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Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Argentina

File directly with Argentina's National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI); Argentina is not in the Madrid System. Three rules stand out: one class per application; examination comes before publication, followed by a 30-day opposition period; and a mid-term declaration of use is due in the sixth year after grant.

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Five questions first

Which route?Madrid is not available: file directly with INPI, one application per class. If your first application abroad was filed less than 6 months earlier, you can claim its priority.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name and address, an address for service in Argentina, the mark, specific goods or services in one class (the basic fee covers 20 items) and an authorisation for your agent.Details ↓How are official fees charged?Per application, one class each: 100 UMAPI, covering 20 items. The peso value of the UMAPI is adjusted monthly for inflation. Service fees are quoted after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?Statutory: examination before publication, then a 30-day opposition period. Published by INPI: about 60 days with TMClass terms and no priority claim; about 6 months otherwise.Details ↓What are the main risks?Several classes in one application (refused), missing the sixth-year mid-term declaration of use, oppositions by earlier right holders, and not paying the applicant's fee on time after an opposition.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in Argentina: key facts

OfficeNational Institute of Industrial Property (Instituto Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial, INPI), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Economy; trademarks are examined by its National Trademark Directorate (Dirección Nacional de Marcas). Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawTrademarks and Designations Law (Law No. 22.362, amended in 2018 by Law No. 27.444) and its regulations (Decree No. 242/2019); procedural details are set by INPI resolutions, which changed substantially in 2025–2026
How rights ariseExclusive rights arise from registration; priority is determined by the date and time of filing
Madrid SystemNot available: Argentina is not party to the Madrid Protocol and cannot be designated through Madrid; you must file directly
One class per applicationEach application can cover only one Nice class; applications covering several classes are refused outright, as are those claiming "the whole class"
Foreign applicantsMust give an electronic address for service and a special address for service in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires; official fees must be paid through local Argentine channels, so in practice you appoint an Argentine agent
Scope of ex officio examinationSince 11 December 2025, INPI examines on its own initiative only absolute grounds, such as distinctiveness, and public order; relative grounds, such as similarity to earlier marks, are examined only if a third party opposes
Opposition (statutory)After examination, the application is published for one day in the Trademark Bulletin (Boletín de Marcas); oppositions within 30 calendar days of publication
Office action response (statutory)30 calendar days, extendable for a fee by 10 days and then by 5 days; without a reply, INPI decides directly
Processing time (published by INPI)About 60 days for applications with goods chosen from the TMClass list, no priority claim and not filed through a gestor (an agent acting without a power of attorney); about 6 months for other applications with no objections or opposition
Mid-term declaration of use (statutory)Due after the fifth anniversary of grant and before the end of the sixth year, for registrations granted from 12 January 2013; late filing incurs an additional fee for each year of delay
Term and renewal10 years from grant, renewable indefinitely; renew within the 6 months before or after expiry (with a grace fee after expiry), declaring use within the previous 5 years
Non-useIf a registration more than 5 years old has not been used in Argentina in the 5 years before the request, INPI can declare it lapsed in whole or in part on request, and in certain cases on its own initiative
Filing fee100 UMAPI per application (one class, up to 20 items), plus 4 UMAPI for each extra item; the peso value of the UMAPI is adjusted monthly in line with the consumer price index

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

Which route

Direct filing: whether to claim priority

Argentina is not a member of the Madrid System and cannot be designated through an international registration; applications are filed directly with INPI through an Argentine agent. The real choice is whether to claim priority from an earlier application filed abroad.

