Trademark Registration Fees in India: Executive Takeaway
Trademark registration fees in India consist of two separate charges: the statutory government fee paid to the Trade Marks Registry, and the professional fee charged by the attorney or agent filing on your behalf.
Under the First Schedule of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017, these government fees apply to filings made online. Physical filing costs ₹500 more per class in each category.
Every founder who delays trademark registration because an attorney’s quote looks expensive is making a budgeting error, not a legal one — the government fee is fixed and identical across India, and the attorney fee is the only real variable in your total cost. Confusing the two produces two common outcomes: businesses that overpay because they never separate the statutory charge from the service charge, and businesses that under-budget, stall mid-process, and let an Examination Report deadline lapse, which the Trade Marks Registry treats as abandonment.
Trademark registration in India is governed by the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and the Trade Marks Rules, 2017, and administered by the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Every fee cited below traces to the First Schedule of the 2017 Rules, not to any agent’s private price list — always verify current rates on the official IP India portal before filing, since government notifications do revise them from time to time.
Complete Step-by-Step Process for Trademark Registration in India
Filing Form TM-A correctly the first time is what keeps your trademark registration fees limited to the government charge plus one professional fee, instead of paying twice for objection replies and refiling. The process runs through six stages, from search to certificate.
1. Conduct a Trademark Search
Run a search on the IP India public search tool before filing — there is no government charge for this step. Checking for identical or phonetically similar marks already registered or pending in your class is the single most effective way to avoid a Section 11 objection later.
2. Select the Correct NICE Class
India follows the NICE Classification, now in its 13th Edition (effective 1 January 2026): Classes 1–34 cover goods and Classes 35–45 cover services, such as Class 35 for advertising and business management. Each class is billed separately, so a mark filed in three classes means three separate government fee payments — this is the biggest lever on your total trademark cost per class.
3. Prepare Documents and File Form TM-A
- Compile identity proof, address proof, business registration proof, and a logo file if you are registering a device mark.
- Attach a DPIIT Recognition Certificate or Udyam Registration Certificate to qualify for the concessional government fee.
- File online through the IP India e-filing portal to complete the online fee payment and receive an instant acknowledgment number, or file physically at one of five Trade Marks Registry offices — Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Ahmedabad.
4. Respond to the Examination Report
An Examiner may raise an objection under Section 9 (absolute grounds, such as descriptiveness or lack of distinctiveness) or Section 11 (relative grounds, such as conflict with an earlier mark). The applicant has 30 days from the Examination Report to file a reply; missing this window gets the application treated as abandoned.
5. Publication and the Opposition Window
An accepted mark is published in the Trade Marks Journal, opening a four-month window in which any third party can file a formal opposition on Form TM-O.
6. Registration and Certificate
If the mark clears unopposed, or an opposition is decided in the applicant’s favour, the Registry issues the registration certificate. Registration is valid for 10 years from the date of registration under Section 25 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, and is renewable indefinitely through Form TM-R.
Trademark Registration Fees: Government Cost vs Attorney Fee Breakdown
The government share of your trademark registration fees is fixed and identical across India; the attorney share is market-driven and the only line item genuinely worth negotiating. This is the core of the trademark government fee vs attorney fee comparison every applicant should run before filing.
The Registry charges strictly by applicant category and number of classes, not by the complexity of your brand name or the length of your goods description:
| Fee Type | Individual / DPIIT Startup / MSME | Company / LLP / Other Entity | Typical Attorney Fee (per class) | Timeline (Unopposed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Application — E-Filing (Form TM-A) | ₹4,500/class | ₹9,000/class | ₹2,000 – ₹15,000 | 12–18 months |
| New Application — Physical Filing | ₹5,000/class | ₹10,000/class | ₹2,000 – ₹15,000 | 12–18 months |
| Opposition Counter-Statement (Form TM-O) | ₹2,700/class | ₹2,700/class | ₹10,000 – ₹50,000+ | Adds 6+ months |
| Renewal, every 10 years (Form TM-R) | ₹9,000/class | ₹9,000/class | ₹2,000 – ₹5,000 | 2–4 weeks |
| Expedited Examination (Rule 34) | ₹20,000/class | ₹40,000/class | Not applicable | Reduces queue wait |
Two details commonly catch applicants off guard, especially anyone weighing trademark cost for individual vs company filings. First, the 50% concession on the government fee applies only to the fresh application — renewal, opposition, and expedited-examination charges are billed at the standard rate for every applicant category, startups included. Second, professional fees attract 18% GST on top of the quoted amount, while statutory government fees do not.
