Trademark registration in Pakistan costs Rs 12,000 in official fees for one brand in one class, or Rs 13,000 if you pay for a search first. That is Rs 3,000 to file and Rs 9,000 to register, according to IPO-Pakistan’s published fee table. You can file online with your CNIC and you do not need a lawyer to do it. What you do need is patience, because from filing to certificate it usually takes a year or more.
Most business owners hear a very different number first. One Pakistani tax firm lists its trademark service from Rs 77,000, and that is before the IPO fees. This guide shows what the process actually involves, which parts are simple enough to do yourself and the few cases where paying a professional makes sense.
How much does trademark registration cost in Pakistan?
These are the IPO fees listed for the main forms. They have been unchanged since March 2019 and were still on IPO’s fee page when we checked in October 2026.
| Form | What it is for | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| TM-55 | Search of the register (optional) | Rs 1,000 per class |
| TM-1 | Application | Rs 3,000 per class |
| TM-11 | Registration after acceptance | Rs 9,000 per class |
| TM-12 | Renewal every 10 years | Rs 15,000 (Rs 900 extra if late) |
| TM-6 | Reply if someone opposes your mark | Rs 1,500 |
A worked example. A clothing brand that also sells through its own online store usually needs two classes: one for the clothes and one for the retail service. That is 2 x (Rs 3,000 + Rs 9,000) = Rs 24,000 in IPO fees, or Rs 26,000 with a search in each class. If a consultant quotes Rs 77,000 on top, the professional fee is bigger than all the government fees combined, so ask what exactly that fee covers.
Be careful with fee tables that show different amounts for individuals and companies. IPO’s own table has one fee per form, and the amounts above match it.
Brand registration, brand name registration and logo registration: are they different?
People search for these as if they were three separate things. They are not, but they are not identical either.
- Brand registration and brand name registration usually mean trademark registration. You are registering the name (a word mark) so nobody else can use a confusingly similar one for the same kind of goods or services.
- Company or business name registration is a different thing. Registering a company with SECP, or a sole proprietorship with FBR, gets you a legal entity. It does not stop someone else from selling under a similar brand name. We cover that side in our company registration guide and NTN guide.
- Logo registration can mean two things. You can register the logo as a trademark, or register it as an artistic work with IPO’s Copyright Office. Copyright for a logo used with goods or services was listed at Rs 6,000 in October 2026. A trademark is what stops others from using a similar logo as a brand, so for most sellers it is the one that matters.
Can you check a trademark online in Pakistan?
This is the most searched question around this topic, and the honest answer is less convenient than most pages suggest. As of October 2026, IPO’s own online trademark search was still listed as “coming soon”. The official way to check is to file Form TM-55 with Rs 1,000 per class and wait about 15 days for the result.
Before you pay for that, do the free checks that rule out obvious problems:
- Search the exact name on Google, Instagram, Facebook, Daraz and your domain registrar.
- Search spelling variants. A name that sounds the same can be refused even if it is spelled differently.
- Check the domain and social handles. If both are taken by an active business in your category, stop here.
These checks are not legal clearance, because many registered marks have no website at all. They only save you the Rs 1,000 on names that are clearly unusable. If a name passes, the TM-55 search is the cheapest insurance in the whole process. Check IPO’s site again before you file, because the online search status can change.
How to register a trademark in Pakistan, step by step
- Choose the mark. A word mark covers the name. A logo mark covers that specific design. Many owners file the name first.
- Pick your class or classes. IPO uses the Nice Classification, which has 45 classes. One application covers one mark in one class.
- Create an IPO online account. Register as a SELF user with your CNIC. IPO verifies your mobile and email, then sends a username, a default password and a PIN for submitting applications. The steps are in IPO’s online filing guidelines.
- File Form TM-1. Upload the mark, list the goods or services and pay Rs 3,000 per class. A paper application needs 8 clear copies of the mark and a pay order or bank draft, because the Registry does not accept cash.
- Wait for the examination report. It usually arrives about 3 to 4 months after filing. If there are objections, you get two months to reply.
- Publication and opposition. An accepted mark is published in the Trade Marks Journal and anyone can oppose it within two months.
- Pay the registration fee. If nobody opposes, IPO sends a demand notice. You pay Rs 9,000 on Form TM-11 and the certificate follows, about three months later by IPO’s own average.
Documents required for trademark registration in Pakistan
For an individual applicant the practical list is short: your CNIC, a clear image of the mark, the list of goods or services and a way to pay. If you apply as a company, keep the incorporation certificate and your NTN ready as well. If a lawyer or agent files for you, they will also need a signed authority letter. Confirm exact requirements with the Registry before you file, because they can vary by applicant type.
How long does it take?
