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Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Panama

In Panama, a local lawyer files directly with DIGERPI; Panama is not in the Madrid System. One application can cover several classes, paid per class, with no notarisation or legalisation. After publication in the BORPI, oppositions go to court within 2 months. The first user in Panama has priority to register the mark.

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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?Madrid does not cover Panama, so a Panamanian lawyer files directly with DIGERPI. If your first application abroad was filed less than 6 months ago, you can claim its priority.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name, nationality and address, the mark, goods and services by Nice class, a declaration of use or intent to use, and a power of attorney for the lawyer; by law, no notarisation or legalisation.Details ↓How are official fees charged?Per class: the statutory registration fee is 100 balboas per class; the ministry's guide gives 140.50 for one class and 112 for each extra class. Service fees are quoted after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?Statutory: 3 months to fix formal defects, 10 business days to challenge a refusal, and 2 months to oppose from the day after publication. DIGERPI publishes no average examination times.Details ↓What are the main risks?The first user in Panama can register first or seek cancellation; registrations taken by distributors can be invalidated at any time; oppositions are court actions; 5 years of non-use can lead to cancellation.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in Panama: key facts

OfficeDirectorate General of the Industrial Property Registry (Dirección General del Registro de la Propiedad Industrial, DIGERPI) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias). Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawIndustrial Property Law (Law 35 of 10 May 1996, amended by Law 1 of 2004 and Law 61 of 2012); implementing regulations: Executive Decree 7 of 1998, in force since 20 February 1998
How rights ariseExclusive rights arise from registration, but the right to register arises from use: the earliest user in Panama has priority; where the mark is not in use, the filing or priority date decides
Madrid SystemNot a member of the Madrid Protocol (WIPO list of members, checked on 10 October 2026): Panama cannot be designated in an international registration
Several classes per applicationAllowed; goods and services are listed by Nice class with class numbers, and fees are charged per class; applications and registrations can both be divided
RepresentationApplications must be filed through a lawyer; applicants domiciled abroad must give an address in Panama for notifications, usually the lawyer's
LegalisationBy law, documents filed with the application, including the power of attorney, need no notarisation, authentication or consular legalisation; a power recorded in DIGERPI's Register of Powers (Registro de Poderes) only needs to be cited in each case
Responses (statutory)3 months from notification to fix formal defects, failing which the application is deemed abandoned; where there are grounds for refusal, DIGERPI refuses directly, and you have 10 business days to seek reconsideration or appeal to the Minister of Commerce and Industries
Publication and opposition (statutory)After examination, the application is published once in the Official Industrial Property Bulletin (BORPI); within 2 months from the day after publication, anyone can bring an opposition action in court
PriorityParis Convention member since 19 October 1996; priority can be claimed within 6 months of your first application, and the priority document filed within 6 months of the Panamanian filing
Term and renewal10 years from the filing date, renewable indefinitely; renew from 1 year before expiry to 6 months after it, with a surcharge of 10 balboas per month or part of a month in the grace period
Non-useAfter 5 or more consecutive years without use on the Panamanian market, a court can cancel the registration; not before the registration is 5 years old, and the owner must prove use
Filing feesRegistration fee of 100 balboas per class (Article 204, as amended by Law 61 of 2012); the ministry's 2023 guide gives a total of 140.50 for one class and 112 for each extra class

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

Which route

Direct filing: whether to claim priority

Panama is not part of the Madrid System, so it cannot be designated in an international registration: a Panamanian lawyer files directly with DIGERPI. The real choice is whether to claim priority from an earlier application filed abroad.

ItemDirect filing without priorityDirect filing claiming priority
PrerequisiteNone; use this if you have no earlier application, or if it was filed more than 6 months agoFiled in Panama within 6 months of your first application; priority covers only the goods and services common to both applications
Order of priorityThe date and time you file with DIGERPIThe filing date of your first application becomes the priority date; however, a person already using the mark in Panama can still claim priority
Extra stepsNoneState the country or office, filing date and number of the earlier application; at filing or within 6 months after it, file a copy of the earlier application and a certificate of its filing date issued by the office of first filing, with a translation if not in Spanish; no legalisation needed
Official feesThe ministry's guide gives 140.50 balboas for one class and 112 for each extra classSame as direct filing; the fee provisions list no priority fee
RiskAnyone who files first in the gap between your first application and your Panamanian filing can block youIf the priority documents are late, the priority claim is treated as not made, and the application is examined as usual
Best forYou have not filed elsewhere yet, or your first application is more than 6 months oldYour first application was filed less than 6 months ago, especially if you are worried about pre-emptive filings in Panama

If you are filing across Central America, compare Trademark registration in Costa Rica and Trademark registration in Guatemala: none of the three countries can be designated through Madrid, so you file directly in each.