ItemDirect filing (no priority claim)Claiming priority from an earlier application abroad
PrerequisiteNone; use this route if you have no earlier application, or if it was filed more than 6 months agoFile in Argentina within 6 months of your first application abroad, for the same mark
Filing dateThe date and time of filing with INPIThe filing date of the earlier application; identical or similar applications filed by others in Argentina in the meantime rank after yours
Extra stepsNoneDeclare the earlier application in the application form; prepare supporting documents as your agent instructs
Processing timeWith goods chosen from the TMClass list, INPI's fast track applies: about 60 days (published by INPI)Priority claims cannot use the fast track: about 6 months with no objections or opposition (published by INPI)
Official feesPer application, one class each, in UMAPIThe same; INPI's fee schedule has no separate trademark priority fee
RiskSomeone else filing in the gap between your earlier application and your Argentine filing can block youIf the claim is wrong or late, priority fails and the filing date reverts to the actual date of filing
Best forYou have not filed elsewhere yet, or your earlier application is more than 6 months old, and you want registration quicklyYou filed elsewhere less than 6 months ago, especially if you are worried about squatting in Argentina

If you are filing across Latin America, Mexico and Brazil can both be designated through Madrid (see Trademark registration in Mexico and Trademark registration in Brazil), but Argentina needs a separate direct application.

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 to INPI through an Argentine agent, prepare the following information and documents. The application form is completed on INPI's online portal (in Spanish); no evidence of use is needed at filing.

Applicant

  • Name and address; for joint applicants, each one's share (totalling 100%), and later licences, assignments and renewals must be handled jointly
  • An electronic address for service and a special address for service in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, usually the agent's
  • Official fees must be paid through local Argentine payment channels; your agent pays them for you

The mark

  • The type of mark (word, figurative, composite, three-dimensional, etc.) and its representation
  • If it contains Chinese characters or special lettering, you can explain the pronunciation and reading order in the form's remarks field
  • If it contains another person's name, pseudonym or likeness, you need the consent of that person or their heirs

Goods and services

  • Goods or services of a single Nice class only, with specific names; "the whole class" is not accepted
  • The basic fee covers 20 items, with a fee for each extra item; choosing names from the TMClass drop-down list qualifies for INPI's fast track

Priority

  • To claim priority from an earlier application abroad, file in Argentina within 6 months of that filing date and declare it in the application form

Representation

  • Your agent acts on a written authorisation signed by you; the agent only needs to declare that capacity in the application form, with no power of attorney attached at filing, although INPI can ask for it at any time
  • Replies to office actions and submissions in opposition proceedings must be signed by a lawyer or an industrial property agent registered with INPI

Signed documents such as the power of attorney are provided following the agent's instructions.

How long

Process and timeline

Example: a direct application filed from 1 March 2026, 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 names of the goods and services from the TMClass list

  2. Step 2

    Filing

    Your agent files through INPI's portal and pays the fee; the date and time of filing determine priority

  3. Step 3

    Examination

    Formal and registrability examination is completed before publication; office actions must be answered within 30 calendar days, extendable for a fee by 10 and then 5 days (statutory)

  4. Step 4

    Publication and opposition

    Published for one day in the Trademark Bulletin; oppositions within 30 calendar days of publication (statutory)

  5. Step 5

    Registration

    If no opposition is filed by the deadline, the mark is registered and the electronic certificate is notified by email; about 60 days or 6 months overall (processing times published by INPI)

  6. Step 6

    Sixth-year mid-term declaration of use

    Due after the fifth anniversary of grant and before the end of the sixth year; late filing incurs an extra fee for each year (statutory)

INPI publishes no statistics on average examination times; the 60 days and 6 months are processing times stated in INPI's procedural guides, the former limited to applications with goods chosen from the TMClass list, no priority claim and not filed through a gestor. If an opposition is filed, a 3-month negotiation period runs from notification, followed by INPI's administrative opposition proceedings, which take additional time. Applications filed up to 28 February 2026 are completed under the former procedure, with publication before examination.

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 Argentine pesos and charged per application; since an Argentine application can cover only one class, in practice you pay one fee per class. INPI fees are expressed in fee units (UMAPI), whose peso value has been adjusted monthly since May 2026 in line with the consumer price index, with each new value applying from the first day of the month. The table below converts the fees into pesos at the current month's UMAPI value.

