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Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Mexico

To register a trademark in Mexico, file with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) or designate Mexico through Madrid. Three rules stand out: one class per national application; publication precedes examination, with a 1-month opposition period; and a declaration of use is due within 3 months after the registration's third anniversary, or it lapses.

Order online · Mexico 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.

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Five questions first

Which route?File directly with IMPI if you only need Mexico, one application per class; designate Mexico through Madrid if you already have a home application or registration and want several countries; one international registration can cover several classes.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name, address and email, an address for notifications in Mexico, the mark (with a transliteration of any non-Latin script), specific goods in one class, and the date of first use or a statement of non-use.Details ↓How are official fees charged?Per application, one class each: MXN 2,695.18 plus 16% VAT, with 10% off for online filing. Service fees are quoted after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?Statutory: publication within 10 business days of filing, then a 1-month opposition period; with no objections and no opposition, IMPI must decide within 5 months of the filing date.Details ↓What are the main risks?Missing the third-year declaration of use, assuming one application can cover several classes, a wrong date of first use, similarity to earlier marks, and registration by your agent or distributor.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in Mexico: key facts

OfficeMexican Institute of Industrial Property (Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial, IMPI), a decentralised body under the Ministry of Economy. Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawFederal Law for the Protection of Industrial Property (LFPPI, in force since 5 November 2020; latest major amendment in force since 4 April 2026); its Regulations, published on 28 April 2026, replace the 1994 regulations
How rights ariseExclusive rights arise from registration with IMPI; the filing date sets priority, and marks identical or similar to an earlier application or registration for the same or similar goods or services are refused
Madrid SystemParty to the Protocol since 19 February 2013; Mexico can be designated through Madrid, with an 18-month refusal period
One class per applicationEach national application can cover goods or services of a single class only; several classes need separate applications and separate fees. An international registration designating Mexico can cover several classes
Language and notificationsSpanish, with translations of documents in other languages; applicants must give an address for notifications in Mexico and an email address
Opposition (statutory)IMPI publishes the application in the Industrial Property Gazette within 10 business days of filing; oppositions can be filed within 1 month of publication taking effect, not extendable
Office action response (statutory)2 months, plus a further 2 months without request on payment of a fee for each extra month; if there is no reply, the application is deemed abandoned
Decision deadline (statutory)With no objections and no opposition, IMPI must decide within 5 months of the filing date (applications filed from 4 April 2026)
Declaration of use (statutory)Due within 3 months after the third anniversary of the grant of registration, listing the specific goods or services actually in use; without it, the registration lapses automatically. Not required for registrations granted before 10 August 2018
Term and renewal10 years from the grant of registration, renewable for 10 years at a time; renewal within the 6 months before expiry, or up to 6 months after; use must be declared again on renewal
Non-useAfter 3 consecutive years of non-use in Mexico, a third party can seek a declaration of lapse, also for only the goods not in use
Filing feeMXN 2,695.18 per application (one class), plus 16% VAT; 10% off for online filing (in force since 10 August 2018)

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

Which route

Direct filing or a Madrid designation

Both routes lead to a Mexican registration. They differ in prerequisites, fee structure, how classes are handled and risk. Whichever you choose, the declaration of use is due on time.

ItemDirect filing with IMPIMadrid designation of Mexico
PrerequisiteNoneA basic application or registration at your office of origin
Official feesIn Mexican pesos, per application with one class, plus 16% VAT, paid to IMPIBasic fee and a Mexican individual fee (per class, in Swiss francs; see the WIPO fee calculator) paid to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
ClassesOne class per application; several classes need several applicationsOne international registration can designate several classes
Goods and servicesNames from the Nice alphabetical list or IMPI's supplementary list, or similarly specific descriptionsCannot go beyond the basic application; Mexico applies the same specificity requirements
Address for notifications in MexicoNeeded from filing; in practice you appoint a Mexican agentNot needed to file through WIPO; needed once you answer a refusal before IMPI or file a declaration of use
Examination and refusal deadlinesWith no objections and no opposition, a decision within 5 months of the filing date (statutory)Mexico has declared an 18-month refusal period; refusals based on an opposition can come later
Declaration of useWithin 3 months after the third anniversary of the grant of registrationWithin 3 months after the third anniversary of the date protection was granted in Mexico; also within 3 months after WIPO publishes the renewal of the international registration
Dependency riskNoneIf the basic application or registration is refused or cancelled within 5 years, the Mexican designation falls with it (it can be transformed into a Mexican national application within the set time limit)
Best forYou only need Mexico; few classes; you have no home filing to rely onYou already have a home filing and want protection in several countries or several classes

If you are filing across North America, compare Trademark registration in the United States and Trademark registration in Canada: all three countries can be designated together through Madrid, but in the United States and Mexico you must show use after registration, with separate deadlines.

