China Trademark Priority Claim — 6-Month Deadline Calculator
If you have already filed the same mark in your home country (or another Paris Convention country), you can claim that earlier filing date in China — but only within 6 months, and you must declare the priority at the time of the China filing. Enter your first filing date below.
Two traps that wipe out your priority:
Not declaring priority on the China application form. You cannot add it later. If the CNIPA form is filed without the priority declaration, the filing date becomes your China date — even if you are still inside the 6-month window.
Not submitting the certified copy of your home-country filing within 3 months. China requires an official certified copy (from the home office, apostilled or legalised) within 3 months of the China filing date. Missing this is treated as if you never claimed priority.
Last day to file certified home-office copy (3 months from China filing)
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Step
Rule
1. Declare priority on the China application
Must be written on the CNIPA form at filing — home country, application number, filing date. Cannot be added later.
2. File within 6 months of first filing
Paris Convention Art. 4 — China trademark period is 6 months (industrial designs / patents are 6/12 months).
3. Submit certified copy within 3 months
Trademark Law Art. 25: certified copy of the home-country filing, submitted within 3 months of the China filing date.
Effect if done on time
Your China application is treated as filed on the earlier home-country date — useful against squatters who filed between your first date and the China date.
Effect if missed
Priority is waived; China examines your mark from the actual China filing date.
When priority is worth claiming: if you have even one day of earlier home filing, declare it — it costs nothing extra on the CNIPA side (the 270 RMB official fee is unchanged), and it is your strongest shield against a Chinese squatter who filed after your home date but before your China date.