolute-grounds examination

    The searcher notifies owners of earlier marks; the examiner checks absolute grounds and, if there are none, the acceptance decision is published within 50 days from the day after filing (statutory)

  5. Step 5

    Opposition period

    3 months from the day after publication of the acceptance decision (statutory); oppositions are decided at a hearing before the Administrative Trademark Committee

  6. Step 6

    Registration

    With no opposition, the mark is registered, with effect from the filing date; about 5 months based on the statutory periods (estimate)

The 50 days for publishing the acceptance decision and the 3-month opposition period are statutory. The OBI does not publish average examination times; the "about 5 months" on this page is an estimate based on the statutory periods. Objections (30 days to reply, 60 days for applicants abroad) or an opposition make it noticeably 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 charged per application (including the first class) plus each additional class, paid in full on filing; there is no separate registration fee, and online filing costs less than paper filing. The table below shows the current fees, in force since trademark matters passed to the OBI on 16 May 2022.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Filing fee (online filing, first class included)Per application100 EUR≈ USD 112
Each additional classEach additional class20 EUR≈ USD 22
Keeping the registration
Renewal (online, every 10 years, first class included)Per application90 EUR≈ USD 101
Renewal: each additional classEach additional class20 EUR≈ USD 22
Other
Recording an assignment (per assignment)Per application90 EUR≈ USD 101
Recording a licence (per licence)Per application90 EUR≈ USD 101
Conversion of an EU trade mark or international registration into a Greek national application (first class included; EUR 20 for each additional class)Per application150 EUR≈ USD 168
Restitutio in integrum (re-establishment of rights after a missed time limit)Per application110 EUR≈ USD 123

Source: OBI List of Fees · current fees in force since 2022-05-16 · 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.

Need to register a trademark in Greece?

Get a quoteInternational Trademark Strategy

Example: an online application covering 3 classes costs EUR 100 + 2 × EUR 20 = EUR 140 in official fees, paid on filing; for a paper application, the first class costs EUR 120.

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

Watch out

Rules specific to Greece and common refusals

These are common issues in Greek examination and registration, along with Greek-specific rules that are easy to overlook.

The OBI notifies owners of earlier marks

The OBI's searcher identifies earlier Greek marks, EU trademarks and international registrations designating Greece, and notifies their owners by email or other means so that they can decide whether to oppose. An earlier mark is not itself a ground for refusal, but a notified owner may oppose within the 3-month opposition period. Searching yourself before filing costs less than dealing with an opposition.

Oppositions go to a hearing, served by bailiff

Oppositions are decided at a hearing before the Administrative Trademark Committee. The opponent must serve the opposition and the hearing notice on the applicant or its procedural representative through a court bailiff at least 30 days before the hearing, plus 30 days if the applicant is abroad. At the joint request of both parties, the committee grants a settlement period of at least 2 months, and mediation is also available. The procedural representative's address must be accurate and valid.

Religious symbols cannot be registered

Besides common grounds such as lack of distinctiveness or descriptiveness, the Greek trademarks law expressly excludes signs of high symbolic value, in particular religious symbols, images and words, as well as unauthorised public badges and emblems. Assess any design with religious or national symbolic elements before filing.

Class headings are read literally

A Nice class heading covers only the goods or services within its literal meaning, not automatically everything in the class. The OBI considers the headings of classes 7, 37, 40 and 45 too vague and requires specific goods or services; unclear wording or wrong classification not corrected within 30 days (60 days for applicants abroad) leads to refusal.

Transliterations and Greek translations

If the mark contains characters other than Greek or Latin, such as Chinese, a Greek or Latin transliteration must be given on filing; foreign-language documents filed with the application (such as priority or company documents) need a Greek translation. The transliteration affects how the examiner assesses distinctiveness and descriptiveness, so check the meaning and sound of the mark in advance.

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

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 Greek registration needs no periodic declarations of use, but a mark that is not used can be revoked, and if renewal is missed after the grace period, protection ends automatically.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
From 5 years after registrationKeep using the mark genuinely in Greece and keep evidence; after 5 years of non-use, others can request revocation before the Administrative Trademark Committee; if you rely on your mark in an opposition, you may be asked to prove its useNone
Within the 6 months before expiry, then every 10 yearsRenew, which can be done online; the OBI sends a reminder at least 6 months before expiry, but not receiving one is no excuseOnline EUR 90 (including 1 class), EUR 20 for each additional class; paper EUR 110 (including 1 class)
Within 6 months after expiryLate renewal; if not renewed by then, protection ends automaticallyRenewal fee plus 50%
Any timeRecord assignments, licences and other transactions (unrecorded ones cannot be relied on against third parties)EUR 90 per recording

Once registered, you can file an application for action with Greek customs under Regulation (EU) No 608/2013, asking them to detain suspected infringing goods at import or export; on the basis of an EU trademark, a Union application covering several member states is also possible. E-commerce brand registries usually also require a registered or pending trademark.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Greece

How much does a Greek trademark cost?

The OBI's official fee is EUR 100 for an online application (including 1 class), plus EUR 20 for each additional class; there is no separate registration fee, and a paper application costs EUR 120 for the first class. For example, an online application in 3 classes costs EUR 140. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

How long does Greek trademark registration take?

By law, if there are no absolute grounds for refusal, the acceptance decision is published within 50 days from the day after filing, followed by a 3-month opposition period; with no opposition, the mark is then registered. Based on the statutory periods, that is about 5 months (estimate); the OBI does not publish average examination times. Objections or an opposition make it noticeably longer.

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

An EU trademark is valid in Greece, so you do not need to register again. A separate Greek application usually makes sense for one of three reasons: a limited budget and a Greek-only market; a risk that the mark is descriptive in another EU language; or wanting a registration that does not share the fate of the EU trademark as a whole. A refused EU trademark application can also be converted into a Greek national application, keeping the original filing date; see EU trademark registration.

Do foreign applicants need a Greek lawyer?

The law does not require a lawyer, but every application must name a procedural representative, with address, phone and email, to whom all official documents are served; online filing also requires a Greek TAXISnet account. A Greek lawyer you instruct can also act as procedural representative. For Madrid designations of Greece, replying to a provisional refusal and taking part in oppositions or appeals require a lawyer resident in Greece acting as procedural representative.

What should I watch for with a mark in non-Latin characters?

Characters other than Greek or Latin, such as Chinese, need a Greek or Latin transliteration (for Chinese, for example, pinyin), and foreign-language documents filed with the application need a Greek translation. Before filing, check that the meaning and transliteration of the mark have no negative or descriptive sense in Greek, and avoid elements of high symbolic value such as religious symbols.

How often must a Greek trademark be renewed?

Every 10 years, counted from the filing date. You can renew within the 6 months before expiry; online renewal costs EUR 90 (including 1 class) plus EUR 20 for each additional class. Within 6 months after expiry, you can still renew for the renewal fee plus 50%; after that, protection ends automatically.

Other IP rights

Patents: patents are filed with the OBI; patents for inventions last 20 years from the day after the filing date and utility model certificates 7 years. Greece has been a party to the European Patent Convention since 1 October 1986, so a European patent granted by the European Patent Office can also be validated in Greece.

Designs: registered designs are protected for 5 years from the date of filing with the OBI, renewable every 5 years up to a maximum of 25 years; you can also apply to the EUIPO for an EU design valid in all member states.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

Other countries and territories in the region

Italy · Turkey · Ireland · Poland · Russia · Serbia

Downloads

Ready to file?

Order online · Greece 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 (Greece 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