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Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Uruguay

File directly with the National Directorate of Industrial Property (DNPI); Uruguay is not in the Madrid System. One application can cover several or all classes, fees are set in indexed units (UI), oppositions run for 30 calendar days after a single Gazette publication, and a registration unused for 5 years can be cancelled.

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Five questions first

Which route?Madrid is not available: file directly with DNPI through a Uruguayan agent. If your first application abroad was filed less than 6 months earlier, you can claim its priority at the same time.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name and address, an address for service in Uruguay, the mark and its colours, the Nice classes and goods or services, and a notarised, apostilled power of attorney with a Spanish translation.Details ↓How are official fees charged?Per class, in indexed units (UI): a word mark costs 1,121 UI for the first class and 673 UI for each additional class; a composite mark 1,569 UI for the first class. Service fees are quoted after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?Statutory: a 30-calendar-day opposition period from the day after publication; 10 business days to answer formal objections. Published by DNPI: about 3–4 months with no opposition or objections.Details ↓What are the main risks?Missing the 10-business-day deadline to answer an objection means abandonment; an unregistered mark used locally for 1 year can oppose; a registration unused for 5 years can be cancelled.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in Uruguay: key facts

OfficeNational Directorate of Industrial Property (Dirección Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial, DNPI), an executing unit of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM); its service pages are now signed "National Directorate of Industrial Property and Software Registry". Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawTrademark Law (Law No. 17.011, enacted on 25 September 1998; the use requirement was amended by Law No. 19.149 of 2013 and the fee provisions most recently by Law No. 20.212 of 2023) and its regulations (Decree No. 34/999 of 1999, amended by Decrees No. 277/014 of 2014 and No. 98/016 of 2016)
How rights ariseRights arise from registration; priority between applications is determined by the date and time of filing. An unregistered mark used in Uruguay peacefully, publicly and without interruption for at least 1 year can be the basis of an opposition against someone else's application
Madrid SystemNot a member: Uruguay cannot be designated through a Madrid international registration, so you must file directly; Uruguay has been party to the Paris Convention since 1967, so a 6-month priority can be claimed
Multi-class applicationsYes; one application can designate one, several or all 45 classes, listing either specific goods or services or the whole class; fees are charged for the first class and each additional class. If the mark contains the name of a product or service in the class, it can be registered only for that product or service
Foreign applicantsThe form must give an address for service in Uruguay; if an agent files, a power of attorney with the signature certified by a notary is required, and one issued abroad must be apostilled and translated into Spanish by a public translator; a Uruguayan industrial property agent needs only a letter of authorisation, with no notarisation or apostille
Publication and opposition (statutory)After formal examination the application is published once in the Industrial Property Gazette (Boletín de la Propiedad Industrial, issued every 15 days); any interested party can oppose within 30 calendar days from the day after publication, with no extension; DNPI can also oppose on its own initiative
Corrections and replies (statutory)Missing items must be supplied within 30 calendar days; formal examination objections must be answered within 10 business days, otherwise the application is deemed abandoned; an opposed applicant has 30 calendar days to reply, extendable by no more than 15 days
Processing time (published by DNPI)DNPI's 2024 information leaflet: about 3 to 4 months with no opposition and timely corrections; objections or oppositions add time
Term and renewal10 years from grant, renewable indefinitely; renew within the 6 months before expiry, with a 6-month grace period after expiry (the grace-period fee is higher: about three times the normal renewal fee for a word mark in one class) during which the registration remains in force; no evidence of use is required on renewal, and classes and goods not claimed are deemed abandoned
Non-useIf the mark has not been used for 5 consecutive years from grant or renewal, or use has been interrupted for more than 5 years, an interested party can ask DNPI to cancel the registration; the burden of proving use is on the owner; use on a single registered product or service keeps the remaining classes alive
Invalidity and recovery (statutory)Invalidity claims on relative grounds (earlier rights, well-known marks and so on) must be brought within 15 years of registration, with no time limit for well-known marks registered in bad faith; if an agent, distributor or licensee registers the mark in their own name without authorisation, the owner can claim the application or registration within 5 years of registration
Filing feeWord marks: 1,121.04 UI for the first class and 672.62 UI for each additional class; figurative, composite and other types of mark: 1,569.45 UI for the first class and 896.83 UI for each additional class; converted into pesos at the UI value on the first day of the month of payment (1 UI = 6.6516 pesos on 1 October 2026)

Checked on 2026-10-11; general information only — the office's published rules and fees prevail.

