The short answer
To register a trademark in Singapore, file Form TM4 with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), through IPOS Digital Hub or the IPOS Go app. The fee is S$280 per class if you use IPOS's pre-approved descriptions, or S$410 per class if you do not. IPOS says registration may take about 9 months if there are no objections or oppositions. Protection lasts 10 years from the filing date and renews for further 10-year periods.
Trademark deadlines in Singapore at a glance
| Question | Answer for Singapore |
|---|---|
| How long does a registration last? | 10 years, renewable for further 10-year periods |
| Which date does the term count from? | IPOS counts protection of 10 years from the filing date |
| When can I renew? | From 6 months before expiry, on Form TM19. Renewal on or before expiry costs S$480 per class |
| Is there a grace period? | Yes. Late renewal is possible for 6 months after expiry, at S$700 per class |
| What if I miss that too? | A final 6 months for restoration, at S$770 per class |
| Can I get more time to renew? | No. IPOS says extensions of time to renew or restore are not allowed (Rule 77(6)) |
| Opposition period | 2 months from publication in the Trade Marks Journal |
| Reply to an examination objection | 4 months, extendable with Form CM5 |
| Non-use revocation | If there was no genuine continuous use in Singapore for an uninterrupted 5 years after registration |
| Assignment | Record it on Form CM8, S$70 per mark |
| Change of name or address | Form CM1 for the same legal entity. Errors are corrected on Form CM4 |
If a mark is not renewed, IPOS status moves from active to Expired (Late Renewal Possible), and then to Removed (Restoration Possible).
What a Singapore trademark must be
IPOS requires the mark to be capable of graphical representation, distinctive, and not wholly descriptive or customary. It must also not be identical or confusingly similar to an existing mark. Goods and services are classified under the Nice Classification, which has 45 classes.
- Search the register first with the Similar Mark Search on IPOS Digital Hub
- Pick goods and services from IPOS's pre-approved descriptions. It lowers the fee and reduces objections
- Applicants without a Singapore presence give an authorised address for service in Singapore when they respond through IPOS Digital Hub
- You can claim Paris Convention priority within 6 months of your first filing
Trademark registration in Singapore: the steps
File Form TM4
- Give the applicant's name and address, a graphical representation of the mark, the list of goods or services, and a declaration of use or intention to use
- File online through the IPOS Go app or IPOS Digital Hub
- The fast-track option, SG Trade Marks Fast, costs S$200 per class (S$250 if the terms are not fully pre-approved) and covers the first examination stage only
Examination
- If IPOS objects, reply within 4 months, which you can extend with Form CM5
- You can reply with written arguments, amend the application on Form TM27, or ask for a hearing on Form HC4
- If you do not reply, the objected goods or services are withdrawn. If all are objected, the whole application is withdrawn
Publication and opposition
- An accepted application is published in the Trade Marks Journal for 2 months
- Third parties may oppose in that period. A notice of opposition costs S$420 per class
- If opposed, the application is suspended until the outcome
Registration
- If the application is unopposed, or the opposition fails, IPOS issues the certificate of registration
| IPOS official fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Filing, per class, pre-approved terms (TM4) | S$280 |
| Filing, per class, other terms (TM4) | S$410 |
| Opposition, per class (TM11) | S$420 |
| Renewal on or before expiry, per class (TM19) | S$480 |
| Late renewal, per class (TM19) | S$700 |
| Restoration, per class (TM19) | S$770 |
| Registering a transfer of ownership (CM8) | S$70 per mark |
Fees are from the IPOS website. IPOS has announced fee updates taking effect on 1 September 2025 and 1 April 2026, so confirm the current figures before you file.
How long does a registration last, and how does renewal work?
A registered mark is protected for 10 years from the filing date. IPOS accepts a renewal starting 6 months before expiry, which extends protection by a further 10 years.
- Renewing on or before expiry costs S$480 per class
- A late renewal, in the 6 months after expiry, costs S$700 per class
- A restoration, in the final 6 months, costs S$770 per class
- IPOS does not extend these time limits
Renew on time. A late renewal costs about 46% more per class than renewing on time, and a restoration about 60% more.
Assignment, licence, and change of name or address
Assignment
Form CM8
Record a transfer of ownership, such as moving a mark between companies, on Form CM8 (S$70 per mark). Mergers, divisions and changes in a partnership's membership also use this form. To correct an error in a recorded ownership change, file Form CM4 to nullify it.
Name or address
Form CM1
Use Form CM1 to change a name, address or Singapore address for service while the legal entity stays the same. A change in legal entity, such as from an LLP to a Pte Ltd, is treated as a transfer. Correct errors with Form CM4.
Licence
Record it
IPOS also lets owners record licences and security interests against a mark.
Use it, or risk revocation
A registered mark may be revoked if it has not been put to genuine continuous use in Singapore within an uninterrupted period of 5 years after it is registered. Use the mark consistently, and keep dated proof of use.
How to check the status of a trademark in Singapore
- Search the Trade Marks Register through IPOS Digital Hub, which also shows updated expiry dates after renewal or restoration
- Use the Similar Mark Search before filing
- Turn on eAlerts in IPOS Digital Hub to be told about changes due to assignment, licence or security interest
- For international registrations, WIPO's Madrid Monitor tracks applications and registrations in real time
Filing from abroad: the Madrid Protocol
Foreign owners can designate Singapore through the Madrid Protocol. IPOS examines the designation in about 9 months from receiving WIPO's notification, with the same objection and opposition stages. A local filing is often simpler if Singapore is your only target.
Sources used
IPOS guides How to Register Trade Marks, Managing Trade Marks and Forms and Fees. Fees and timelines change, so confirm before filing.
Trademark registration in Singapore: common questions
How long is a trademark valid in Singapore, and from when is it counted?
Ten years from the filing date. You can renew for further 10-year periods.
When should I renew a Singapore trademark, and is there a grace period?
Renew from 6 months before expiry. A late renewal is possible for 6 months after expiry at a higher fee, and a final 6 months allows restoration at a higher fee still. IPOS does not extend these periods.
How long is the opposition period in Singapore?
Two months, starting when the application is published in the Trade Marks Journal.
How long does trademark registration take in Singapore?
IPOS says it may take about 9 months if there are no deficiencies, objections or oppositions.
How much does it cost to register a trademark in Singapore?
Form TM4 costs S$280 per class when you use IPOS's pre-approved descriptions and S$410 per class otherwise. Agent fees are extra.
Can a foreign company register a trademark in Singapore?
Yes. File locally, or designate Singapore through the Madrid Protocol. You must give an authorised address for service in Singapore when you respond through IPOS Digital Hub.
How do I assign a Singapore trademark?
Record the transfer of ownership on Form CM8, at S$70 per mark.
How do I change the name or address on a Singapore trademark?
Use Form CM1 if the legal entity stays the same. A change of legal entity is treated as a transfer.
Can a trademark be revoked for non-use in Singapore?
Yes. A registered mark may be revoked if it has not had genuine continuous use in Singapore for an uninterrupted 5 years after registration.
How do I check the status of a trademark in Singapore?
Search the Trade Marks Register on IPOS Digital Hub, and use eAlerts to follow changes.
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