ItemChargedAmount
Paid on filing
Filing fee (one application per class, as each Argentine application covers a single class; up to 20 items; 100 UMAPI, October 2026 value)Per class41,259 ARS
Each item beyond 20 (4 UMAPI)Per item1,650.36 ARS
Payable when applicable
Extension of time to answer an office action (per request; 50 UMAPI)Per application20,629.50 ARS
Applicant's fee for administrative resolution of oppositions (once per application; application refused if unpaid within 15 working days; 50 UMAPI)Per application20,629.50 ARS
Late mid-term declaration of use surcharge (per year of delay, on top of the declaration fee; 22 UMAPI)Per year9,076.98 ARS
Grace-period renewal surcharge (within 6 months after expiry, on top of the renewal fee; 200 UMAPI)Per class82,518 ARS
Keeping the registration
Mid-term declaration of use (after the 5th and before the end of the 6th year from grant, per registration i.e. per class; 44 UMAPI)Per class18,153.96 ARS
Renewal fee (every 10 years, per registration i.e. per class; use in the previous 5 years must be declared; 200 UMAPI)Per class82,518 ARS

Source: Instituto Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial (INPI), Aranceles vigentes (Res. INPI 75/2026 y 78/2026, valores en UMAPI) · Peso amounts are converted at the October 2026 UMAPI value; UMAPI is adjusted monthly, so the amount INPI publishes at the time of payment applies. · checked on 2026-10-07 · The Bank of China publishes no rate for this currency, so fees are shown in the original currency only

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. If neither lists more than 20 items, official fees are 2 × 100 UMAPI = 200 UMAPI; if one of them lists 25 items, that application pays a further 5 × 4 UMAPI. After the fifth anniversary of grant, each registration also pays 44 UMAPI for the mid-term declaration of use.

Peso amounts change every month; the amount actually due is calculated at the UMAPI value INPI publishes for the month of payment.

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

Watch out

Rules specific to Argentina and common refusals

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

One class per application; "the whole class" is refused outright

Each Argentine application can cover only one Nice class; applications covering several classes are refused outright, with no chance to correct them, as are those claiming "the whole class" or similar wording. The basic fee covers only 20 items, with a fee for each extra item. Split the classes and name specific goods before filing.

The sixth-year mid-term declaration of use

After the fifth anniversary of grant and before the end of the sixth year, you must declare to INPI how the mark has been used (for registrations granted from 12 January 2013). Each year of delay adds a further fee; without the declaration, the mark is presumed unused and renewal is not processed until the declaration is filed and the fees paid. If a registration more than 5 years old is unused and no declaration has been filed, INPI can also declare it lapsed on its own initiative.

Earlier similar marks are no longer examined ex officio: oppositions decide

Since 11 December 2025, INPI examines on its own initiative only absolute grounds, such as distinctiveness, and public order; similarity to earlier marks, misleading marks and another person's name or likeness are examined only if a third party opposes. For applications filed from 1 March 2026, third parties can no longer send letters of observation (llamados de atención) and can only oppose within 30 days of publication. Your application is less likely to be refused ex officio, but earlier right holders will still oppose; if you already have a brand in Argentina, monitor the Trademark Bulletin, published every Wednesday.

After an opposition, pay on time or the application is refused

For applications filed from 1 March 2026, an opposition opens a 3-month negotiation period; if the opponent then pays to maintain it, INPI gives the applicant 15 business days to pay the applicant's fee and reply, and if you do not pay, the application is refused without any ruling on the opposition. Submissions must be signed by a lawyer or an industrial property agent, and the decision can only be appealed directly to the National Court of Appeals in Federal Civil and Commercial Matters.

Squatting: bad-faith registrations are invalidated in court

A registration is invalid if the registrant knew or should have known, when applying, that the mark belonged to someone else; registrations by people who trade in trademarks are also invalid. These claims are not handled in INPI administrative proceedings: you must sue before the federal civil and commercial courts, within 10 years. Before working with an Argentine distributor, file in your own name first.

Lack of distinctiveness and descriptive signs

Generic or customary names of goods, words directly describing their nature, function or quality, words that have become generic, the shape of the goods themselves, a single colour and advertising slogans lacking originality cannot be registered; these grounds remain within INPI's ex officio examination.

Free search: can your mark be registered in Argentina?