Which route

Direct filing: whether to claim priority

Uruguay is not a member of the Madrid System and cannot be designated through an international registration; applications are filed directly with DNPI through an agent based in Uruguay. The real choice is whether to claim Paris Convention 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 Uruguay within 6 months of your first application abroad, for the same mark and goods or services that do not go beyond the earlier application
Filing orderThe date and time of filing with DNPI (assigned only after the fee is paid)The filing date of the earlier application; identical or similar applications filed by others in Uruguay in the meantime rank after yours
Extra stepsNoneState the country, date and number of the earlier application in the form; file the priority document issued by your home office within 90 calendar days of filing, with no apostille required and a translation if it is not in Spanish
Official feesBy type of mark and number of classes, in UIThe same; DNPI's fee schedule has no trademark priority fee
RiskSomeone else filing in the gap between your earlier application and your Uruguayan filing can block youIf the priority document is not filed within 90 days, priority is deemed not claimed 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 oldYou filed elsewhere less than 6 months ago, especially if you are worried about squatting in Uruguay

If you are filing across South America, Argentina and Paraguay cannot be designated through Madrid either and each needs a separate direct application; see Trademark registration in Argentina and Trademark registration in Paraguay. Brazil and Chile can be designated through Madrid; see Trademark registration in Brazil and Trademark registration in Chile.

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 DNPI through a Uruguayan agent, prepare the following information and documents. Applications are filed only through DNPI's online filing system, with the fee paid before filing; no evidence of use is needed at filing, and documents are in Spanish.

Applicant

  • Name or full company name, address and nationality (country); companies give the name as it appears in their official registration, together with its Spanish or English form
  • An address for service in Uruguay; foreign applicants normally use the agent's address
  • For joint applicants, the online system treats the holder of the filing account as the representative by default; the other joint applicants must grant a power of attorney

The mark

  • State the type of mark: word, figurative, composite, three-dimensional, sound and so on; for word and composite marks, write out all the word elements
  • Figurative, composite, three-dimensional and sound marks need an image: jpg, tif, tiff or jpeg, no more than 512 KB, 150–300 dpi, between 3 × 2 cm and 6 × 8 cm; every colour appearing in the image must be stated in the form
  • Three-dimensional marks need images from at least 3 different angles; the image of a composite mark must include its word elements
  • The mark cannot be changed after filing; any change requires a new application. If it contains another person's name or likeness, you need the consent of that person or their heirs

Goods and services

  • State the Nice classes; you can designate one, several or all classes, and in each class list either specific goods or services or the whole class
  • If the mark contains the name of a product or service in the class, it can be registered only for that product or service, and this must be stated in the application
  • Goods and services can be reduced during examination but not added; your own wording must follow the current edition of the Nice Classification

Priority

  • To claim priority from an earlier application abroad, file in Uruguay within 6 months of that filing date and state the country, date and number of the earlier application in the form
  • File the priority document issued by your home office within 90 calendar days of filing; no apostille is required, and a translation is needed if it is not in Spanish; if it is late, priority is deemed not claimed

Representation

  • If an agent files, a power of attorney with the signature certified by a notary, stating the scope of authority; withdrawing the application, surrendering the registration and assigning the mark need express authority; a power issued abroad must be apostilled, and one not in Spanish or Portuguese must be translated by a public translator
  • A Uruguayan industrial property agent needs only a letter of authorisation, with no notarisation or apostille, although it must still be translated; an authorisation given to an agent is valid for 10 years from its date
  • Companies also provide notarial evidence of the signatory's authority to represent them; a litigation power of attorney is not accepted in place of a trademark power

Signed documents such as the power of attorney are provided following the agent's instructions. Uruguay is party to the Apostille Convention, so a power of attorney issued in another contracting state can be used once apostilled, with no consular legalisation.

How long

Process and timeline

Example: a direct application with no opposition. Periods marked "statutory" are set by law; "published by DNPI" means the approximate times given in DNPI's information materials.

