China runs on a strict first-to-file principle, and foreign applicants without a local business address must file through a CNIPA-recorded Chinese agent. This guide walks through the seven practical steps — from searching and choosing classes to filing, examination and what happens if you receive a refusal — with current fees and a realistic timeline.
Most foreign brands should consider two filings: the original Latin/English mark and a Chinese-character version. Chinese consumers and platforms search and refer to brands by their Chinese names; if you do not register a translation or transliteration, a third party may do so and block your store or listings.
Word marks give the broadest protection. Stylized logos can be filed separately, but a logo registration does not protect the words in other fonts.
Search CNIPA records for identical and similar marks in the relevant classes. Chinese examiners compare not only exact matches but also similar pronunciation, appearance and meaning, including Chinese-character equivalents. A search before filing reduces the chance of a costly refusal and surfaces squatters early.
You can run a first-pass self-check with our free China trademark tools, then have an agent review the borderline results.
China uses the Nice Classification, but CNIPA applies its own standard items (Chinese goods/services descriptions). You must select accepted items; a class heading alone is not enough, and coverage that works in a US/EU application may not map cleanly. Cover your current products and the closely related services sellers often overlook (e.g. retail services, online marketplace services, app software).
Our Nice class picker helps map products to the right classes and Chinese items.
The agent files the application electronically. CNIPA issues an application number and begins formal examination. The standard online official fee is CNY 270 for one class (up to 10 items); additional items within a class and additional classes carry extra official charges.
Estimate the total, including agent service fees, with the CNIPA fee calculator.
CNIPA examines distinctiveness, compliance and conflicts with prior rights. If there is an objection, it issues an office action (a notice of refusal or examination opinion) that must be answered within the deadline. If the application passes, it is published for a three-month opposition period, during which third parties may file an opposition.
With no successful opposition (and after CNIPA completes its registration formalities), a trademark registration certificate issues. Protection lasts ten years and is renewable indefinitely in ten-year periods. Watch the non-use cancellation rule: a mark can be vulnerable to cancellation if it has not been used in China for three consecutive years without a justified reason — keep evidence of use (invoices, listings, packaging, advertising).
| Item | Figure (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Official online filing fee | CNY 270 / class (up to 10 items) | Extra items and classes cost more; agent service fees are separate. |
| Typical timeline to registration | Roughly 6–9 months | Longer if there is an office action, opposition or refusal review. |
| Opposition window | 3 months from publication | Third parties can oppose during this period. |
| Refusal review (驳回复审) | Filed within 15 days | Review is handled by the CNIPA review body; tight deadline. |
| Protection term | 10 years, renewable | Keep records of genuine use to defend against non-use cancellation. |
Figures are general guidance based on CNIPA practice; always verify against the latest official notices before paying. See the timeline and fee tools for an interactive version.
If you already hold a home application or registration, you can extend protection to China through an international registration under the Madrid System instead of filing directly. Madrid is convenient for covering several countries at once, but the China phase still applies Chinese substantive standards, and any provisional refusal must be answered in Chinese by a local agent.
Our route chooser tool compares the two, and the Madrid China guide covers fees and provisional refusals.
You usually have options depending on the timing and facts:
The sooner a problem is spotted, the cheaper the fix. Monitoring new filings and publications is the most cost-effective step.
Yes. A foreign entity can own a Chinese registration, but without a local residence or business address the application must be submitted through a CNIPA-recorded Chinese agent.
A smooth application typically takes about 6–9 months from filing to registration. Office actions, a refusal review or an opposition can extend this considerably.
The standard official online fee is CNY 270 for the first class (up to 10 items), with additional charges for extra items and classes, plus the agent's service fee. Use the fee calculator for an estimate.
It is strongly recommended. Chinese shoppers and platforms use Chinese names; an unregistered transliteration is often taken by a third party and can then be used to block your listings.
China is first-to-file, but the law includes limited safeguards against bad-faith filings and squatting, and certain prior-use situations may be argued. These are exceptions and require evidence; relying on them is far riskier than filing early.
Yes. A registration can be cancelled for three consecutive years of non-use without a justified reason. Keep dated evidence of genuine use in China.
Send us your brand, products and target markets. We will return availability, squatting risk, recommended classes and a fixed quote — usually within a working day. The initial feasibility check is free.
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