Trademark registration in Nepal: process, documents, fees and timelineट्रेडमार्क दर्ता: प्रक्रिया, कागजात, दस्तुर र समय

Trademark registration in Nepal (ट्रेडमार्क दर्ता) is done at the Department of Industry (DoI) under the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 2022 BS (1965). You file one application for each class of goods or services, DoI examines it, publishes it in the Industrial Property Bulletin, waits 90 days for objections, and then issues a certificate valid for 7 years.

Under Section 16 of the Act, you own a trademark in Nepal by registering it, not just by using it first. A business that trades for years under an unregistered name can lose it to someone who files first. Expect the whole process to take about a year, so file before you print packaging or sign a franchise deal.

Who can register a trademark in Nepal?

Any registered business can apply: a company, a partnership or proprietorship firm, or a registered industry. DoI asks for a copy of the business registration certificate and the PAN or VAT certificate with the application, so a brand cannot be registered by an individual with no business behind it. If you are still setting up, start with company registration and PAN and VAT, then file the mark straight after.

Foreign companies can register too. They file through a local agent in Nepal under a power of attorney, with a Nepal address for correspondence.

Trademark registration process in Nepal, step by step

1. Search. Check the DoI records and past Industrial Property Bulletins for identical or similar marks in your class. A search before filing is the cheapest way to avoid a refusal or an opposition.
2. Choose the class. Nepal uses the Nice Classification of 45 classes (1 to 34 for goods, 35 to 45 for services). Each class needs its own application and fee (Section 18A).
3. File the application at DoI's Industrial Property Section with the specimens, business documents and the application fee receipt.
4. Examination. DoI checks the mark against the refusal grounds in Section 18(1) and against existing marks. It may ask for corrections or a changed specimen.
5. Publication. Once accepted, the mark is published in the Industrial Property Bulletin.
6. Opposition. Anyone who objects has 90 days from publication to file an opposition with DoI.
7. Registration. If there is no opposition, or it is decided in your favour, you pay the registration fee and collect the certificate.

What documents do you need?

DoI's own checklist for a Nepali applicant asks for:

• The completed application form.
• A copy of the business or industry registration certificate, and the PAN or VAT certificate.
• Four specimens of the mark, each no larger than 8 cm by 8 cm, showing the business name, address and the goods or services it covers.
• The receipt for the application fee.
• A power of attorney, if an agent or representative files for you.

Extra documents for foreign applicants

• A certified copy of the trademark registration in the home country, still in force. Law firms report that DoI wants this copy notarised.
• Proof of the priority date, if you claim one. Nepal is a Paris Convention member, so a mark filed abroad in the last 6 months can claim that earlier date.
• A power of attorney to the Nepali agent and a correspondence address in Nepal.

Nepal is not part of the Madrid Protocol, so an international registration does not cover Nepal. A foreign brand needs its own national filing. If the foreign company is also investing, see our foreign investment service.

Trademark fee in Nepal: government charges

Government fees are charged per class. These are the figures most published sources give for Schedule 3 of the Act. DoI does not publish the schedule online, so confirm the amount on the day you file.

A brand that needs three classes, say clothing, bags and a retail shop, pays three sets of fees. Agent and specimen preparation costs are separate from these government charges. See our prices page for the fixed fee for filing.

How long does trademark registration in Nepal take?

On paper the steps fit into a few months. In practice, an unopposed application takes about 12 to 14 months from filing to certificate, because examination and publication run in batches. An opposition adds months, sometimes years, depending on the dispute.

Once the opposition period ends, collect the certificate promptly. DoI's guidelines give one year, and in December 2025 DoI announced that applications whose certificates were not collected by 1 June 2026 would be cancelled automatically.

File before you launch. Registration, not first use, gives you the right to the mark, and the process takes about a year.

How to register a brand name in Nepal without a refusal

Section 18(1) lets DoI refuse a mark that is not distinctive, that is identical or confusingly similar to an existing mark, or that goes against public morality or the national interest. In practice that means:

• Avoid plain descriptive words for your product, such as "Fresh Dairy" for milk.
• Do not copy or closely imitate a known brand, even one not yet registered in Nepal.
• Keep national symbols, government names and offensive words out of the mark.
• File the logo and the word mark separately if you want both protected on their own.

After registration, use the mark. Under Section 18C, a mark not used within one year of registration can be cancelled after an inquiry.

Trademark renewal in Nepal: every 7 years

A registered trademark is valid for 7 years (Section 18D) and can be renewed any number of times. Renew within 35 days after expiry (Section 23B(1)). If you miss that, you have six more months to renew with the Rs 1,000 penalty (Section 23B(2)). After that, the registration is cancelled and the mark is open to others.

For renewal, DoI asks for the original certificate, the renewal fee receipt, proof that the business itself has been renewed, and proof that the mark is in use. Keep invoices, packaging and photos that show the mark in trade.

Can you file a trademark online in Nepal?

As of October 2026, DoI's published checklists describe a paper application to its Industrial Property Section in Kathmandu. DoI's online system handles industry registration, but we could not find a confirmed online filing route for trademarks. Many owners therefore file through an agent, who submits the papers and follows up on examination and the bulletin.

If your application was pending in September 2025

DoI's physical trademark files were destroyed in the arson of 9 September 2025. Its December 2025 notice asked applicants with unpublished applications to resubmit their documents by 1 March 2026, and those with published, unopposed marks to apply for the certificate by 1 June 2026, or face cancellation. If you filed before September 2025 and have not heard from DoI, check the status before assuming the mark is safe.

Our trademark registration service covers the search, class choice, filing, bulletin tracking and renewal reminders. Setting up the business first? Read the company registration guide.

Questions people ask

General information, not legal advice. Rules change; we check the current position for your case before filing. Legal documents are drafted under the supervision of our retained, licensed advocate.