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

An Argentine registration lasts 10 years from grant. During that time you must file the mid-term declaration of use in the sixth year and renew at expiry; once a registration is 5 years old, it can also be declared lapsed for non-use. Fees are shown in UMAPI; their peso value changes monthly.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
After the fifth anniversary of grant, before the end of the sixth yearFile the mid-term declaration of use, describing how the mark has been used44 UMAPI per registration
Mid-term declaration filed lateFile the declaration and pay an additional fee for each year of delay; renewal is not processed until it is filedPlus 22 UMAPI per year
Within the 6 months before expiry, every 10 yearsRenew, declaring use within the previous 5 years; goods can be reduced but not added200 UMAPI per registration
Within 6 months after expiryRenewal is still possible in the grace period, with a grace feePlus 200 UMAPI
Any timeAssignments and changes of name must be recorded with INPI to be effective against third parties196 UMAPI per filing

To record an assignment, transfer documents signed abroad need no apostille or consular legalisation, but the assignor's signature must be certified by a notary, and documents in a foreign language need a translation by an Argentine certified translator.

Keep evidence of sales and advertising in Argentina for the mid-term declaration, the declaration of use on renewal and any non-use action; a mark not used in one class but used for similar goods or services does not lapse for that reason.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Argentina

How much does an Argentine trademark cost?

Official fees are per application, and each application can cover only one class: 100 UMAPI, covering 20 items of goods or services, plus 4 UMAPI for each extra item. The peso value of the UMAPI is adjusted monthly for inflation, so the peso amount follows the value INPI publishes for the month of payment. You file as many applications as classes. After the fifth anniversary of grant, the mid-term declaration of use costs a further 44 UMAPI. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

How long does trademark registration take in Argentina?

INPI publishes no statistics on average examination times. According to INPI's procedural guides, applications with goods chosen from the TMClass list, no priority claim and not filed through a gestor take about 60 days, and other applications with no objections and no opposition about 6 months. The statutory milestones are 30 calendar days to answer an office action and a 30-calendar-day opposition period after publication. If an opposition is filed, a 3-month negotiation period and administrative proceedings follow.

Can I designate Argentina through the Madrid System?

No. Argentina is not party to the Madrid Protocol, so you must file directly with INPI through an Argentine agent. If your first application abroad was filed less than 6 months ago, you can claim its priority when filing in Argentina.

When is the Argentine mid-term declaration of use due?

After the fifth anniversary of grant and before the end of the sixth year, you file a declaration with INPI on how the mark has been used; this applies to all registrations granted from 12 January 2013. It is separate from the declaration made on renewal, where you must also declare use within the previous 5 years. If the mid-term declaration is late, an additional fee is charged for each year of delay, and renewal is not processed until it is filed.

What do foreign applicants need to file a trademark in Argentina?

Foreign applicants must give an electronic address for service and a special address for service in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, and official fees must be paid through local Argentine channels, so in practice an Argentine agent handles the filing. The agent acts on a written authorisation signed by you, with no power of attorney attached at filing. Replies to office actions and submissions in opposition proceedings must be signed by a lawyer or an industrial property agent.

What happens if my Argentine application is opposed?

After INPI notifies the opposition, there is a 3-month negotiation period in which you can settle with the opponent or limit the goods. If no agreement is reached and the opponent pays to maintain the opposition, for applications filed from 1 March 2026 you must pay the applicant's fee and reply within 15 business days, or the application is refused outright. INPI's National Trademark Directorate then decides in writing, and the decision can only be appealed directly to the National Court of Appeals in Federal Civil and Commercial Matters.

Other IP rights

Patents: Argentine invention patents last 20 years from the filing date and utility models 10 years from the filing date, neither extendable; Argentina is not a PCT member, so you file directly with INPI within the 12-month Paris Convention priority period.

Designs: protected for 5 years from the filing date, renewable twice, up to 15 years; Argentina is not party to the Hague Agreement, so you file directly with INPI.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

IP news: Argentina

Other countries and territories in the region

Mexico　·　Brazil　·　Chile　·　Peru　·　Bolivia　·　Uruguay

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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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