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Run DNPI's free online phonetic similarity search and check the public database for identical marks; settle the classes and the wording of the goods and services

  2. Step 2

    Pay the fee and file

    Your agent pays the fee through the online filing system and then files; only applications with proof of payment are assigned a date and time, which determine priority (statutory)

  3. Step 3

    Formal examination

    Missing items must be supplied within 30 calendar days; formal objections must be answered within 10 business days, otherwise the application is deemed abandoned (statutory)

  4. Step 4

    Publication and opposition

    Published once in the Industrial Property Gazette; oppositions within 30 calendar days from the day after publication (statutory)

  5. Step 5

    Substantive examination

    DNPI examines absolute and relative grounds on its own initiative, searches earlier word and figurative marks and can oppose ex officio; an opposed applicant has 30 calendar days to reply (statutory)

  6. Step 6

    Grant and certificate

    If there is no opposition, or the opposition fails, DNPI grants the registration and issues the certificate; the term is 10 years from grant; about 3 to 4 months overall (published by DNPI)

The 3 to 4 months are the approximate time given in DNPI's 2024 information leaflet, not statistics, and depend on whether there are objections or oppositions. Office actions are notified only through the online system; if the applicant takes no action for 30 calendar days, the application is refused. A refusal or an opposition decision can be challenged within 10 calendar days of notification by a motion for reconsideration together with a hierarchical appeal; once administrative remedies are exhausted, you can sue before the Administrative Litigation Court (Tribunal de lo Contencioso Administrativo).

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 set in Uruguay's indexed unit (unidad indexada, UI) and charged by type of mark and number of classes: word marks and figurative, composite and other types of mark each have a first-class fee and an additional-class fee. DNPI converts them into pesos at the UI value on the first day of the month of payment, updated monthly. Publication in the Industrial Property Gazette is free of charge. The table below shows the current rates set by Article 99 of the Trademark Law.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Filing fee: word mark, first class (1,121.04 UI, converted at the October 2026 UI value)Per application7,456.68 UYU≈ USD 186
Filing fee: word mark, each additional class (672.62 UI)Each additional class4,474.01 UYU≈ USD 112
Payable when applicable
Filing fee: figurative, composite or other mark, first class (1,569.45 UI)Per application10,439.35 UYU≈ USD 260
Filing fee: figurative, composite or other mark, each additional class (896.83 UI)Each additional class5,965.34 UYU≈ USD 149
Renewal fee: figurative or composite mark, first class (1,569.45 UI)Per application10,439.35 UYU≈ USD 260
Renewal fee: figurative or composite mark, each additional class (896.83 UI)Each additional class5,965.34 UYU≈ USD 149
Keeping the registration
Renewal fee: word mark, first class (1,121.04 UI; within 6 months before expiry)Per application7,456.68 UYU≈ USD 186
Renewal fee: word mark, each additional class (672.62 UI)Each additional class4,474.01 UYU≈ USD 112
Late renewal fee: within 6 months after expiry, first class (3,363.11 UI, any mark type)Per application22,370.04 UYU≈ USD 558
Late renewal fee: each additional class (1,121.04 UI)Each additional class7,456.68 UYU≈ USD 186
Other
Opposition fee: first class (1,569.45 UI)Per application10,439.35 UYU≈ USD 260
Opposition fee: each additional class (672.62 UI)Each additional class4,474.01 UYU≈ USD 112
Recordal of assignment: first class (1,121.04 UI)Per application7,456.68 UYU≈ USD 186
Recordal of assignment: each additional class (672.62 UI)Each additional class4,474.01 UYU≈ USD 112
Recordal of change of name (448.41 UI)Per application2,982.67 UYU≈ USD 74
Recordal of change of address (448.41 UI)Per application2,982.67 UYU≈ USD 74
Recordal of licence or sub-licence (1,569.45 UI)Per application10,439.35 UYU≈ USD 260
Cancellation action for non-use (1,345.24 UI, per action)Per application8,948 UYU≈ USD 223
Nullity action (1,345.24 UI, per action)Per application8,948.02 UYU≈ USD 223
Registration certificate (título, 448.41 UI, per certificate)Per application2,982.67 UYU≈ USD 74