IPO’s published average times add up to about a year or more when nobody opposes. Objections, opposition or paper filing delays add to that. Plan your brand launch on the assumption that you will not hold a certificate for a year.
Which class should your business file in?
Choosing the wrong class is the easiest way to pay for protection that does not cover what you sell. These are common classes for the businesses we see most. Confirm them against IPO’s Nice Classification list before filing.
| Business | Class to check first |
|---|---|
| Clothing and shoes brand | 25 |
| Online store or retail shop (the selling service) | 35 |
| Cosmetics and skincare | 3 |
| Coffee, tea, bakery products | 30 |
| Restaurant or cafe service | 43 |
| Software, mobile apps | 9 |
| Software as a service | 42 |
| Courses and training | 41 |
Each extra class is another Rs 12,000, so most small brands start with the one class that matches their main product and add a second only when they have a real reason.
What to do while you wait for the certificate
A year is a long time to run a brand without protection. Here is what helps in the meantime.
- Keep proof of use. Invoices, packaging photos and dated social posts show when you started using the name. They matter if someone disputes it.
- Use TM, not the registered symbol. Using the registered symbol before your mark is registered is an offence under the Trade Marks Ordinance, with a fine of at least Rs 20,000, up to six months in prison or both. Use “TM” until the certificate arrives.
- Lock the domain and handles. Registering the name as a domain and on social platforms stops easy copycats. See our domain registration guide.
- File early. Filing before you spend on packaging and ads costs far less than rebranding later.
Why trademark applications get refused
IPO examines each application against the Trade Marks Ordinance. The reasons we see most often in this kind of guidance are:
- The mark is too similar to an earlier registered mark in the same class.
- The name only describes the product. A name like “Fresh Milk” for milk is a description, not a brand.
- The mark could mislead buyers about what the product is or where it comes from.
If your name is a common word, consider a coined or modified name. That is one more reason to design the name with the trademark in mind. Our branding and identity service starts exactly there, before the logo.
Renewal, protection and trademarks outside Pakistan
A trademark lasts 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed every 10 years for Rs 15,000. If you miss the date you can still renew with an extra Rs 900 within six months of IPO’s notice.
A registration gives you the legal right to stop others from using a confusingly similar mark for the same goods or services. It only protects you in Pakistan. If you plan to sell abroad, trademark rights are country by country, so you will need to apply in each market or through an international system. Check which treaties Pakistan has joined with IPO or a trademark lawyer before you plan this.
Trademark registration in Karachi
You do not have to travel for a Karachi trademark. Online filing works from anywhere. If you prefer to file in person, the Trade Marks Registry is at IP-House, Plot CD-3, behind KDA Civic Centre, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, phone 021-99230538. IPO also has offices in Lahore and Islamabad. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.
Do you need a consultant or lawyer?
You can file a simple application yourself. A professional is worth paying when:
- You are filing in several classes and want a lawyer to review the class choices.
- Your name is close to an existing mark and you expect an objection or opposition.
- Your brand is already earning meaningful revenue and a mistake would cost more than the fee.
- You are a company and want the application, the authority letter and the follow-up handled for you.
For a first brand with a distinct name and one class, a consultant mostly saves you time, not risk. When you compare quotes, ask for the professional fee, the IPO fee and the number of classes in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. How much does trademark registration cost in Pakistan?
IPO charges Rs 3,000 to file and Rs 9,000 to register, per class. With the optional Rs 1,000 search, one class costs Rs 13,000. Lawyer or agent fees are separate.
Q2. How to register a trademark in Pakistan?
Create an IPO online account with your CNIC, file Form TM-1 for your mark and class, answer any objection, wait through publication and opposition and pay Rs 9,000 when IPO sends the demand notice.
Q3. How long does trademark registration take in Pakistan?
About a year or more without opposition, based on IPO’s published average times.
Q4. Can I check a trademark online in Pakistan?
IPO’s online search was still marked “coming soon” in October 2026. The official route is Form TM-55 for Rs 1,000 per class, with results in about 15 days.
Q5. What documents are required?
For an individual, your CNIC, the mark, the list of goods or services and payment. Companies should also keep their incorporation certificate and NTN ready. Confirm with the Registry.
Q6. Is brand name registration the same as trademark registration?
In most searches, yes. Company registration is separate and does not protect your brand name.
Q7. How long does a trademark last?
Ten years from the filing date, renewable every ten years for Rs 15,000.
Q8. Can I register a trademark online in Pakistan if I am an individual?
Yes. Register as a SELF user with your CNIC and file Form TM-1 online.
How we checked this
We reviewed IPO-Pakistan’s published fee table, online filing guidelines and average process times, along with Pakistani legal and business guides, on 20 October 2026. Fees and procedures change, so confirm the current figures on IPO-Pakistan’s website before you file.
