Skip to main content
Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Colombia

File with Colombia's Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) or designate Colombia through Madrid; Andean Community Decision 486 applies. One application can cover several classes; oppositions run 30 business days from publication, and owners of earlier marks in Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia can oppose too; official fees are adjusted every year.

Order online · Colombia 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 (Colombia selected) Get a trademark search report first
Trademark registration in Colombia

Five questions first

Which route?File directly with the SIC if you only need Colombia; one application can cover several classes. Designate Colombia through Madrid if you already have a home application or registration and want several countries.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name, address and email, the mark (stating whether Chinese characters are filed as a design or with a transliteration), specific goods or services with their classes, and a power of attorney (a private document, no notarisation).Details ↓How are official fees charged?First class plus each extra class: in 2026, online filing costs COP 1,347,500 for the first class and COP 673,500 for each extra class. Service fees are quoted after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?Statutory: formal examination within 15 business days of filing, then a 30-business-day opposition period after publication; substantive examination follows, and the SIC publishes no average examination times.Details ↓What are the main risks?Andean oppositions by owners in neighbouring countries, correction notices for vague goods, no adding goods after filing, similarity to earlier marks, and registration by your distributor.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in Colombia: key facts

OfficeSuperintendence of Industry and Commerce (Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio, SIC), an agency attached to the trade, industry and tourism sector; trademarks are registered by its Industrial Property Division (Delegatura para la Propiedad Industrial). Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawAndean Community Decision 486, Common Industrial Property Regime (directly applicable in Colombia); Single Regulatory Decree of the Trade, Industry and Tourism Sector (Decree 1074 of 2015); Title X (industrial property) of the SIC's Single Circular
How rights ariseExclusive rights arise from registration with the SIC; marks identical or similar to an earlier applied-for or registered mark that may cause confusion are refused
Madrid SystemParty to the Protocol since 29 August 2012; Colombia can be designated through Madrid, with an 18-month refusal period, and refusals based on an opposition can be issued after 18 months
Multi-class applicationsSince 13 April 2012, one application can cover one or more classes (up to 45), with one file number and one registration certificate; fees are charged for the first class plus each extra class
Language and notificationsSpanish; documents in other languages need only a simple translation, with no legalisation; the SIC serves notices by email
Formal examination (statutory)Within 15 business days of filing; defects must be corrected within 60 business days of notice, or the application is deemed abandoned (in a multi-class application, only for the classes concerned)
Opposition (statutory)Within 30 business days of publication in the Industrial Property Gazette (Gaceta de Propiedad Industrial), extendable by 30 business days for a fee to file evidence; the applicant may reply within 30 business days of notice of the opposition, but need not
Andean opposition (common rule)Owners of an identical or similar registered or earlier applied-for mark in Peru, Ecuador or Bolivia can oppose a Colombian application, provided they file their own application in Colombia at the same time
RepresentationThe SIC does not require a lawyer; anyone acting for you must be a lawyer admitted to practise in Colombia; a power of attorney can be a private document, with no personal appearance, legalisation or apostille needed
Term and renewal10 years from grant, renewable for 10 years at a time; renew within the 6 months before expiry, or within a 6-month grace period after expiry with a surcharge; no evidence of use is needed on renewal
Non-use cancellation (common rule)If the mark has not been used in any Andean Community member country for 3 consecutive years, anyone can request cancellation; requests can be filed only once 3 years have passed since notice of the decision granting registration, and can cover only the goods not in use
Filing feeOnline: COP 1,347,500 for the first class and COP 673,500 for each extra class (on paper, COP 1,638,500 and COP 777,500); 2026 fees under SIC Resolution 6167

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 Colombian registration, with the same examination standards, publication and opposition procedure. They differ in prerequisites, fee structure, when the term starts and dependency risk.

ItemDirect filing with the SICMadrid designation of Colombia
PrerequisiteNoneA basic application or registration at your office of origin
Official feesIn Colombian pesos, for the first class plus each extra class, paid to the SIC; amounts are adjusted every yearBasic fee and Colombia's individual fee (in Swiss francs; see the WIPO fee calculator) paid to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
ClassesOne application can cover several classes, with a single file number and one registration certificateOne international registration can designate several classes
Goods and servicesSpecific names, correctly classified; online filers can choose only from the SIC's list of pre-approved goods and services and get accelerated formal examination at no extra costCannot go beyond the basic application; the SIC also requires specific names and issues a correction notice for unclear terms, to be answered within 60 business days
Publication and oppositionPublished in the Industrial Property Gazette; 30-business-day opposition period; Andean oppositions applyThe SIC also publishes the designation in the Gazette; the opposition period, requirements and Andean oppositions are the same as for direct filings
Examination and refusal deadlinesFormal examination within 15 business days (statutory); no statutory deadline for the substantive decisionColombia has declared an 18-month refusal period; refusals based on an opposition can be issued later
Local representationNo lawyer required; anyone acting for you must be a lawyer admitted to practise in ColombiaNot needed while the designation is transmitted through WIPO; to answer a correction notice or an opposition before the SIC, non-residents must appoint a representative or agent
Start of the term10 years from grant10 years from the international registration date, renewed with the international registration at WIPO
Dependency riskNoneIf the basic application or registration is refused or cancelled within 5 years, the Colombian designation falls with it (it can be transformed into a Colombian national application within the set time limit)
Best forYou only need Colombia, or you have no home filing to rely onYou already have a home filing and want protection in several countries