Source: Dirección Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial (DNPI), Ley 17.011 art. 99 y Tasas Octubre 2026；Dirección Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial (DNPI), Ley 17.011 art. 99 y Renovación de marca；Dirección Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial (DNPI), Ley 17.011 art. 99 y Oposición al registro de marcas；Dirección Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial (DNPI), Ley 17.011 art. 99 ítem 26 y Acciones de cancelación de marca；Dirección Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial (DNPI), Ley 17.011 art. 99 ítem 8 y Tasas Octubre 2026；Dirección Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial (DNPI), Ley 17.011 art. 99 ítem 17 y Tasas Octubre 2026 · Peso amounts in the table are converted at the UI value of 1 October 2026 (6.6516 pesos); the UI is published daily and DNPI charges at the value on the first day of the month of payment. · checked on 2026-10-11 · 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 (word mark): the same word mark in 3 classes needs a single application, with official fees of 1,121.04 + 2 × 672.62 = 2,466.28 UI; at the UI value of 1 October 2026 (6.6516 pesos) that is about 7,456.68 + 2 × 4,474.01 = 16,404.70 pesos. Figurative, composite and other types of mark cost more: 1,569.45 UI for the first class and 896.83 UI for each additional class, so the same 3 classes come to 3,363.11 UI, about 22,370.03 pesos.

Renewal fees are the same as filing fees (word marks 1,121.04 UI for the first class and 672.62 UI for each additional class; figurative or composite marks 1,569.45 UI and 896.83 UI); renewal in the 6-month grace period after expiry costs 3,363.11 UI for the first class and 1,121.04 UI for each additional class. An opposition costs 1,569.45 UI for the first class and 672.62 UI for each additional class; a non-use cancellation request 1,345.24 UI.

Holders of an SME certificate from Uruguay's SME agency (DINAPYME) pay 80% less. Fees paid on refused or withdrawn applications are not refunded.

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

Watch out

Rules specific to Uruguay and common refusals

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

Office actions are notified only online; no reply within 10 business days means abandonment

Formal examination objections are notified as a "vista" through the online filing system and are not sent separately; you have 10 business days from notification to reply, with no extension, after which the application is deemed abandoned. Paying a fee shortfall, correcting applicant details, filing the power of attorney and stating the colours of the image all go through this procedure. An application the applicant leaves idle for more than 30 calendar days is also refused. When appointing an agent, make sure someone is responsible for monitoring the system notifications.

An unregistered mark used locally for 1 year can oppose

Although Uruguay grants rights by registration and ranks applications by time of filing, an unregistered mark used locally peacefully, publicly and without interruption for at least 1 year can be the basis of an opposition against your application within the 30-day opposition period; the opponent must then file their own application within 10 days. If you plan to enter the Uruguayan market, file before you start selling or working with distributors.

A registration unused for 5 years can be cancelled; use on one product keeps every class

If the mark has not been used in Uruguay for 5 consecutive years from grant or renewal, or use has been interrupted for more than 5 years, anyone with a direct and legitimate interest can ask DNPI to cancel it; the burden of proof is on the owner, and only force majeure is an excuse. Uruguay's rule is more lenient than most countries': genuine use on a single registered product or service keeps the whole registration alive, including unrelated classes, and use on goods exported from Uruguay counts. Use is not examined on renewal.

Squatting by agents or distributors: only 5 years to claim the mark back

If an agent, representative, importer, distributor, licensee or franchisee applies for or registers your mark in their own name without authorisation, you can ask DNPI to transfer the application or registration to you, but this claim must be brought within 5 years of registration. Invalidity on relative grounds such as earlier rights or well-known marks has a 15-year limit, and only well-known marks registered in bad faith have no time limit. Act as soon as you discover a squatter, ideally within the opposition period.

No changes to the mark or additions to the goods after filing; a mark containing a product name covers only that product

Once filed, the sign cannot be altered in any way; a change requires a new application. Goods and services can only be reduced, never added, even within the same class. If the mark contains the name of a product or service in the class (for example "XX Biscuits" in Class 30), it can be registered only for that product or service, and the examiner will require a limitation. The same applicant cannot file again for the same mark in the same class unless the earlier registration or application is surrendered.

Lack of distinctiveness, descriptive words and single colours

Technical or everyday words indicating the quality or properties of the goods, generic names indicating the kind of goods, words that have come into common use, isolated letters or numerals without a special form, and the single colour of goods, containers or labels cannot be registered; foreign words that fall into these categories once translated into Spanish are refused on the same basis. Geographical names that are not sufficiently original, or that could mislead as to origin, are also refused. A clearance search and suitable graphic design reduce these risks.