E-filing vs physical filing trademark fee is a straightforward comparison: online filing is ₹500 cheaper per class in every row of this table, issues an instant acknowledgment number, and supports real-time status tracking, while physical filing acknowledgments can take 15–20 days to process.
Also Read: How to Choose Your Trademark Class: Cross-Class Strategy Secrets for AI, SaaS, and E-Commerce Brands
Common Pitfalls, Legal Risks, and Rejection Reasons
Most trademark rejections in India trace back to avoidable procedural errors, not to any inherent flaw in the brand name itself.
- Filing without a prior search. Skipping the search step is the leading cause of Section 11 objections and post-registration opposition from an existing rights holder — both cost far more in legal fees than the search itself, which is free.
- Choosing a merely descriptive or generic mark. Names that simply describe the product invite a Section 9 objection; invented or arbitrary names clear examination faster and carry lower long-term litigation risk.
- Non-compliant logo files. Device marks must be uploaded as a correctly sized, high-resolution JPEG on a plain background; a pixelated, oversized, or distorted file triggers a deficiency notice that delays the entire timeline.
- A defective Form TM-48. The Power of Attorney must be executed in favour of a named individual agent, not a firm, and stamped at the correct value under the applicant’s state stamp duty law — under-stamping is a common, entirely avoidable rejection ground.
- Claiming the concessional fee without proof. Paying ₹4,500 instead of ₹9,000 without attaching a valid DPIIT or Udyam certificate results in a fee-deficiency objection that stalls the application until the balance is paid.
- Missing statutory deadlines. Applicants get 30 days to reply to an Examination Report and four months to respond once an opposition is filed; either lapse can see the application deemed abandoned regardless of how strong the mark itself is.
Document Checklist — Filing Form TM-A
- Self-run trademark search report from the IP India public search tool (no government fee)
- Applicant identity proof — Aadhaar, PAN, or Passport
- Address proof of the applicant or authorised signatory
- Business proof: DPIIT Recognition Certificate or Udyam Registration Certificate (for the concessional ₹4,500 rate), or Certificate of Incorporation / Partnership Deed for companies and LLPs
- Logo file in JPEG format, correctly sized on a plain background (skip if filing a word mark only)
- Date of first use in India, if claiming prior use — otherwise file as “proposed to be used”
- Form TM-48 (Power of Attorney), individually named and correctly stamped, if an agent is filing on your behalf
- Government fee payment confirmation matching the correct applicant category and number of classes filed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the government fee for trademark registration in India?
The government fee for trademark registration in India is ₹4,500 per class for individuals, DPIIT-recognised startups, and Udyam-registered MSMEs filing online, and ₹9,000 per class for companies, LLPs, and other entities. Physical filing costs ₹500 more per class in each category, under the First Schedule of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017.
Is the trademark registration fee different for individuals and companies?
Yes. Individuals, DPIIT-recognised startups, and registered MSMEs pay a concessional ₹4,500 per class, while companies, LLPs, and other entities pay double at ₹9,000 per class. This concession applies only to the fresh application with valid proof attached — it does not extend to renewal or opposition fees.
What is the difference between e-filing and physical filing trademark fees?
E-filing through the IP India portal costs ₹500 less per class than physical filing at a Registry office, across every applicant category. E-filing also generates an instant acknowledgment number and real-time tracking, while physical filing acknowledgments can take 15–20 days to process.
How long does trademark registration take in India after filing Form TM-A?
An unopposed, unobjected application typically takes 12–18 months from filing to registration, given the Registry’s current examination backlog. A Section 9 or 11 objection adds a 30-day reply cycle, and a third-party opposition filed within four months of publication can extend the timeline substantially further.
This article summarises statutory government fees under the Trade Marks Rules, 2017 for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Government fee schedules are subject to revision by official notification — confirm current rates on the IP India portal before filing, and consult a registered trademark attorney for guidance specific to your application.
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