The short answer
To register a trademark in the UK, apply online to the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO). An online application costs £205 for one class, plus £60 for each extra class. If there are no issues, grant usually takes 3 to 4 months. Others have 2 months after publication to oppose. A UK registration lasts 10 years from the filing date and protects your brand in the UK and the Isle of Man only.
Trademark deadlines in the UK at a glance
| Question | Answer for the UK |
|---|---|
| How long does a registration last? | 10 years, renewable for further 10-year periods (Sections 42 and 43) |
| Which date does the term count from? | The Act says 10 years from the date of registration, and a mark is registered as of its filing date. In practice count from the filing date |
| When must I renew? | Before the registration expires. The registrar must warn the owner at least 6 months before expiry |
| Is there a grace period? | Yes. The Act allows a further period of at least 6 months after expiry for a late renewal with an additional fee |
| What if I miss it? | The registrar removes the mark. You can ask to restore it on Form TM13 (£125) |
| Reply to an examination objection | 2 months from the examination report |
| Opposition period | 2 months from publication, which a party can extend by 1 month with Form TM7A |
| Priority period | 6 months from the first filing in a Paris Convention country |
| Assignment | Record a change of ownership on Form TM16 (£60) |
| Change of name or address | Form TM21A, which has no fee |
| Address for service | Must be in the UK, Gibraltar or the Channel Islands (Rule 11(4)) |
What a UK trademark protects
A UK registration protects your brand in the UK and the Isle of Man only. It is separate from an EU trademark, so a brand sold in both markets needs protection in each.
Address for service
In the UK
Rule 11(4) of the Trade Marks Rules 2008 requires an address for service in the United Kingdom, Gibraltar or the Channel Islands. Overseas owners usually use a UK agent for this.
Priority
Use your first filing
If you filed in a Paris Convention country in the last 6 months, you can claim priority and keep the earlier date.
Trademark registration in the UK: the steps
Search and choose classes
- Pick the goods and services (classes and terms) your mark will cover
- Search the register. The UKIPO searches too, and if it finds a similar mark it contacts you and the owner
Apply online
- Paper applications cost £250 for one class, plus £60 for each extra class
- A series application covers up to 6 variations of a mark. The first 2 are included and each further one costs £60
- Right Start costs £125 plus £30 per extra class, to check the application first, with 28 days to decide whether to continue
- Your application is published on GOV.UK as soon as you apply, so others can see your details
Examination
- The UKIPO sends an examination report within 2 to 3 weeks
- You have 2 months to resolve any objections in the report
Publication and opposition
- If there are no objections, or you resolve them, the application is published in the trade marks journal for 2 months
- A party can extend its opposition time by one month by filing Form TM7A within the first two months
- If opposed, you can talk to the opponent, withdraw, or defend the application, with legal costs
Registration
- If there is no opposition, or it fails, the mark is registered
- UKIPO says grant usually takes around 3 to 4 months when there are no issues
| UKIPO official fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Online application, one class | £205 |
| Each additional class | £60 |
| Paper application, one class | £250 |
| Right Start, one class | £125 |
| Opposition (TM7), sections 5(1) or 5(2) only | £125 |
| Opposition (TM7), other grounds | £250 |
| Renewal, online (TM11) | £245 |
| Each extra class on renewal | £60 |
| Restoration (TM13) | £125 |
| Recording a change of ownership (TM16) | £60 |
| Change of name or address (TM21A) | Free |
Fees are from GOV.UK and were revised in April 2026. Confirm them before you file.
How long does a registration last, and how does renewal work?
Section 42 of the Trade Marks Act 1994 sets a term of 10 years, renewable for further periods of 10 years under Section 43. A mark is registered as of its filing date, so count the term from the day you applied.
- The registrar must tell the owner of the approaching expiry at least 6 months before it
- A renewal request and fee must be made before expiry. A late renewal is allowed in a further period with an additional fee
- If the registration is not renewed as required, the registrar removes the mark from the register
- A removed registration can be restored on Form TM13 (£125)
- Renewal takes effect from the expiry of the previous registration
Renew early. Online renewal costs £245, with £60 for each extra class.
Assignment, licence, and change of name or address
Assignment
Form TM16
Record a change of ownership on Form TM16 (£60). A partial assignment of some goods or services uses Form TM16P (£60).
Name or address
Form TM21A
Update the owner's name, address or email on Form TM21A, which has no fee. A change of the owner itself must be recorded on Form TM16. Name corrections need a witness statement, and name changes through marriage, divorce or deed poll need evidence.
Rectification
Register corrections
The register can be rectified on a separate application, for registered marks only.
Use it, or risk revocation
A UK trademark that has not been put to genuine use in the UK for 5 years after registration can be attacked for non-use. Keep dated evidence of use, and renew on time.
How to check the status of a trademark in the UK
- Search the UK trade marks register online through GOV.UK for free, before you file and to check a mark's status and expiry date
- Your application is published on GOV.UK as soon as you apply
- Accepted applications are published in the trade marks journal, which also starts the 2-month opposition period
Sources used
GOV.UK pages Register a trade mark and Trade mark forms and fees, the Trade Marks Act 1994 and the Trade Marks Rules 2008.
Trademark registration in the UK: common questions
How long is a UK trademark valid, and from when is it counted?
Ten years, counted from the filing date, because a mark is registered as of that date. Renewal is for further 10-year periods.
When should I renew a UK trademark, and is there a grace period?
Renew before expiry. The registrar must warn you at least 6 months before. A late renewal is allowed in a further period with an additional fee, and a removed mark can be restored on Form TM13.
How long is the opposition period?
Two months from publication. A party can extend it by one month by filing Form TM7A in the first two months.
How long does it take to register a UK trademark?
The UKIPO says it usually takes around 3 to 4 months from application if there are no issues.
How much does it cost to register a trademark in the UK?
An online application costs £205 for one class, plus £60 for each additional class. A paper application costs £250 for one class.
Does a UK trademark cover the EU?
No. A UK registration covers the UK and the Isle of Man only.
Can a foreign company register a UK trademark?
Yes, but it needs an address for service in the UK, Gibraltar or the Channel Islands, which a UK agent can provide.
How do I assign a UK trademark?
Record the change of ownership on Form TM16, which costs £60. A partial assignment uses Form TM16P.
How do I change the name or address on a UK trademark?
File Form TM21A, which has no fee. A change of the owner itself is recorded on Form TM16.
How do I check the status of a UK trademark?
Search the UK trade marks register through GOV.UK. It is free.
Register your trademark in the UK with SUPREMEiP®
We file and protect trademarks worldwide, and our group has an office in the United Kingdom. Ask for a search, a filing quote or advice on your brand portfolio.