There is no unitary Andean trademark: registrations in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia are independent of each other. If you are filing across the Andean countries, compare Trademark registration in Peru, Trademark registration in Ecuador and Trademark registration in Bolivia. Of the four, only Colombia is a Madrid member; Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia require direct applications.

If you are filing across Latin America, compare Trademark registration in Mexico: a direct Mexican application covers one class only, and a declaration of use is due after registration. For a general comparison of the two approaches, see Madrid designation or direct national filing: which one fits your case.

What to prepare

Documents checklist

For a direct application to the SIC, prepare the following information and documents. No evidence of use, business licence or certificate of existence is needed at filing.

Applicant

  • Name and address (for a company, its full legal name as registered, in Spanish or English), nationality and, for a legal entity, its place of incorporation
  • An email address for notifications: the SIC serves correction notices, decisions and other notices by email
  • For joint applicants, the details of every applicant

The mark

  • A representation of the mark, required for composite, figurative and three-dimensional marks; state the type of mark (word, composite, figurative, three-dimensional, sound, olfactory, etc.)
  • For Chinese or other non-Latin characters, state whether the mark is filed as a figurative mark or as a word mark; a word mark needs a transliteration into Latin letters or a translation
  • After filing, minor elements such as descriptive parts can be deleted, but the mark cannot be substantially changed

Goods and services

  • Specific goods and services with their Nice classes, each item in a single class; one application can cover several classes
  • Online filers can choose only from the SIC's list of pre-approved goods and services and request accelerated formal examination at no extra cost
  • After filing, goods and services can only be deleted, not added

Priority

  • File with the SIC within 6 months of your first filing abroad, stating the filing date, office and application number, and pay the priority fee for each class
  • A certified copy of the earlier application and proof of its filing date, at the latest within 9 months of the priority date; this time limit cannot be extended

Representation

  • A power of attorney can be a private document, with no personal appearance, notarisation, legalisation or apostille; one power can cover specified cases or all present and future applications and registrations
  • Other documents in a foreign language need only a simple Spanish translation
  • Authority to withdraw an application or surrender rights must be stated expressly; a surrender or withdrawal signed abroad needs an apostille or consular legalisation

A mark containing another person's name, likeness or trade name, or a protected sign, needs the right holder's consent. Signed documents such as the power of attorney are provided following the agent's instructions.

How long

Process and timeline

Example: a direct application with no opposition. Periods marked "statutory" are set by law and counted in business days.

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Search for similar earlier marks in Colombia and in Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, and settle the classes and the wording of the goods

  2. Step 2

    Filing

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

  3. Step 3

    Formal examination

    Within 15 business days of filing (statutory); any corrections are due within 60 business days of notice (statutory)

  4. Step 4

    Publication and opposition

    Published in the Industrial Property Gazette; oppositions within 30 business days (statutory); if opposed, the applicant replies within 30 business days (statutory)

  5. Step 5

    Substantive examination and decision

    Once the opposition or reply period ends, the SIC examines registrability and decides any opposition in the same resolution; there is no statutory deadline for the decision

  6. Step 6

    Certificate and appeal

    The registration certificate is issued once the grant becomes final; a refusal can be appealed within 10 days of notification (statutory)

The SIC publishes no verifiable average examination times, so this page lists only statutory periods; its annual management report gives only the number of decisions, not average times. Decisions are served by email and are deemed served one month after being sent, which is when the appeal period starts. Both the opposition period and the reply period can be extended by 30 business days for a fee, to file evidence.

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 Colombian pesos and charged per application, with the first class included in the filing fee and each extra class paid separately; online filing costs less than paper. The SIC adjusts its fees every year in line with inflation, usually from 1 January; the 2026 fees were revised by Resolution 6167. The table below shows the SIC's current fees.