Not sure? Run a free search first, then submit an order online; the agent will advise you based on the search results.

What to prepare

Documents checklist

For an application through a Panamanian lawyer, prepare the following information and documents. No evidence of use is needed at filing, but you must declare that the mark is in use or that you intend to use it.

Applicant

  • Name, address and nationality; for a company, its place of incorporation and, where available, its registration details
  • Applicants domiciled abroad must give an address in Panama for administrative and court notifications, usually the lawyer's address

The mark

  • The words or design, exactly as the mark will be used on the market
  • For special typefaces, colours, figurative elements or three-dimensional shapes, two copies of the representation
  • A translation of the mark where needed; for wording in a non-Latin script, such as Chinese characters, a transliteration
  • A declaration where colour or a three-dimensional shape is claimed as a distinctive feature
  • A mark containing another person's name, image or signature needs that person's consent, or the heirs' consent if the person has died

Goods and services

  • Listed by Nice class with class numbers; one application can cover several classes
  • Goods and services cannot be added after registration, only limited; to add more, file a new application

Declarations and priority

  • A declaration of use or of intent to use
  • To claim priority from an earlier application: state the country or office, filing date and number, and at filing or within 6 months after it, file a copy and a filing-date certificate issued by the office of first filing, with a Spanish translation

Power of attorney

  • A Panamanian lawyer must file the application, under a power of attorney from the applicant
  • By law, documents filed with the application, including the power of attorney, need no notarisation, authentication or consular legalisation
  • If the power is recorded in DIGERPI's Register of Powers, the application only cites the record, and the document need not be filed again
  • If the power is not ready, the lawyer can file as an unauthorised agent (gestión oficiosa) by lodging a bond, then file the power within 2 months, extendable by 1 month on request before the period ends; otherwise the application is deemed not filed and the bond goes to the National Treasury

Provide the power of attorney and other signed documents as your agent instructs.

How long

Process and timeline

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

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Search for identical or similar earlier applications and registrations, check whether anyone is already using the mark in Panama, and settle the classes and the wording of the goods and services

  2. Step 2

    Filing

    The lawyer files and pays the fees; DIGERPI issues a receipt showing the date and time of filing and the application number

  3. Step 3

    Formal examination

    Formal defects must be fixed within 3 months of notification, or the application is deemed abandoned (statutory); notices are posted at DIGERPI's premises and on its website, and count as served after 5 business days

  4. Step 4

    Substantive examination

    Where there are grounds for refusal, DIGERPI issues a refusal decision directly; within 10 business days you can seek reconsideration or appeal to the Minister of Commerce and Industries (statutory)

  5. Step 5

    Publication

    Once examination is passed, the application is published once in the Official Industrial Property Bulletin (BORPI), which states when the opposition period ends

  6. Step 6

    Opposition period

    2 months from the day after publication (statutory); oppositions are brought as court actions, and if no court certificate is filed with DIGERPI within 15 business days after the period ends, the application is deemed unopposed (statutory)

  7. Step 7

    Registration

    A decision orders registration and a certificate is issued, valid for 10 years from the filing date; lists of registered marks are published in the BORPI

DIGERPI publishes no verifiable average examination times, so this page lists only statutory periods. If an opposition is filed, a court decides it, and the time depends on the course of the litigation.