If you also need Central America, the Caribbean or Spanish-speaking markets, compare Trademark registration in Guatemala, Trademark registration in Cuba and Trademark registration in Spain: each country needs its own filing, and its rules are set out in its guide.

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 IMPI, prepare the following information and documents. No evidence of use is needed at filing.

Applicant

  • Name, nationality and address (for a company, its full legal name as registered)
  • Email address: required by law at filing; IMPI sends an alert by email when it serves a notice through the Gazette
  • An address for notifications in Mexico, usually that of a Mexican agent
  • For joint applicants, the rules on use, licensing and assignment signed by all of them

The mark

  • A representation of the mark; a word mark made up only of Latin letters and numbers can be filed in standard characters, protecting it in any typeface
  • Non-Latin characters need a transliteration into Latin letters; wording with a meaning in another language needs a Spanish translation
  • List any descriptive elements not claimed for protection, and show in dotted lines any figurative parts that are not part of the mark

Goods and services

  • Goods or services of a single class only, with the class number
  • Use names from the Nice alphabetical list or IMPI's supplementary list, or similarly specific descriptions; class headings are accepted only if they are specific enough

Use and priority

  • If the mark is already used in Mexico, give the date of first use, which cannot be changed later; otherwise, state that it is not yet used
  • If you give a date of first use, give the address of the business premises; if you have no physical shop, you can give the online shop's web address with a written statement
  • Priority from an earlier application filed abroad: file in Mexico within 6 months of that filing date, stating the country, application number and filing date, and pay the priority fee

Representation

  • If the same agent handles the case from filing to conclusion, the agent can declare authority in the application, with no separate power of attorney
  • Where a power of attorney is needed, a foreign company can use a simple power signed before two witnesses, with no notarisation
  • Other documents in a foreign language need a Spanish translation; documents issued abroad may need legalisation or an apostille

Signed documents such as a power of attorney are provided following the agent's instructions. A mark containing another person's name, image, signature or elements of a well-known work needs that person's express consent.

How long

Process and timeline

Example: a direct application with no opposition. Periods marked "statutory" are set by law.

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Search for similar earlier marks, split the filing by class and settle the wording of the goods and services

  2. Step 2

    Filing

    File online or on paper and pay the fee; the filing date is the date the applicant's details, the mark, the goods or services and the fee are all complete

  3. Step 3

    Publication and opposition

    Published in the Gazette within 10 business days of filing; oppositions within 1 month of publication taking effect, not extendable (statutory)

  4. Step 4

    Formal and substantive examination

    Examination follows the opposition period; any objections or opposition must be answered within 2 months, extendable by 2 months (statutory)

  5. Step 5

    Decision and certificate

    With no objections and no opposition, a decision within 5 months of the filing date (statutory); the registration certificate follows grant

  6. Step 6

    Third-year declaration of use

    Within 3 months after the third anniversary of the grant of registration; without it, the registration lapses automatically (statutory)

IMPI publishes no verifiable average examination times, so this page lists only statutory periods. The 5-month decision deadline was introduced by the amendment in force since 4 April 2026 and applies to applications filed from that date. Where there are objections or an opposition, the parties have 5 business days to make final submissions after the response period, and IMPI must then decide within 5 months.

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 Mexican pesos and charged per application; since each national application covers a single class, in practice you pay one fee per class. IMPI's amounts exclude VAT, which is added at 16% on payment. The table below shows IMPI's current fees (excluding VAT).

