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Regional trademark guide · Updated

EU trademark registration

An EU trademark registered by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is protected uniformly in all 27 member states, but not in the UK since 1 January 2021. Without a domicile, principal place of business or real and effective establishment in the European Economic Area (EEA), you need an EEA representative after filing.

Order online · European Union (EUIPO) 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 (European Union (EUIPO) selected) Get a trademark search report first

Five questions first

Which route?File directly with the EUIPO to cover several member states or if you have no home filing; designate the EU through Madrid if you already have a home application or registration and want several countries.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name and address, the mark, goods or services worded as far as possible in HDB terms, and your chosen filing language and second language.Details ↓How are official fees charged?Basic fee EUR 850 including 1 class, EUR 50 for the 2nd class and EUR 150 for each class from the 3rd; no registration fee. Service fees are quoted after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?Official statistics: applications with no objections and no opposition register in about 4.4 months on average from filing; Fast Track applications in about 3.6 months.Details ↓What are the main risks?A mark that is descriptive in any official language is refused, and an earlier mark in any member state can support an opposition that affects the whole application.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in the EU: key facts

OfficeEuropean Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), an EU agency based in Alicante, Spain. Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawEU Trademark Regulation (EU) 2017/1001; procedural rules in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625
Territorial scopeOne registration has uniform effect in all 27 member states; registration, transfer, revocation and invalidity can only apply to the EU as a whole. Since 1 January 2021 it no longer covers the United Kingdom
Madrid SystemThe EU has been a member since 1 October 2004; the EU can be designated through Madrid
Foreign applicantsApplicants with no domicile, principal place of business or real and effective establishment in the European Economic Area (EEA) must be represented by an EEA professional representative in all proceedings other than filing the application
LanguageAny one of the 24 official EU languages; a second language, different from the first, must also be chosen from the five EUIPO languages (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish)
Examination scopeOf its own motion, the EUIPO examines only absolute grounds such as lack of distinctiveness and descriptiveness; conflicts with earlier marks are raised by their owners through opposition
Multi-class applicationsAllowed; the basic fee includes 1 class, the 2nd class costs EUR 50 and each class from the 3rd EUR 150
Examination time (official statistics)Q4 2025: applications with no objections and no opposition took about 4.4 months on average from filing to registration; Fast Track, about 3.6 months
Opposition period (statutory)3 months from publication; for Madrid designations of the EU, 3 months starting 1 month after the EUIPO's publication
Term and renewal10 years from the filing date, renewable indefinitely for 10 years at a time
Use requirementGenuine use in the EU within 5 years of registration; after 5 consecutive years of non-use, third parties can seek revocation
Filing feeEUR 850 basic fee for an online application, including 1 class (in force since 23 March 2016)

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 an EU trademark valid in all member states. They differ in prerequisites, fee structure, flexibility and risk.

ItemDirect filing with the EUIPOMadrid designation of the EU
PrerequisiteNoneA basic application or registration at your office of origin
Official feesBasic fee EUR 850 including 1 class, EUR 50 for the 2nd class and EUR 150 for each class from the 3rd, paid to the EUIPOBasic fee and an EU individual fee (per class, in Swiss francs; see the WIPO fee calculator) paid to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
LanguageFile in any of the 24 official languages and choose a second languageThe international application must also indicate a second language; leaving it out leads to a provisional refusal by the EUIPO
Goods and servicesYou can pick pre-approved HDB terms; after filing, the list can only be narrowed, not extendedCannot go beyond the scope of the basic application, and are examined against EU standards
EEA representativeNot required to file; required for all later proceedingsNot needed to file through WIPO; required once a provisional refusal from the EUIPO has to be answered
Dependency riskNoneIf the basic application or registration is refused or cancelled within 5 years, the EU designation falls with it (it can be transformed into an EU application within the set time limit)
If refusedCan be converted into national applications in member states where the ground for refusal does not apply, keeping the original filing dateCan likewise be converted into national applications or Madrid designations of member states
Best forThe EU is your main market; you have no home filing to rely on; you need flexibility over the goodsYou already have a home filing and also want protection in several countries outside the EU

Compared with national filings: if you only plan to enter one or two member states, or the mark may be descriptive in an EU language, filing directly in those countries is safer (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg can be covered together through the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property). To cover several member states, a single EU trademark saves separate applications and translations and is simpler to manage. Not sure? Run a free search first, then submit an order online.

