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Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Ireland

To register a trademark in Ireland, file with the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI) or apply for an EU trademark. The IPOI searches earlier Irish and EU marks itself and raises objections against similar ones. An Irish trademark does not cover Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK.

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Trademark registration in Ireland

Five questions first

Which route?File with the IPOI if Ireland 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 Ireland through Madrid.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name and address, an address for service in the EEA, the mark, and specific goods or services listed by Nice class; appointing an agent is not compulsory.Details ↓How are official fees charged?EUR 70 per class on filing; after the opposition period ends without opposition, a EUR 177 registration fee regardless of the number of classes. Service fees are quoted after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?In 2025, 72% of first examinations were completed within 60 working days (official statistics), followed by a 3-month opposition period after publication; a smooth case takes about 6 months or more (estimate).Details ↓What are the main risks?Similar earlier marks, including EU trademarks, are cited by the examiner; if the registration fee is not paid on time, the application is treated as withdrawn; an Irish trademark does not cover Northern Ireland.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in Ireland: key facts

OfficeIntellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI). Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawTrade Marks Act 1996, amended from 14 January 2019 in line with the EU Trade Marks Directive; procedure governed by the Trade Marks Rules 1996
Territorial scopeIreland; not Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK and needs a separate UK trademark
Madrid SystemMember (the Madrid Protocol has applied to Ireland since 19 October 2001); Ireland can be designated through Madrid
Address for service and agentsAn address for service in the EEA is required; the law does not require an agent
Examination scopeAbsolute grounds, plus an official search of earlier Irish and EU marks; similar ones lead to objections on relative grounds
Multi-class applicationsAllowed; the filing fee is charged per class. A series of up to 6 marks can be filed in one application
First examination (official statistics)The IPOI's target is to accept or issue a first objection within 40 working days of filing in 90% of cases; in 2025, the actual figures were 39% within 40 working days and 72% within 60
Opposition period (statutory)3 months from publication; cannot be extended
Registration fee (statutory time limit)With no opposition after the opposition period, payable within 2 months of the fee notice; if unpaid, the application is treated as withdrawn
Term and renewal10 years from the filing date; renew within the 6 months before expiry, or with a surcharge within 6 months after expiry
Non-use (statutory)Liable to revocation if not genuinely used in Ireland within 5 years of publication of the registration, or if use is suspended for 5 consecutive years
Official feesFiling fee EUR 70 per class, registration fee EUR 177 regardless of the number of classes, in force since 1 January 2002

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

Ireland is an EU member state: both an Irish trademark and an EU trademark are protected in Ireland, and the two can coexist. They differ in coverage, fees, examination and risk. If you already have a home application or registration, you can also designate Ireland or the EU in a Madrid international application; for details of EU trademarks, see EU trademark registration.

ItemNational application (IPOI)EU trademark (EUIPO)
CoverageIreland only, not Northern IrelandAll 27 member states (including Ireland); registered and maintained only as a whole; since 2021, not the UK (including Northern Ireland)
Official feesEUR 70 per class on filing, plus EUR 177 on registrationEUR 850 including 1 class, EUR 50 for the 2nd class and EUR 150 for each class from the 3rd
Earlier marksThe examiner searches Irish and EU marks and raises objections against similar ones; after publication, the application can also be opposedThe office does not refuse on earlier marks of its own motion; their owners must oppose, and earlier rights in any member state count
Refusal riskOnly registrability in Ireland countsA ground for refusal in any member state or any official language leads to refusal of the whole application
Representation and serviceAn address for service in the EEA is required; an agent is optionalAll proceedings other than filing require a professional representative in the EEA
Use requirementGenuine use in Ireland within 5 years of registrationGenuine use in the EU within 5 years of registration, assessed across the EU as a whole
Best forIreland is your main market; a limited budget; the mark may be descriptive or face conflicts in another EU languageYou 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 Ireland in an international application, paying the basic fee and Ireland's individual fee to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (see the WIPO fee calculator for amounts); if your basic application or registration is refused or cancelled within 5 years, the international registration falls with it.