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 balboas (B/.), charged per class and paid at filing. The statutory registration fee is 100 balboas per class; there are also an application fee, a publication fee and a 20% surcharge on those fees. The example below follows the trademark registration guide published by the Ministry of Commerce and Industries in 2023.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Registration duty (per class, payable on filing; one application may cover several classes)Per class100 PAB≈ USD 100
Application service fee (10 per class plus 20% surcharge of 2)Per class12 PAB≈ USD 12
Keeping the registration
Renewal duty (every 10 years, per class)Per class100 PAB≈ USD 100
Surcharge for renewal in the 6-month grace period (10 per month or part of a month)Per application10 PAB≈ USD 10

Source: Dirección General del Registro de la Propiedad Industrial (DIGERPI), Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias: Ley 35 de 1996, art. 204, reformado por la Ley 61 de 2012；Dirección General del Registro de la Propiedad Industrial (DIGERPI), Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias: Ley 35 de 1996, art. 200 (reformado por la Ley 61 de 2012) y art. 202；Dirección General del Registro de la Propiedad Industrial (DIGERPI), Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias: Ley 35 de 1996, art. 205, reformado por la Ley 61 de 2012；Dirección General del Registro de la Propiedad Industrial (DIGERPI), Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias: Ley 35 de 1996, arts. 110 y 205, reformados por la Ley 61 de 2012 · current fees in force since 2012-10-05 · checked on 2026-10-10 · 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: the same mark in 3 classes needs only one application. The first class costs 140.50 balboas (registration fee 100, recording fee 4.50, application fee 10 plus a 2 surcharge, publication fee 20 plus a 4 surcharge), and each of the other two classes 112 balboas (registration fee 100, application fee 10 plus a 2 surcharge): 364.50 balboas in total.

Renewal costs the same registration fee, 100 balboas per class; the ministry's guide gives 134 balboas in total for one class. Renewing in the 6-month grace period after expiry adds 10 balboas per month or part of a month. The law sets the publication fee at 10 balboas, while the ministry's guide lists 20; pay what DIGERPI requires at the time of payment.

Service fees, including the Panamanian lawyer's fee, are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

Watch out

Rules specific to Panama and common refusals

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

The first user in Panama has priority to register

Under Panamanian law, the right to register a mark is acquired by use: the person who has used it in Panama the longest has the preferential right, and only where no one is using the mark does the filing or priority date decide. An unregistered mark already in use can block a later application, and the earlier user can also oppose or seek cancellation of your registration. If you plan to enter the Panamanian market, file before you start selling, and keep evidence of your sales in Panama.

Registrations taken by distributors or agents can be invalidated at any time

If the agent, representative, distributor or user of a foreign mark registers the same or a similar mark in its own or another's name without the owner's express consent, the registration is invalid and deemed obtained in bad faith. Ordinary invalidity actions must be brought within 10 years of registration; against a bad-faith registration, at any time while it is in force. If your mark has been taken, you can ask a court to invalidate the registration, and you should file your own application promptly.

Only 10 business days to challenge a refusal

Where DIGERPI finds grounds for refusal, it does not issue an objection first but refuses directly. The decision is notified by a posted notice that counts as served after 5 business days; from then you have only 10 business days to seek reconsideration or appeal to the Minister of Commerce and Industries, stating your grounds. Ask your agent to follow the notices closely.

Opposition is a court action, not a submission to DIGERPI

Within 2 months from the day after publication, others can bring an opposition action in court; if they do, you defend the case in court, and the time and cost depend on the litigation. If no one files a court certificate with DIGERPI within 15 business days after the period ends, DIGERPI treats the application as unopposed and proceeds to registration. For the court case, a power of attorney signed abroad must be legalised by a Panamanian consulate or apostilled, unless it is already recorded in the DIGERPI register of powers of attorney. A clearance search before filing reduces the risk of opposition.

Use must be on the Panamanian market

Use means placing goods on the Panamanian market or providing services in Panamanian commerce; goods exported from Panama and services provided abroad from Panama also count, and use by a licensee counts as use by the owner. After 5 or more consecutive years of non-use, any interested party can ask a court to cancel the registration, and the owner must prove use.

Similarity to earlier marks and lack of distinctiveness

A mark identical or similar to another's mark that is in use, well known, registered or applied for, for the same or similar goods or services, cannot be registered, and neither can a Spanish translation of another's mark. Descriptive terms, generic names, and single letters, numbers or colours without other distinctive elements cannot be registered either.