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Application examination fee (one application per class, as each Mexican application covers a single class; excl. 16% VAT; 10% discount for online filing)Per class2,695.18 MXN≈ USD 151
Payable when applicable
Priority claim fee (if priority is claimed, per priority right; excl. VAT)Per class1,066.17 MXN≈ USD 60
Response within the additional period (per extra month, up to 2 months; excl. VAT)Per application154 MXN≈ USD 9
Keeping the registration
Declaration of use (within 3 months after the 3rd anniversary of grant, per registration i.e. per class; excl. VAT)Per class985.67 MXN≈ USD 55
Renewal fee (every 10 years, per class; use must be declared with the renewal; excl. VAT)Per class2,597.77 MXN≈ USD 145

Source: Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial (IMPI), Acuerdo por el que se da a conocer la tarifa por los servicios que presta el IMPI, art. 14 a (reforma DOF 07-08-2018)；Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial (IMPI), Acuerdo por el que se da a conocer la tarifa por los servicios que presta el IMPI, art. 28 (reforma DOF 30-11-2015)；Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial (IMPI), Acuerdo por el que se da a conocer la tarifa por los servicios que presta el IMPI, art. 31 (reforma DOF 30-11-2015)；Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial (IMPI), Acuerdo por el que se da a conocer la tarifa por los servicios que presta el IMPI, art. 14 d (reforma DOF 07-08-2018)；Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial (IMPI), Acuerdo por el que se da a conocer la tarifa por los servicios que presta el IMPI, art. 14 c (reforma DOF 07-08-2018) · current fees in force since 2018-08-10 · 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: to protect a mark in 2 classes, you file 2 applications. Filed online, each costs MXN 2,695.18 × 90% = MXN 2,425.66, or about MXN 2,813.77 with 16% VAT, so about MXN 5,627.54 for both; paper filings get no discount and cost about MXN 3,126.41 each including VAT. After the third anniversary of registration, each registration also pays a declaration of use fee of MXN 985.67 plus VAT.

Claiming priority costs MXN 1,066.17 per priority claim; answering an office action in the extended period costs MXN 154 per extra month, both plus VAT.

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

Watch out

Rules specific to Mexico and common refusals

These are the most common issues in Mexican examination, along with Mexican rules that are easy to overlook.

One class per application; the mark and goods cannot be widened after filing

Each national application can cover only goods or services of a single class; several classes need separate applications and fees. Changing the representation of the mark (proportions, design, colours, arrangement) or adding or replacing goods after filing is treated as a new application, with the date of the change as the new filing date; after registration, goods can only be limited, not added. Settle the classes and goods before filing.

Missing the third-year declaration of use

Within 3 months after the third anniversary of the grant of registration, you must declare to IMPI that the mark is actually used in Mexico and for which specific goods or services; goods not declared lose protection, and with no declaration at all the registration lapses automatically, without any decision by IMPI. Mexican protection obtained through Madrid is subject to the same rule, and use must be declared again on renewal.

Publication before examination; a 1-month opposition period that cannot be extended

IMPI publishes the application within 10 business days of filing, and third parties must oppose within 1 month of publication taking effect; late oppositions are not admitted. If you already have a brand in Mexico, watch the Gazette; once the opposition period is missed, you can only seek a declaration of invalidity after registration.

The date of first use cannot be changed

The date of first use given in the application cannot be changed later, and if it cannot be proved true after registration, the registration can be declared invalid. If you do not yet sell in Mexico, filing as not yet used is safer.

Registration by agents or distributors

If an agent, distributor or anyone with a direct or indirect relationship with the foreign owner registers the mark in their own name without consent, the owner can seek a declaration of invalidity at any time; bad-faith applications are also refused and can be invalidated at any time. Before working with a Mexican distributor, file in your own name first.

Similarity to earlier marks and lack of distinctiveness

Marks identical or similar to an earlier application or registration for the same or similar goods are refused, as are marks that directly describe the kind, quality, purpose or origin of the goods; translations, transliterations or variant spellings of unregistrable words are also refused. A clearance search before filing greatly reduces these risks.

Free search: can your mark be registered in Mexico?

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.