A refused EU trademark application can be converted, within the set time limit, into national applications in member states such as Ireland where there is no ground for refusal, keeping the original filing date. Ireland and the UK have separate systems: to cover Northern Ireland as well, you also need a UK trademark; see Trademark registration in the United Kingdom. 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 an Irish trademark application to the IPOI, 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 name as registered, with an English version) and address
  • Individuals and companies can both apply; nationality is collected for statistics only

Address for service and agent

  • An address for service in the EEA, which can be that of the applicant, an agent or anyone else receiving documents
  • An agent can be a registered Irish trademark agent, a solicitor, a barrister, or an EEA agent entitled to act before their national IP office
  • If the address for service is missing, the IPOI asks for it within 2 months; otherwise the application is treated as abandoned

The mark

  • Word mark: the wording
  • Figurative or combined mark: a JPEG image of up to 2 MB; for a combined mark, enter in the word field only the words shown in the image
  • If colour is claimed, name the specific colours (for example red and green), not "any colour"
  • Several similar versions of one mark can be filed together as a series, up to 6

Goods and services

  • List specific goods or services by Nice class; when filing online, you can pick terms pre-approved by the IPOI, while your own wording may slow examination
  • TMclass flags the terms the IPOI accepts; English terms can be looked up first in EU trademark classification table on this site, then confirmed in TMclass
  • After filing, goods or services can only be clarified or narrowed, not added

Priority and foreign-language documents

  • Earlier application filed abroad: priority can be claimed within 6 months, with a certified copy of the earlier application filed within 3 months of the filing date
  • Foreign-language documents filed with the IPOI need an approved translation

Applications can be filed online or on paper by post; online applications are paid on filing, and if a paper application is filed without the fee, it must be paid within 1 month or the application is treated as abandoned.

How long

Process and timeline

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

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Search Irish marks, EU trademarks and international registrations designating Ireland; the IPOI checks the same during examination

  2. Step 2

    Online filing and payment

    Pay the filing fee per class; receive an application number and filing date

  3. Step 3

    Examination and search

    Absolute grounds and a search of earlier marks; in 2025, 39% were accepted or received a first objection within 40 working days and 72% within 60 (official statistics)

  4. Step 4

    Replying to objections

    If any: reply within the time limit set by the examiner; extensions can be requested (EUR 30 per month)

  5. Step 5

    Publication and opposition

    Published in the IPOI Journal; for 3 months, anyone can oppose or file observations, and this period cannot be extended (statutory)

  6. Step 6

    Registration fee and registration

    With no opposition, pay the registration fee within 2 months of the notice (statutory) and the IPOI issues the registration certificate; about 6 months or more in total (estimate, based on 2025 examination times plus the 3-month opposition period)

The IPOI does not publish average times from filing to registration. National trademark applications rose 42% in 2025 from the year before, and the share of first examinations meeting the target fell markedly. In opposed cases, the counter-statement and each side's evidence have time limits of 2–3 months, so the whole process takes considerably 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 paid in two stages: a filing fee per class when you apply, then a registration fee after the opposition period ends without opposition; the registration fee does not depend on the number of classes. The table below shows the current fees published by the IPOI.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Filing fee (per class)Per class70 EUR≈ USD 79
Paid on registration
Registration fee (payable after the opposition period, regardless of the number of classes)Per application177 EUR≈ USD 199
Payable when applicable
Series of marks: each mark from the 3rd to the 6thPer item50 EUR≈ USD 56
Keeping the registration
Renewal (every 10 years, first class included)Per application250 EUR≈ USD 280
Renewal: each additional classEach additional class125 EUR≈ USD 140
Late renewal surcharge (within 6 months after expiry)Per application60 EUR≈ USD 67
Restoration of a removed registration (within 6 months of publication of removal; renewal fees payable in addition)Per application125 EUR≈ USD 140
Other
Recordal of assignment, licence or other transaction (first mark)Per application60 EUR≈ USD 67
Recordal of a transaction: each additional mark in the same requestPer item6 EUR≈ USD 7
Change of name or address (per mark)Per item6 EUR≈ USD 7
Extension of time (per month)Per item30 EUR≈ USD 34

Source: IPOI Schedule of Fees – Trade Marks · current fees in force since 2012-02-01 · 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 Ireland?

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Example: for 3 classes, you pay 3 × EUR 70 = EUR 210 on filing and EUR 177 on registration, EUR 387 in total. In a series of marks, each mark from the 3rd to the 6th costs an extra EUR 50.

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

Watch out

Rules specific to Ireland and common refusals

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

Similar earlier marks are cited directly

During examination, the IPOI searches the Irish national register and EU trademarks; if it finds a similar earlier mark for identical or similar goods or services, it raises an objection on relative grounds instead of waiting for an opposition. The very large number of EU trademarks are also within the search. You can narrow the conflicting goods, obtain the earlier owner's consent, file evidence of honest concurrent use, or wait until the earlier mark is cancelled or revoked.

The registration fee is separate, and missing it means withdrawal

If no opposition is filed during the opposition period, the IPOI sends a notice to pay the registration fee (EUR 177), which must be paid within 2 months; an extension can be requested at EUR 30 per month. If it is not paid, the application is treated as withdrawn, and the examination and publication are wasted.

