International trademark application through the Madrid System
Short answer
An international trademark application under the Madrid System is one filing, through your home office, that designates many countries at once. WIPO charges a basic fee of 653 CHF as of 2026 plus a fee for each designated country.
- Office
- World Intellectual Property Organization, Madrid System
- Opposition window
- Set by each designated office
- Typical time to registration
- about 18 months
- Protection
- 10 years, renewable
WIPO Madrid official fees as of 2026
Published electronic filing fees in CHF, rounded to whole units. You pay them to WIPO Madrid directly; they are not part of a Trademarking plan. Offices revise fees, so check the source before you pay.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic fee (mark in black and white)Plus individual or complementary fees for each designated country. | 653 CHF |
| Basic fee (mark in color)Replaces the black and white basic fee. | 903 CHF |
Source www.wipo.int
Compare every office in the trademark registration cost guide.
From filing to registration at WIPO Madrid
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1
Base mark
You need an application or registration at your office of origin, such as the USPTO or EUIPO.
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2
Filing
The international application is filed through that office, which certifies it and sends it to WIPO.
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3
WIPO check
WIPO checks formalities and records the international registration.
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4
National examination
Each designated office has 12 or 18 months to refuse protection under its own law.
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5
Protection
Without refusal, the mark is protected in each designated country as if filed there.
Rules worth knowing before you file
- For 5 years the international registration depends on the base mark. If the base mark is cancelled or narrowed, protection abroad falls with it (central attack), though it can be converted into national filings.
- Designations can be added later, so you can start with a few markets and extend as you grow.
- Where a designated office refuses protection, the reply usually needs a local representative in that country.
How Trademarking handles a WIPO Madrid filing
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Step 1
We search WIPO Madrid 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 WIPO Madrid 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 WIPO Madrid. Filed through the office of origin, based on a home application or registration. Designated offices may require local representation on refusal.
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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
- Is there a worldwide trademark?
- No. The Madrid System bundles national and regional rights into one filing, but protection is still decided country by country.
- Can I use Madrid for the US and the EU?
- Yes. Both are Madrid members and can be designated, with their own individual fees.
- When is Madrid cheaper than separate filings?
- Usually once you cover three or more markets, since one application, one language and one renewal replace several.
Other offices
General information as of 2026 based on what WIPO Madrid publishes, not legal advice. Trademarking is not a law firm.