To register a trademark abroad from India, file one international application under the Madrid Protocol through the Indian Trade Marks Registry, based on your Indian trademark application or registration, and choose the countries you want. WIPO's basic fee is CHF 653 (CHF 903 for a mark in colour), plus a fee for each country. Each country then examines the mark under its own law, usually within 12 to 18 months, and the registration lasts 10 years.
Trademarks are territorial: your Indian registration does not stop anyone from using your brand in Dubai, London or New York. The Madrid Protocol, run by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), lets you protect your mark in many countries with one application, in one language, paid in one currency. India has been a member since 2013.
How the Madrid Protocol works
- You need an Indian base mark. Your international application must be based on a trademark you have applied for or registered in India, for the same mark and the same (or narrower) goods and services.
- File one international application (Form MM2) through the Indian Trade Marks Registry, which acts as the office of origin, and choose the countries ("designations").
- The Registry certifies and forwards it to WIPO, which checks formalities, records the international registration and publishes it in the WIPO Gazette.
- Each designated country examines the mark under its own law, and must issue any refusal within 12 or 18 months, depending on the country.
- Protection is granted country by country. Where no refusal is issued, or a refusal is overcome, your mark is protected there as if you had filed locally.
Which countries are covered?
As of the end of 2025, the Madrid System had 116 members covering 132 countries, including the USA, the UK, the European Union (one designation covers all EU member states), China, Japan, Australia, Singapore, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Canada. Some important markets are not members, for example Taiwan and Hong Kong: for these, file directly through a local agent. Check membership before you plan.
How much does it cost?
| Fee | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Basic fee (mark in black and white) | CHF 653 | WIPO |
| Basic fee (mark in colour) | CHF 903 | WIPO |
| Each designated country | Individual fee set by that country, or a complementary fee of CHF 100 | WIPO, passed to the country |
| Classes beyond three (where applicable) | Supplementary fee of CHF 100 per extra class | WIPO |
| Handling fee | As set in the Trade Marks Rules | Indian Trade Marks Registry |
| Professional fee (CorpBridge) | ₹9,999 + GST | CorpBridge |
Country fees vary widely: the USA, Japan and the EU charge much more than many Asian or African members. WIPO's online fee calculator gives the exact total for your countries and classes; we prepare that estimate before filing.
How long does it take?
- Filing and certification in India: usually a few weeks.
- Registration by WIPO: typically 1 to 3 months after it receives a complete application.
- Decisions by each country: within 12 or 18 months of being notified, often sooner.
- Validity: 10 years from the international registration date, renewable centrally through WIPO.
If you file the international application within 6 months of your Indian application, you can claim your Indian filing date as priority in every designated country.
Madrid Protocol vs filing directly in each country
| Madrid Protocol | Direct filing in each country | |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | One, filed in India | One per country, through local agents |
| Cost | Usually lower for 3 or more countries | Often cheaper for a single country |
| Management | One registration, one renewal, central changes of owner or address | Separate records and renewals everywhere |
| Dependence on Indian mark | Yes, for the first 5 years | No |
| Non-member countries | Not possible | Possible |
The 5-year risk: central attack
For five years, the international registration depends on your Indian base mark. If the Indian application is refused, withdrawn or cancelled in that period, the international registration is cancelled too, in every country. You can then convert each designation into a national application while keeping the original date, but that costs extra. So make sure your Indian mark is strong before relying on it: run a trademark search and resolve any objection quickly.
Step-by-step checklist
- Confirm your Indian trademark application or registration and its classes.
- Choose countries based on where you sell, manufacture or plan to raise money.
- Search the mark in key countries before filing.
- Get a fee estimate from WIPO's calculator.
- File Form MM2 through the Indian Registry, ideally within 6 months of your Indian filing.
- Track and reply to any provisional refusals country by country.
- Add countries later with a subsequent designation when you expand.
Need a market that is not in the Madrid System? See trademark registration abroad. For patents, the equivalent route is the PCT international application.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register my trademark internationally from India?
Yes. File one international application under the Madrid Protocol through the Indian Trade Marks Registry, based on your Indian trademark, and choose the countries you want.
How much does the Madrid Protocol cost from India?
WIPO's basic fee is CHF 653 (CHF 903 if the mark is in colour), plus a fee for each designated country, plus the Indian Registry's handling fee and any professional fee. WIPO's fee calculator gives the exact amount for your countries.
Do I need an Indian trademark registration first?
You need at least an Indian trademark application. The international application can be based on a pending Indian application or a registration.
How many countries does the Madrid Protocol cover?
132 countries through 116 members, as of the end of 2025, including the USA, UK, EU, China, Japan, Australia, Singapore and UAE.
How long is a Madrid international registration valid?
10 years from the date of international registration, renewable for further 10-year periods through WIPO.
What happens if my Indian trademark is refused?
During the first five years, refusal or cancellation of the Indian base mark cancels the international registration in all countries. You can convert the designations into national applications, keeping the original date.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and thresholds change; speak to an expert about your situation.