What to prepare

Documents checklist

For a direct application to the EUIPO, 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)
  • Address and nationality or place of incorporation; for a company, also its legal form
  • Individuals and companies can both apply

The mark

  • Word mark: the wording
  • Figurative or combined mark: a clear image; for a colour mark, state the colours
  • Wording in non-Latin characters: also state its meaning, which helps assess whether it is descriptive

Goods and services

  • List them by Nice class, choosing pre-approved Harmonised Database (HDB) terms from TMclass wherever possible: the EUIPO processes them faster. You can browse the HDB entries by class in EU trademark classification table on this site
  • After filing, the list can only be narrowed, not extended, so think ahead about the goods you plan to sell

Languages and earlier rights

  • First language (language of filing) and second language; neither can be changed after filing
  • Earlier application for the same mark filed elsewhere: priority can be claimed within 6 months
  • Same mark already registered in a member state: you can claim seniority with the application or within 2 months of filing, and submit the supporting documents within 3 months

Seniority means that if you later surrender that national registration or let it lapse, you keep your earlier rights in that member state.

Find your class

EU trademark classification table (EUIPO Harmonised Database)

The EU classification table on this site organises the English entries of the EUIPO's Harmonised Database (HDB) under the 45 Nice classes: 73,491 entries in total.

When filing with the EUIPO, choose acceptable terms from the Harmonised Database wherever you can: you are less likely to be asked to amend the wording during examination. Before filing, check again in the EUIPO's official tool (TMclass). Click a class below to see its entries.

EU01 ChemicalsEU02 Paints and varnishesEU03 Cosmetics and cleaning preparationsEU04 Industrial oils, greases and fuelsEU05 PharmaceuticalsEU06 Metal goodsEU07 MachineryEU08 Hand tools and implementsEU09 Scientific and electronic apparatusEU10 Medical apparatusEU11 Lighting, heating and air conditioningEU12 VehiclesEU13 Firearms and explosivesEU14 Jewellery and watchesEU15 Musical instrumentsEU16 Paper and stationeryEU17 Rubber and plastics goodsEU18 Leather goodsEU19 Building materialsEU20 FurnitureEU21 Household and kitchen utensilsEU22 Ropes, nets, bags and tentsEU23 Yarns and threadsEU24 Textiles and fabricsEU25 Clothing, footwear and headwearEU26 Lace, haberdashery and ornamentsEU27 Carpets, mats and wall hangingsEU28 Toys, games and sporting goodsEU29 Meat, fish, dairy and preserved foodsEU30 Staple foods, coffee, tea and confectioneryEU31 Agricultural and fresh produceEU32 Beers and non-alcoholic beveragesEU33 Alcoholic beveragesEU34 Tobacco and smokers' articlesEU35 Advertising and businessEU36 Finance, insurance and real estateEU37 Construction and repairEU38 TelecommunicationsEU39 Transport and storageEU40 Treatment of materialsEU41 Education and entertainmentEU42 Scientific and technological servicesEU43 Food, drink and accommodation servicesEU44 Medical, beauty and agricultural servicesEU45 Legal, security and personal services

Open the EU trademark classification table →

How long

Process and timeline

Example: a direct application.

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Search for similar marks in the EU and the member states, and check the meaning of the mark in each language

  2. Step 2

    Filing and payment

    The basic fee must be paid within 1 month of filing to keep the filing date (statutory)

  3. Step 3

    Formalities and absolute grounds

    Where there are issues, the first notification is sent after about 0.8 months on average (official statistics)

  4. Step 4

    Publication and opposition period

    Published in all official languages; 3-month opposition period (statutory)

  5. Step 5

    Opposition (if any)

    A 2-month cooling-off period first, extendable to 24 months at the joint request of both parties (statutory)

  6. Step 6

    Registration

    With no objections and no opposition, about 4.4 months on average from filing to registration (official statistics)

Timing figures are Q4 2025 averages from the EUIPO's Consolidated Annual Activity Report 2025. Objections, oppositions or deficiencies to remedy make the process 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 rise with the number of classes: the basic fee includes the first class, a small amount is added for the second, and more for each class from the third. There is no separate registration fee. The table below shows the current fees published by the EUIPO.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Basic fee (online, first class included)Per application850 EUR≈ USD 953
Second classSecond class50 EUR≈ USD 56
Each class from the thirdEach class from the third150 EUR≈ USD 168
Payable when applicable
Appeal fee (against an EUIPO decision, within 2 months)Per application720 EUR≈ USD 808
Conversion fee (into national applications or Madrid designations after refusal)Per application200 EUR≈ USD 224
Keeping the registration
Renewal basic fee (online, first class included, every 10 years)Per application850 EUR≈ USD 953
Renewal: second classSecond class50 EUR≈ USD 56
Renewal: each class from the thirdEach class from the third150 EUR≈ USD 168

Source: EUIPO Fees and payments；EUIPO Fees payable direct to the EUIPO · current fees in force since 2016-03-23 · checked on 2026-10-06 · 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 850 + 50 + 150 = EUR 1,050 in official fees, payable within 1 month of filing.

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

Watch out

Rules specific to the EU and common refusals

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

Descriptive in any official language means refusal

If a ground for refusal exists in only part of the EU, the whole application is refused (Article 7(2)). A mark that directly describes the goods in any of the 24 official languages can be refused; words from a non-EU language (Chinese, for example) that a significant part of the EU public understands may also be taken into account.

