TIMELINE &
COST
KEY FACTS
TIMING
Allow for examination, publication and any objections; request a case-specific estimate.
OFFICIAL FEE
CNY 270 per e-filed class for up to 10 items; CNY 27 per additional item.
VALIDITY
10 years from registration, renewable indefinitely in 10-year blocks.
USE IT
An eligible registration may be challenged for three years of non-use without justification.
NEED A FIRST READ?
Send us the mark, the market, and any deadline. We will route it to the right practice lead within one business day.
Contact UsContent updated: . Current-law references reflect the rules in force at this update. Check the 2027 law and transition arrangements for later matters.
THE STAGES, IN ORDER
A national application passes through formality examination, substantive examination, preliminary publication and registration. Under the law in force on 8 September 2026, substantive examination has a nine-month statutory period, subject to exclusions, and the opposition period is three months. These statutory periods are not a guaranteed end-to-end delivery time.
Refusals, oppositions, corrections and time excluded by law can extend the process. Obtain an estimate for the actual case and update it as the file progresses. The revised Trademark Law takes effect on 1 January 2027 and changes the opposition period to two months; check the applicable rules and transition arrangements for the relevant file.
WHAT IT COSTS
The official electronic application fee is CNY 270 per class for up to ten goods or services, plus CNY 27 for each additional item. Clearance, drafting, filing and monitoring fees depend on the agreed scope. Refusal reviews, oppositions, translations and evidence work should be quoted separately where they are outside the initial engagement.
Early filing may reduce later recovery costs, but coverage should follow actual use and realistic expansion. Compare filing and maintenance costs with the business value and identified risks, rather than assuming broader filing is always the cheaper choice.
AFTER REGISTRATION: THE DATES THAT MATTER
A national registration is valid for ten years from registration and may be renewed for further ten-year terms. Apply for renewal during the twelve months before expiry; a six-month grace period is available with an additional fee. Successful renewal runs from the day after the previous term expires. Missing both periods risks cancellation of the registration.
A registration may be challenged for three consecutive years of non-use without a justified reason. Preserve dated evidence of genuine use and keep ownership, name, address and licence information current. Madrid registrations have their own renewal and non-use eligibility calculations, so do not copy the national registration dates mechanically.
HOW TO BUDGET SENSIBLY
Prioritize the core mark, actual goods and services, and foreseeable expansion. Reserve a proportionate budget for watching, evidence preservation and possible objections. Compare an additional filing with other responses to the specific risk; avoid speculative coverage that cannot be justified by business plans.
OFFICIAL REFERENCES
This article is general information about Chinese IP practice, not legal advice for a specific matter. Rules, fees, and timelines change; confirm current requirements before acting. For advice on your situation, contact our team.