Trademark Registration Process in India: Cost and Documents Required
Taxes / Nov 13, 2025
All businesses want to make a name for themselves in the market. Having legal rights over your business name, logo, and tagline assures that you can protect your business identity from legal and marketplace competition. Legal rights protect your business reputation and profitability by ensuring that your name and symbol can not be misappropriated.
The registration of trademarks in India is governed by the Trade Marks Act, 1999. Understanding trademark registration requirements in terms of processes, costs, and documents can lower compliance problems and the chances of rejection or delay, regardless of whether you are a startup or an established business. This guide explains in detail the trademark registration processes, costs, and required documents.
What is a Trademark?
A trademark identifies unique goods and services in the marketplace. It can take the form of a name, logo, image, slogan, specific colours, or even a sound. For example, large businesses protect the use of their logos and promotional phrases through trademark laws in order to maintain exclusive control over their use.
A trademark holder has the right to protect their trademark from being used without permission. This is known as the right of exclusion. Registration of a trademark helps a business to establish a reputation and consumer trust, which is important for the business's expansion.
Step-by-Step Trademark Registration Process in India
The trademark registration process has a number of steps, beginning with a trademark search and ending with the registration certificate. Each step is explained in detail below:
1. Trademark Search
Before applying, you must complete a trademark search on the official government website ipindia.gov.in. This step helps you determine whether your intended trademark is original for registration by comparing your proposed trademark with existing registered marks to identify identical or similar marks.
For a complete search to identify potential conflicts in similar classes and save time as well as prevent rejection, a qualified legal professional should be engaged.
2. Trademark Classification
The following step involves selecting the appropriate class for the trademark. The Nice Classification system classifies trademarks into 45 classes:
- Classes 1-34 pertain to physical goods.
- Classes 35-45 pertain to services.
To give an example, a software firm would be in class 42, while a clothing company would be in class 25. The importance of selecting the correct class cannot be overstated: failing to do so means that your protection may not cover the business activities you intend to cover.
3. Filing the Trademark Application
After completing the search and classification, the application can be submitted to the Trademark Registry. This can be done online via a government website, or you can do so through a trademark professional.
The application must contain the following information:
- The name of the applicant (individual, company, or partnership),
- The trademark logo or wordmark,
- A description of the goods or services,
- The trademark class number,
- Power of attorney is filled through an agent.
Once submitted, you will receive an acknowledgement number that allows you to monitor the status of your application. At this point, you can use the ™ symbol and start recording the trademark.
4. Examination of Application
The Registrar of Trademarks must review the application to ensure that it meets the relevant legal requirements. If there are any objections, an examination report is generated.
The applicant or their legal representative has 30 days to respond to these objections and justify the acceptance of the trademark. A hearing before the examiner can be arranged if necessary.
5. Publication in Trademark Journal
If the examiner finds the trademark acceptable after review, it will be published in the Trademark Journal to inform the public. During this period, any third party can file an opposition for three months after publication if they believe the trademark violates their rights.
If no opposition is filed during this period, the trademark will be granted and registered.
6. Trademark Registration Certificate
After the waiting period and any opposition has been resolved in the applicant’s favour, the Registrar issues the trademark registration certificate. The applicant may now legally display the ® symbol next to their brand name, indicating full ownership and legal protection.
The registration is valid for 10 years and can be indefinitely renewed upon payment of the renewal fee.
Trademark Registration Cost in India
The Cost of Trademark Registration in India is determined by the applicant type, the application submission method, and the associated service provider costs.
For additional clarity and information, I have outlined the costs below in greater detail:
| Applicant Type | Government Fees for Trademark Registration | Professional Fees (Legal-N-Tax) | Total Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual / Startup / MSME | ₹4,500 per application per class | Starting @ ₹4,999 | Approx. ₹9,499 |
| Company / LLP / Partnership | ₹9,000 per application per class | Starting @ ₹4,999 | Approx. ₹13,999 |
The costs to be paid to the government for trademark registration are fixed by the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks. However, the government allows the providers to charge additional and discretionary costs for trademark searching, responding to objections, and documentation.
Legal-N-Tax provides full trademark registration services and assists with the financial aspect. Pricing starts at ₹4,999 for all registration services, so that entrepreneurs and small businesses can access it at a reasonable price of ₹4,999.
Documents Needed For Trademark Registration in India
The documents needed for trademark registration depend on the type of applicant (individual, company, LLP or MSME). Having the correct documents will speed up the approval process and prevent delays.
Here is a basic list of the necessary documents:
For Individuals:
- Aadhaar card or PAN card of the applicant
- Signed power of attorney
- Logo or wordmark (soft copy)
- Proof of address
For Startups / MSMEs:
- Udyam Registration Certificate (Udyog Aadhar)
- PAN and address proof of the applicant
- Logo (if any)
- Authorization letter
For Companies / LLPs:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Director's identification number (DIN) or partner details
- Logo (soft copy)
- Power of attorney signed by an authorised signatory
Preparing the necessary documents for Trademark Registration in advance streamlines verification and minimises delays in processing.
Timeline for Trademark Registration
Under standard conditions, the trademark registration process in India takes approximately 8 to 12 months to complete. This timeline could be delayed if objections or opposition are raised.
A brief overview of the timeline is as follows:
- Trademark search and filing – 2 to 3 days
- Examination by registrar – 3 to 4 months
- Publication in a journal – 3 to 4 months
- Registration certificate issued – 2 to 3 months.
In the interim period, the trademark may be used in commerce accompanied by the ™ symbol to indicate ownership. The trademark may be represented with the ® symbol after the registration certificate is issued.
The Importance of Trademark Registration
- Defensive strategy: Trademark registration provides legal ownership of brand names and logos.
- Avoids infringement: Safeguards against unauthorised appropriation or replication.
- Reputation management: Cultivating trust and goodwill boosts a brand’s esteem.
- Creation of rights: Trademarks are sellable, licensable, and franchising rights are possible.
- International trademark portfolio management: Registration initiates protection under the Madrid Protocol.
- Long-term brand identity retention starts with trademark registration.
Why Legal-N-Tax For Trademark Registration
Legal-N-Tax is a trademark registration service provider in Delhi and all of India. Our team streamlines the registration process by managing trademark search, trademark classification, trademark objection response, and certificate issuance processes, ensuring a transparent and timely registration process.
Our Offers:
- Stepwise complete support from filing through registration.
- Competitive pricing.
- Access to a dedicated legal practitioner.
- Frequent updates clarifying the current position.
- Designed for agility.
Legal-N-Tax aids trademark process compliance, allowing you to concentrate on expanding your business, regardless of whether you are a seasoned brand or a new business owner.
Conclusion
In India, trademark registration represents one of the most important ways to secure your brand identity. Having a good grasp of the costs associated with trademark registration in India, including government fees, and preparing all the required documentation aids the effective assertion of one’s rights.
For prompt, low-cost, and expert assistance, contact:
Legal-N-Tax
Legal-N-Tax offers trademark registration services in Delhi, with prices starting at ₹4,999.
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