An Irish trademark does not cover Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is part of the UK and is protected by UK trademarks; UK trademarks do not cover Ireland either. Since 1 January 2021, EU trademarks no longer cover the UK, including Northern Ireland. To be protected across the whole island of Ireland, you need both an Irish (or EU) and a UK registration.

A 3-month opposition period with no extension

For 3 months after publication, anyone can oppose, and this period cannot be extended. If opposed, you must file a counter-statement within 3 months or the application is treated as withdrawn; if the opponent's mark has been registered for 5 years, you can require proof of its use in the counter-statement. In addition, anyone can file written observations between publication and registration; observations alleging bad faith must be accompanied by a statutory declaration.

Descriptiveness and lack of distinctiveness (section 8)

Signs that directly describe the kind, quality, purpose or origin of the goods, or have become customary in the trade, are refused on absolute grounds, unless they acquired distinctiveness through use before the application, which must be proved with evidence. Adding a distinctive figurative element reduces this risk.

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After registration

Keeping the registration

An Irish 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 is removed from the register.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
From 5 years after publication of the registrationKeep using the mark genuinely in Ireland and keep evidence; after 5 years of non-use, others can apply for revocationNone
Within the 6 months before expiry, then every 10 yearsRenew, for all or only some classes; the IPOI sends a reminder before expiryEUR 250 (including 1 class), EUR 125 for each additional class
Within 6 months after expiryLate renewal with a surchargeRenewal fee plus EUR 60
Within 6 months of publication of the removalRequest restoration and renewal, explaining why the mark was not renewedEUR 125, plus the renewal fee
Any timeRecord assignments and licences; changes of name or addressEUR 60 for the first recording, EUR 6 for each additional one; EUR 6 per change

Once registered, you can file an Application for Action with the customs service of the Irish Revenue Commissioners (Revenue), asking them to detain suspected infringing goods at import or export; with an EU trademark, one Union application can request customs action in several member states. E-commerce brand registries usually also require a registered or pending trademark.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Ireland

How much does an Irish trademark cost?

Official fees are paid in two parts: EUR 70 per class on filing, and a EUR 177 registration fee (regardless of the number of classes) after the opposition period ends without opposition. For 3 classes, for example, the total is EUR 210 + EUR 177 = EUR 387. In a series of marks, each mark from the 3rd onwards costs an extra EUR 50. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

How long does Irish trademark registration take?

According to the IPOI, in 2025 39% of applications received a first examination within 40 working days and 72% within 60. Once accepted, the application is published, followed by a 3-month opposition period, after which the registration fee is paid. With no objections and no opposition, it takes about 6 months or more (estimate); the IPOI does not publish average times, and opposed cases take considerably longer.

I already have an EU trademark. Do I also need an Irish trademark?

An EU trademark is valid in Ireland, so an Irish 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; if Ireland is a core market, a separate Irish registration is the safer choice. A refused EU trademark application can also be converted into an Irish application, keeping the original filing date. See EU trademark registration.

Does a UK trademark protect Ireland? What about Northern Ireland?

No. A UK trademark protects the whole of the UK (including Northern Ireland) and the Isle of Man, but not Ireland; an Irish trademark does not cover Northern Ireland, and since 2021 EU trademarks no longer cover the UK. To protect both, register separately; for the UK side, see Trademark registration in the United Kingdom.

Do foreign applicants need an agent in Ireland?

The law does not require an agent, but you must give an address for service in the EEA, where IPOI documents are sent. An agent can be a registered Irish trademark agent, a solicitor or barrister, or an EEA agent entitled to act before their national IP office; if you appoint an agent, the agent provides the address for service.

The examiner cited a similar earlier mark. Can I still register?

You can try. Common options are: narrow the goods or services that conflict with the earlier mark; obtain a letter of consent from the earlier mark's owner; file evidence of honest concurrent use in a statutory declaration; or, if the earlier mark has been registered for 5 years without use, apply to the IPOI to revoke it (official fee EUR 125), which removes the citation.

Other IP rights

Patents: Ireland has two kinds of national patent: a full-term patent lasts up to 20 years; a short-term patent lasts up to 10 years, has no more than 5 claims, is not substantively examined and costs half the official fees. A European patent granted by the European Patent Office can also be validated in Ireland. PCT international applications can obtain protection in Ireland only through the European Patent Office.

Designs: registered designs are renewed every 5 years, up to a maximum of 25 years. Ireland itself is not a member of the Hague Agreement, but you can designate the EU through the Hague System or apply for an EU design valid throughout the EU.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

Other countries and territories in the region

United Kingdom · Poland · Greece · Norway

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