ItemChargedAmount
Paid on filing
Application fee (online filing, first class included; paper filing COP 1,638,500)Per application1,347,500 COP
Application fee: each additional class in the same application (online; paper COP 777,500)Each additional class673,500 COP
Payable when applicable
Priority claim (if priority is claimed, per class; online, paper COP 370,500)Per class304,000 COP
Extension of time (further 30 working days to file evidence, e.g. in reply to an opposition; online)Per application200,500 COP
Keeping the registration
Renewal (every 10 years, within 6 months before expiry, first class included; online)Per application734,000 COP
Renewal: each additional class (online)Each additional class360,500 COP
Other
Renewal in the grace period (within 6 months after expiry, surcharge and first class included; online)Per application1,002,000 COP
Grace-period renewal: each additional class (online)Each additional class492,000 COP
Recordal of assignment (per registration; online)Per application486,000 COP

Source: Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC), Resolución 6167 de 2026, Circular Única Título X numeral 1.1.2.1.1 ; tabla SIC; Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC), Resolución 6167 de 2026, Circular Única Título X numeral 1.1.2.1.2 ; tabla SIC; Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC), Resolución 6167 de 2026, Circular Única Título X numeral 1.1.2.2.7 ; tabla SIC; Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC), Resolución 6167 de 2026, Circular Única Título X numeral 1.1.2.2.1 ; tabla SIC; Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC), Resolución 6167 de 2026, Circular Única Título X numeral 1.1.2.3.1 ; tabla SIC; Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC), Resolución 6167 de 2026, Circular Única Título X numeral 1.1.2.3.2 ; tabla SIC; Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC), Resolución 6167 de 2026, Circular Única Título X numeral 1.1.2.3.3 ; tabla SIC; Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC), Resolución 6167 de 2026, Circular Única Título X numeral 1.1.2.3.4 ; tabla SIC; Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC), Resolución 6167 de 2026, Circular Única Título X numeral 1.1.2.3.17 ; tabla SIC · current fees in force since 2026-02-17 · 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.

Need to register a trademark in Colombia?

Get a quoteInternational Trademark Strategy

Example: a single online application for a mark in 3 classes costs COP 1,347,500 + COP 673,500 × 2 = COP 2,694,500; on paper, COP 1,638,500 + COP 777,500 × 2 = COP 3,193,500. Claiming priority from an earlier application abroad costs a further COP 304,000 per class (online).

Certified Colombian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises pay reduced fees (COP 970,000 for the first class and COP 485,000 for each extra class); the SIC does not say whether foreign companies qualify, so the examples on this page use the standard rates.

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

Watch out

Rules specific to Colombia and common refusals

These are the most common issues in Colombian examination, along with Andean common rules and Colombian national rules that are easy to overlook.

Andean oppositions by owners in neighbouring countries

This is an Andean Community common rule: anyone with an identical or similar registered or earlier applied-for mark in Peru, Ecuador or Bolivia can oppose your Colombian application, provided they file their own application in Colombia at the same time. An opposition based on an earlier registration can lead to refusal; one based on an earlier application suspends yours until the other application is decided. Before filing in Colombia, search those three countries as well.

A 30-business-day opposition period, with evidence filed together with the opposition

Third parties must oppose within 30 business days of publication in the Gazette; late oppositions are not admitted. Under Colombian national rules, opponents must file the evidence they already hold together with the opposition; if they need more time, they can request a 30-business-day extension for a fee before the deadline. The applicant has 30 business days to reply and can also ask, jointly with the opponent, for a facilitation hearing (audiencia de facilitación) led by the SIC, where the parties can settle.

Vague wording: unanswered correction notices abandon the classes concerned

The SIC requires each item to be named specifically and placed in the correct class; vague or misclassified wording draws a correction notice, to be answered within 60 business days. If only some classes of a multi-class application are affected and you do not reply, only those classes are deemed abandoned, and examination of the others continues. Choosing goods from the SIC's pre-approved list when filing online reduces correction notices.

No adding goods or substantially changing the mark after filing

After filing, you can only delete goods or services, correct clerical errors or remove minor elements such as descriptive parts; adding goods or substantially changing the mark requires a new application, with a new filing date. Settle the classes, the goods list and the representation of the mark before filing.

Cancellation after 3 years of non-use; use in any member country counts

Once 3 years have passed since notice of the decision granting registration, anyone can request cancellation if the mark has not been used in any Andean Community member country for 3 consecutive years; the owner must prove use, and cancellation can cover only the goods not in use. Use in Peru, Ecuador or Bolivia, or on goods exported from a member country, counts as use.

Registration by agents or distributors, and similar earlier marks

Applications by an agent, a distributor or anyone authorised by the owner, filed in their own name without consent for a sign protected for the owner in Colombia or abroad, are refused; applications made for unfair competition can also be refused. Once a mark is registered, invalidity on relative grounds or for bad faith must be sought within 5 years of grant. Marks identical or similar to earlier marks for identical or similar goods, and marks lacking distinctiveness or directly describing the goods, are also refused.

Get a trademark search report: can your mark be registered in Colombia?