Free search: can your mark be registered in Panama?

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 Panamanian registration lasts 10 years from the filing date. No declaration of use is required in that time, but a court can cancel the mark after 5 or more consecutive years of non-use, and it must be renewed at expiry.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
Once the registration is 5 years oldKeep using the mark on the Panamanian market and keep evidence; after 5 or more consecutive years of non-use, any interested party can ask a court to cancel it, and the owner must prove useNone
Within the year before expiry, every 10 yearsRenew; renewal is not published and cannot be opposed; the mark cannot be changed or goods added, but goods can be limited; the renewal runs from the original expiry dateStatutory registration fee of 100 balboas per class (the ministry's guide gives 134 in total for one class)
Within 6 months after expiryYou can still renew in the grace period, during which the registration remains fully in force; if it is not renewed by then, it lapses automaticallyRegistration fee + 10 balboas per month or part of a month
At any timeRecord assignments, licences and changes of name or address with DIGERPI; recording a licence is only declaratory, and an unrecorded licence agreement remains valid; licences cannot be recorded against pending applications10 balboas per item, plus the 20% surcharge

Use by a licensee counts as use by the owner, and so do goods exported from Panama. Keep evidence of sales, advertising and exports in Panama to defend against a non-use action.

Panamanian customs can inspect and detain suspected infringing goods in customs clearance, in transit through Panama or in free zones, on its own initiative or on the order of a competent authority; the authorities of the Colón Free Zone and other state-run free zones have the same powers. E-commerce brand registries usually also require a registered or pending trademark.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Panama

How much does a trademark cost in Panama?

Official fees are charged per class and paid at filing. The statutory registration fee is 100 balboas per class; under the ministry's 2023 guide, one class costs 140.50 balboas in total (including the recording, application and publication fees and surcharges), and each extra class 112 balboas. Renewal every 10 years costs a registration fee of 100 balboas per class. Service fees, including the Panamanian lawyer's fee, are quoted after you submit the order.

How long does trademark registration take in Panama?

DIGERPI publishes no verifiable average examination times. The statutory milestones are: formal defects must be fixed within 3 months of notification; where there are grounds for refusal, DIGERPI refuses directly, and you have 10 business days to seek reconsideration or appeal; after examination, the application is published in the BORPI, and the opposition period runs for 2 months from the day after publication; with no opposition, the mark is registered. If an opposition is filed, you wait for the court to decide.

Can I register a trademark in Panama through the Madrid System?

No. Panama is not a member of the Madrid System, so an international registration cannot designate Panama; a Panamanian lawyer must file directly. If your earlier application abroad was filed less than 6 months ago, you can claim its priority when filing in Panama, and its filing date sets your place in line.

Can one Panamanian application cover several classes?

Yes. Since the 2012 amendments, one application can cover several classes, with fees charged per class. A pending application can be divided into several, each keeping the original filing date and priority, and a registration can also be divided, with each part renewed separately. Goods and services cannot be added after registration; to add more, file a new application.

Does the power of attorney for Panama need to be notarised or legalised?

No. Article 103 of the Industrial Property Law provides that documents filed with the application, including the power of attorney for the lawyer, need no notarisation, authentication or consular legalisation. Once the power is recorded in DIGERPI's Register of Powers, later cases only need to cite the record. Follow your agent's instructions on how to sign.

How long can a Panamanian trademark go unused before it can be cancelled?

After 5 or more consecutive years of non-use on the Panamanian market, any interested party can ask a court to cancel the registration, but not before it is 5 years old. The owner must prove use; goods exported from Panama and use by a licensee both count. An earlier user can also rely on prior use to seek cancellation of a later registration.

Other IP rights

Patents: Panamanian invention patents last 20 years from the filing date; where grant is delayed for reasons attributable to DIGERPI, the term of non-pharmaceutical patents can be extended. Panama has been a PCT member since 7 September 2012.

Designs: industrial design registrations last 10 years from the filing date and can be extended once by 5 years; Panama is not party to the Hague Agreement, so you file directly.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

Other countries and territories in the region

Costa Rica　·　Guatemala　·　Colombia　·　Mexico　·　United States

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Order online · Panama 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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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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