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After registration

Keeping the registration

A Uruguayan registration lasts 10 years from grant. No declaration of use is required during that time, but once the registration is 5 years old it can be cancelled for non-use, and it must be renewed at expiry. Fees below are in UI; their peso value changes monthly.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
After grant, especially from the fifth yearUse the mark genuinely in Uruguay and keep evidence such as invoices, packaging and advertising; after 5 consecutive years of non-use, any interested party can request cancellationNone
Within the 6 months before expiry, every 10 yearsRenew; the image cannot be changed and classes cannot be added, although goods and services can be reduced; use is not examined; corporate applicants attach notarial evidence of the signatory's authorityWord marks: 1,121.04 UI for the first class, 672.62 UI for each additional class; figurative or composite marks: 1,569.45 UI and 896.83 UI
Within 6 months after expiryRenewal is still possible in the grace period and the registration remains in force; the renewal runs from the original expiry date3,363.11 UI for the first class, 1,121.04 UI for each additional class
Any timeAssignments must be in writing and recorded with DNPI to be effective against third parties, and the assignor must declare any other identical or similar marks they hold; changes of name or address must be recorded and published in the Gazette; licences and pledges can be recordedAssignment: 1,121.04 UI for the first class, 672.62 UI for each additional class; change of name or address: 448.41 UI each; licence recordal: 1,569.45 UI

The regulations define "use": placing any one of the registered goods or services on the Uruguayan market in normal quantities and in the normal way counts as use, as do goods exported from Uruguay and services provided from Uruguay to other countries. Use by a licensee or authorised person counts as use by the owner.

An assignor who conceals other identical or similar marks they hold loses protection for those marks. Brand registries on e-commerce platforms usually also require a registered or pending mark.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Uruguay

How much does a Uruguayan trademark cost?

Official fees are set in indexed units (UI) and charged by type of mark and number of classes: word marks cost 1,121.04 UI for the first class and 672.62 UI for each additional class; figurative, composite and other types of mark 1,569.45 UI and 896.83 UI. DNPI converts them into pesos at the UI value on the first day of the month of payment; in October 2026, 1 UI is 6.6516 pesos, so a word mark in one class is about 7,457 pesos. Publication in the Gazette is free of charge. Service fees, including the local agent's 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 Uruguay?

DNPI's 2024 information leaflet gives an approximate time of 3 to 4 months, provided there is no opposition and corrections are made on time; this is not a statistic. The statutory milestones are: 10 business days to answer a formal examination objection; a 30-calendar-day opposition period from the day after publication in the Industrial Property Gazette; and, if opposed, 30 calendar days to reply, after which DNPI's legal department decides, which takes additional time.

Can I designate Uruguay through the Madrid System?

No. Uruguay is not a member of the Madrid System, so an international registration cannot designate it; you must file directly with DNPI through a local agent. Uruguay is party to the Paris Convention: if your first application abroad was filed less than 6 months ago, you can claim its priority when filing in Uruguay and file the priority document within 90 calendar days of filing.

Can one Uruguayan application cover several classes?

Yes. One application can designate one, several or even all 45 classes, with official fees charged for the first class and each additional class; in each class you can list either specific goods or services or the whole class. Goods and services can be reduced during examination but not added. Note that if the mark contains the name of a product or service in the class, it can be registered only for that product or service.

Does a foreign applicant's power of attorney need notarisation and an apostille?

If an ordinary agent files, yes. The signature on the power of attorney must be certified by a notary; a power issued abroad must also be apostilled and translated into Spanish by a public translator. Uruguay is party to the Apostille Convention, so a power issued in another contracting state needs no consular legalisation. A Uruguayan industrial property agent needs only a signed letter of authorisation, with no notarisation or apostille, although it must still be translated. Follow your agent's instructions on how to sign.

How long can a Uruguayan trademark go unused before it is cancelled?

If the mark has not been used in Uruguay for 5 consecutive years from grant or renewal, or use has been interrupted for more than 5 years, anyone with a direct and legitimate interest can ask DNPI to cancel it; the burden of proving use is on the owner, and only force majeure is an excuse. However, genuine use on any one registered product or service keeps the whole registration alive, including unrelated classes. Renewal itself does not require evidence of use.

Other IP rights

Patents: Uruguayan invention patents last 20 years from the filing date; utility models 10 years from the filing date, extendable once by 5 years. Uruguay has been a PCT member since 7 January 2025, and PCT applications must enter the Uruguayan national phase within 30 months of the priority date (rule in force since 1 January 2026).

Designs: protected as industrial design patents for 10 years from the filing date, extendable once by 5 years; Uruguay is not party to the Hague Agreement, so you file directly with DNPI.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

Other countries and territories in the region

Argentina　·　Brazil　·　Paraguay　·　Chile　·　Mexico

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