Frequently asked questions

CHF 220 for the first class and CHF 110 for each additional class (CHF 661/331 for collective or certification marks), plus the WIPO basic fee of CHF 653 (black-and-white) or CHF 903 (colour). Beyond three classes, roughly CHF 100 per class also applies.

After WIPO transmits the designation, CNIPA examines it under Chinese standards. CNIPA must issue any provisional refusal within the applicable 12/18-month period; a smooth designation that draws no refusal proceeds to a statement of grant of protection.

It is CNIPA's objection to the designation (e.g. a conflicting prior mark or descriptiveness), issued via WIPO. It must be answered in Chinese through a CNIPA-recorded agent within the term stated in the notice; missing it means the China designation is lost.

No. WIPO handles only formalities and transmittal. The substantive response must be filed in Chinese directly with CNIPA by a recorded Chinese trademark agent.

If the home application/registration that supports the international registration is refused or cancelled within five years, the international registration — including the China designation — is affected. You can convert it into a direct Chinese national application within the statutory period, keeping the original priority.

When China is your key or time-critical market, your home basis is new and exposed to a central attack, or you need Chinese-character marks and tailored class items. The route chooser walks through these questions.

The international registration is renewed centrally through WIPO every 10 years, which also renews the China designation — a single renewal covers all designated countries.

You can designate China for marks held in the international registration, but Chinese-character names and exact CNIPA class items often need careful drafting; many applicants file the Chinese-character mark as a separate direct national application to control it precisely.