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

Get a search report
After registration

Keeping the registration

A Colombian registration lasts 10 years from grant. No declaration of use is required, but the mark can be cancelled after 3 consecutive years of non-use; renew on time at expiry.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
From 3 years after grantUse the mark in any Andean member country and keep invoices, accounting records and other evidence; after 3 consecutive years of non-use, others can request cancellation, also for only the goods not in useNone (the party requesting cancellation pays)
Within the 6 months before expiry, every 10 yearsRenew with the SIC; no evidence of use is needed, and the goods can be limited at the same timeOnline: COP 734,000 for the first class, COP 360,500 for each extra class
Within 6 months after expiryRenewal is still possible in the grace period, with a surcharge; if it is not renewed by then, the registration lapses automaticallyOnline: COP 1,002,000 for the first class, COP 492,000 for each extra class (surcharge included)
Madrid: every 10 years for the international registrationRenew the international registration with WIPO; Colombian protection continues with itWIPO fees
Any timeAssignments must be recorded with the SIC to be effective against third parties; changes of name or address must also be recorded; recording a licence is voluntary and does not affect its validityAssignment: COP 486,000 per registration; change of name or address: COP 73,500 (online)

For Colombian protection obtained through Madrid, the term runs from the international registration date and renewal is handled at WIPO; for direct filings, it runs from grant. The two rarely fall in the same year, so note both.

If you have reason to believe that infringing goods are about to be imported or exported, as the owner of a registered mark you can ask the competent authority to suspend their customs clearance, under the conditions and security set by Colombian national rules; e-commerce brand registries also usually require a registered or pending trademark. Use by a licensee counts as use by the owner, so keep sales and advertising evidence for any non-use action.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Colombia

How much does a Colombian trademark cost?

Official fees are charged for the first class plus each extra class. In 2026, online filing costs COP 1,347,500 for the first class and COP 673,500 for each extra class; on paper, COP 1,638,500 and COP 777,500. For example, an online application in 3 classes costs COP 2,694,500 in total. The SIC adjusts its fees every year, and the fees in force at filing apply. 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 Colombia?

The SIC publishes no verifiable average examination times. The statutory milestones are: formal examination within 15 business days of filing, with 60 business days to answer any correction notice; a 30-business-day opposition period after publication, followed by 30 business days for the applicant to reply if opposed, both extendable by 30 business days to file evidence. Only then does the SIC carry out substantive examination, for which there is no statutory deadline. Online filers using the pre-approved list of goods can request accelerated formal examination.

Can one Colombian application cover several classes?

Yes. Since 13 April 2012, one application can cover 2 to 45 classes, with one file number, one grant and one registration certificate, and fees for the first class plus each extra class. If needed, an application or registration can be divided, for example to separate opposed classes so that they are examined on their own; an application cannot, however, be divided during the publication period.

If I register in Colombia, do I still need separate registrations in Peru and Ecuador?

Yes. There is no unitary Andean trademark: registrations in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia are independent and require separate applications; of the four, only Colombia is a Madrid member, so the other three need direct applications to their national offices. Two common rules work in your favour, though: an earlier Colombian registration or application lets you file an Andean opposition against similar applications in the other three countries (filing your own application there at the same time), and use in any member country counts against non-use cancellation. See Trademark registration in Peru and Trademark registration in Ecuador.

Can I register a mark in Chinese characters in Colombia?

Yes. Chinese uses non-Latin characters, so you must state whether you are filing the mark as a figurative mark or as a word mark; a word mark needs a transliteration into Latin letters (such as pinyin) or a translation. Spanish is the language of the Colombian market, so if you sell to local consumers, consider also registering a version in Spanish or in Latin letters, and use the mark in its registered form.

Do I need a Colombian lawyer, and must the power of attorney be notarised?

The SIC does not require applicants to use a lawyer, but anyone acting for you must be a lawyer admitted to practise in Colombia; for a Madrid designation, a non-resident answering a correction notice or an opposition before the SIC must appoint a representative or agent. A power of attorney can be a private document, with no notarisation, legalisation or apostille, and one power can cover all present and future cases; only surrenders of rights or withdrawals of applications signed abroad need an apostille or consular legalisation.

Other IP rights

Patents: Colombian invention patents last 20 years from the filing date and utility models 10 years from the filing date; Colombia has been a PCT member since 28 February 2001.

Designs: protected for 10 years from the filing date; Colombia is not party to the Hague Agreement, so designs must be filed directly with the SIC.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

Other countries and territories in the region

Mexico · Peru · Ecuador · Bolivia · Brazil · Chile

Downloads

Ready to file?

Order online · Colombia 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 (Colombia selected) Get a trademark search report first

Questions first?

Leave your question and an agent will reply.
Have a question? Tell us…
Please enter your name (without web addresses)
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid phone number
Please describe your inquiry (no HTML code or link markup, and at most one web address)
Verification pending or too many submissions, please try again later

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.

Terms of Use · Privacy Policy