One conflict affects the whole mark

An EU trademark can only be registered as a whole. An earlier mark or earlier right in any single member state can support an opposition; the EUIPO says about one in five EU trademark applications is opposed. If refused, the application can be converted within the set time limit into national applications in member states where there is no conflict, keeping the original filing date.

Your second language can become the language of proceedings

Opposition, revocation and invalidity proceedings may be conducted in the second language you chose, and the other party may file its submissions in that language. Neither language can be changed after filing, so choose one you can work in.

Most oppositions end in settlement

After an opposition is filed there is a cooling-off period in which the parties can negotiate a limitation of the goods or coexistence. Of the oppositions the EUIPO closed in 2025, about six in ten were settled by the parties. If the opposing mark had been registered for at least 5 years, you can ask the opponent to prove genuine use in the EU (or in the member state concerned) during the last 5 years; if it cannot, the opposition is rejected.

The 5-year use requirement is assessed EU-wide

The mark must be put to genuine use in the EU within 5 years of registration. National borders are disregarded and use is not required in every member state, but its scale and territorial extent must show real commercial use. After 5 consecutive years of non-use, third parties can seek revocation, and oppositions you base on the mark are affected too.

Get a trademark search report: can your mark be registered in European Union (EUIPO)?

Sign in, enter the mark and goods and submit a preliminary search; charged per search, with the report delivered to your account and email.

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After registration

Keeping the registration

An EU trademark is renewed every 10 years and must be kept in genuine use in the EU in the meantime.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
From the 5th year after registrationKeep using the mark genuinely in the EU and keep dated evidence of use (sales, advertising, online shop pages, etc.)—
Within 6 months before expiryRenew for 10 years; you can renew only some of the classes or goodsOnline renewal: EUR 850 including 1 class, EUR 50 for the 2nd class, EUR 150 for each class from the 3rd
Within 6 months after expiryLate renewal in the grace periodSurcharge of 25% of the renewal fee, up to EUR 1,500
Any timeRecord assignments, licences and changes of name or address with the EUIPOVaries; recording a licence costs EUR 200 per licence

Once registered, you can apply to member states' customs authorities for IP protection. On the basis of an EU trademark, a single "Union application" filed in one member state can cover several member states, to stop infringing goods at import. E-commerce brand registries usually also require a registered or pending trademark.

FAQ

Trademark registration in the EU

How much does an EU trademark cost?

The online basic fee is EUR 850, including 1 class; the 2nd class adds EUR 50 and each class from the 3rd adds EUR 150. There is no separate registration fee. For 3 classes, for example, official fees total EUR 1,050. Service fees, including the EEA representative's fee, are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

How long does EU trademark registration take?

According to EUIPO figures for Q4 2025, applications with no objections and no opposition took about 4.4 months on average from filing to registration, and about 3.6 months through Fast Track. Publication is followed by a 3-month opposition period; if you are opposed, the cooling-off period alone lasts 2 months and can be extended to 24 months, so the whole process takes much longer.

Does an EU trademark cover the UK or Turkey?

No. Since Brexit, EU trademarks have not been protected in the United Kingdom from 1 January 2021; you need a separate UK filing, see Trademark registration in the United Kingdom. Turkey is not an EU member state, so an EU trademark does not cover it either; see Trademark registration in Turkey. An EU trademark covers all 27 current member states.

Can I apply for an EU trademark before selling in the EU?

Yes. Neither filing nor registration requires prior use. But you must put the mark to genuine use in the EU within 5 years of registration; otherwise third parties can seek revocation, and if you oppose another mark on the basis of it, the other party can ask you to prove use.

What if my EU trademark application is opposed?

First look at the earlier mark and the goods it covers. Once the opposition is admitted there is a 2-month cooling-off period in which the parties can negotiate a limitation of the goods or a coexistence agreement; at their joint request it can be extended to 24 months. If the opponent's mark has been registered for at least 5 years, you can require it to submit proof of use.

Direct EUIPO filing or a Madrid designation: which is better?

If the EU is your main market or you need flexibility over the goods, a direct application suits you better. If you already have a home filing and want several countries at once, Madrid is simpler, but for 5 years the EU designation depends on your basic application or registration. See the route comparison above.

Other IP rights

Designs: registered EU designs are also handled by the EUIPO and are valid in all member states for 5 years, renewable every 5 years up to a maximum of 25 years.

Patents: the EUIPO does not handle patents. European patents are examined and granted by the European Patent Office (EPO); after grant, unitary effect can be requested, giving uniform effect in the participating EU member states.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

IP news: European Union

Other countries and territories in the region

Benelux Office for Intellectual Property　·　Germany　·　France　·　Italy　·　Spain　·　United Kingdom　·　Trademark registration in Europe: country guides

Downloads

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Order online · European Union (EUIPO) 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 (European Union (EUIPO) selected) Get a trademark search report first

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