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After registration

Keeping the registration

A Mexican registration lasts 10 years from grant. During that time you must declare use on time and renew at expiry; after 3 consecutive years of non-use, it can also be declared lapsed.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
Within 3 months after the third anniversary of the grant of registrationFile a declaration of use listing the specific goods or services actually in use; goods not declared lose protection, and with no declaration the registration lapses automaticallyMXN 985.67 per registration + VAT
Within the 6 months before expiry, every 10 yearsRenew and declare use at the same time; if use is not declared, IMPI allows 2 months to correct it, after which the registration lapsesMXN 2,597.77 per class + VAT
Within 6 months after expiryRenewal can still be filed; if it is not, the registration lapses automaticallyAs above
Madrid: every 10 years for the international registrationRenew the international registration with WIPO; within 3 months after WIPO publishes the renewal, file a declaration of use with IMPIWIPO fees; the declaration of use is paid to IMPI per class
Any timeAssignments and pledges must be recorded with IMPI to be effective against third parties; changes of name must also be recorded; licences can be recorded but need not beMXN 331.70 per filing + VAT

For Mexican protection obtained through Madrid, the third-year declaration of use counts from the date protection was granted in Mexico, while the international renewal counts from the international registration date. They rarely fall in the same year, so note both.

If infringing goods are imported or exported after registration, you can ask IMPI, in infringement proceedings, to order the suspension of their customs clearance; e-commerce brand registries usually also require a registered or pending trademark. Use by a licensee counts as use by the owner, so keep sales and advertising evidence for both the declaration of use and any non-use action.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Mexico

How much does a Mexican trademark cost?

Official fees are per application, and each application can cover a single class: MXN 2,695.18 plus 16% VAT; online filing through IMPI's system gets 10% off, about MXN 2,813.77 including VAT. You file as many applications as classes. After the third anniversary of registration, a declaration of use fee of MXN 985.67 plus VAT is also due. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

How long does Mexican trademark registration take?

IMPI publishes no verifiable average examination times. The statutory milestones are: publication within 10 business days of filing, then a 1-month opposition period; with no objections and no opposition, IMPI must decide within 5 months of the filing date (applications filed from 4 April 2026). With objections or an opposition, there are 2 months to reply, extendable by 2 months, followed by up to 5 months for the decision.

Can one Mexican application cover several classes?

Not if you file directly with IMPI: each application can cover goods or services of a single class only, so several classes mean several applications, each paid and examined separately. If you designate Mexico through Madrid, one international registration can cover several classes, but Mexico does not allow international registrations to be divided or merged.

When is the Mexican declaration of use due?

Once within 3 months after the third anniversary of the grant of registration, and again on each renewal. The declaration must list the specific goods or services on which the mark is actually used; goods not declared lose protection, and without a third-year declaration the registration lapses automatically. Registrations granted before 10 August 2018 need no third-year declaration but must still declare use on renewal. Mexican protection obtained through Madrid also needs it, counted from the date protection was granted in Mexico.

Can I register a mark in another language or a non-Latin script in Mexico?

Yes. Non-Latin characters need a transliteration into Latin letters, and wording with a meaning needs a Spanish translation. Spanish is the language of the Mexican market, so if you sell to local consumers, consider also registering a Spanish or Latin-letter version; remember that the mark declared in use must be used as registered.

Which office handles trademarks in Mexico, and how do I check a mark?

The trademark office is the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI). You can check the status of an application or registration by its number in IMPI's trademark records system (Acervo de Marcas); publications, examination notices and the start of the opposition period follow IMPI's Industrial Property Gazette. To check the risk of similar marks before filing, use the free search on this page.

Other IP rights

Patents: Mexican invention patents last 20 years from the filing date and utility models 15 years; neither basic term can be extended. If unreasonable delays attributable to IMPI mean more than 5 years pass between filing and grant, the owner of an invention patent can request a supplementary certificate once, when answering the grant notice: one day for every two days of unreasonable delay, up to 5 years (not available for patents granted under the old law before the new law took effect on 5 November 2020). Since the April 2026 amendments, an unreasonable delay in a health registration can also be compensated, as determined by the health authority, up to 5 years. Utility models and designs have no term compensation. Mexico has been a PCT member since 1 January 1995.

Designs: protected for 5 years from the filing date, renewable up to 25 years in total; Mexico has been party to the Hague Agreement since 6 June 2020, so Mexico can be designated through the Hague System.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

IP news: Mexico

Other countries and territories in the region

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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.

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