Canada trademark search and CIPO filing
Short answer
A Canada trademark search checks the CIPO register for similar earlier marks before you apply. CIPO charges about 469 CAD for the first class and 142 CAD for each additional class online as of 2026, and examination often takes well over a year.
- Office
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office
- Opposition window
- 2 months
- Typical time to registration
- about 24 months
- Protection
- 10 years, renewable
CIPO official fees as of 2026
Published electronic filing fees in CAD, rounded to whole units. You pay them to CIPO directly; they are not part of a Trademarking plan. Offices revise fees, so check the source before you pay.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Online application, first classFees are indexed every January. | 469 CAD |
| Each additional class | 142 CAD per class |
| Renewal, first class (online)Every 10 years. | 586 CAD |
Source ised-isde.canada.ca
Compare every office in the trademark registration cost guide.
From filing to registration at CIPO
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1
Filing
Online application with Nice classes, required since 2019.
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2
Waiting period
Applications wait in a queue before examination; this is the longest step.
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3
Examination
The examiner checks registrability and confusion with earlier marks.
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4
Advertisement
The approved application is advertised; others have 2 months to oppose.
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5
Registration
Without opposition, the mark registers and lasts 10 years.
Rules worth knowing before you file
- Canada no longer requires use or a declaration of use before registration.
- CIPO fees are adjusted every January; check the current fee page before you file.
- Canada is a Madrid member, so it can be designated in an international application.
How Trademarking handles a CIPO filing
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Step 1
We search CIPO records and the other offices you choose for identical and similar marks, and show a registration likelihood with the closest conflicts and their source.
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Step 2
We map what you sell to Nice classes and suggest wording from the office lists, which keeps you clear of surcharges and objections. See the class guide.
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Step 3
We prepare the CIPO application: applicant details, mark type, classes and the goods and services text.
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Step 4
You file in your own name and pay the official fee directly to CIPO. An agent is not mandatory; foreign applicants usually appoint a Canadian trademark agent.
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Step 5
After filing, deadlines, office actions, publication and the opposition window appear in your portfolio, and trademark monitoring alerts you to similar new filings.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a Canadian agent?
- An agent is not mandatory, but foreign applicants usually appoint a Canadian trademark agent for correspondence and objections.
- How long does a Canadian trademark take?
- Often 18 months or more, mostly waiting for examination.
- Does Canada use Nice classes?
- Yes. Since 2019 goods and services must be grouped by Nice class, with fees per class.
Other offices
General information as of 2026 based on what CIPO publishes, not legal advice. Trademarking is not a law firm.