How to Register a Trademark in Nepal (2026 Process, Steps & Documents)

To register a trademark in Nepal, you file with the Department of Industry under the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965. The DoI examines the mark, publishes it for a 90-day opposition window, and issues a certificate if no one objects. A straightforward unopposed case usually takes about 12–14 months.

Key Takeaways

Trademark registration in Nepal runs through the Department of Industry under the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965. The mark is filed in one NICE class per application, published for opposition, then registered if unopposed. In practice, a clean filing usually takes about 12–14 months.

• Nepal follows first-to-file rules, so the first valid application usually wins.
• The Department of Industry is the registrar and the body that examines, publishes, and registers marks.
• One application covers one NICE class; a multi-class brand needs separate filings.
• The standard path is filing, examination, bulletin publication, 90-day opposition, registration, and certificate.
• A registered trademark lasts for 7 years and can be renewed.
• Foreign applicants must file through a Nepal-based agent or representative.
• Our team can help you with search, filing, renewal, and opposition through trademark registration service.

What does trademark registration in Nepal actually protect?

A trademark protects the source identity of your goods or services. It can cover a brand name, logo, wordmark, label, or a mix of them. It is separate from company registration at the Office of the Company Registrar. You may see TM for a claimed mark, while ® is for a registered mark.

Who should file the application?

The applicant should be the real owner of the brand, not just the designer of the logo. That may be a sole proprietor, partnership, company, or a foreign business entering Nepal. Foreign applicants must file through a Nepal-based agent or representative. If the owner is a company, keep its OCR details and board authority ready.

If you want a filing that matches your business structure, our team can help through the trademark registration service, and you can send questions to our contact team before you file.

Which NICE class applies to your brand?

Nepal uses the NICE Classification, the global system of 45 classes for goods and services. Classes 1–34 are goods and 35–45 are services. In Nepal, one application covers one class, so a brand that sells in several lines may need several filings. WIPO explains the NICE system clearly on its official NICE Classification page.

If you are unsure, use the free NICE class finder before you file. A common mistake is to file only the product class and forget the service class, or the reverse. If you want a fast first pass, our trademark conflict checker can help you spot obvious clashes before a full search.

How do you register a trademark at the Department of Industry?

The Department of Industry process is straightforward, but each step matters. File the right class, describe the goods or services clearly, and respond quickly if the examiner raises questions. A clean application moves faster. A weak one can sit for months, or get blocked by an earlier mark, a vague specification, or a missed response.

1. Search for similar marks in the trademark register and clear the name before filing.
2. Choose the correct NICE class for the goods or services you actually sell.
3. Prepare the application, mark representation, applicant details, and supporting papers.
4. File at the Department of Industry and wait for examination.
5. If the DoI accepts the mark, it is published in the Industrial Property Bulletin.
6. After publication, wait through the 90-day opposition window.
7. If no valid opposition survives, the DoI issues the registration certificate.

Many owners also read our sister guide on the trademark application process in Nepal for a broader picture of the DoI workflow, including objections and post-filing follow-up.

What documents do you need?

For most filings, you need the application details, a clear copy of the mark, the correct class, and proof of who owns the brand. Company applicants should keep their OCR records and board authority ready. Foreign applicants usually need a notarised Power of Attorney and home-registration evidence. If you use a priority claim, add the earlier filing receipt.

• Applicant name, address, and contact details.
• Clear representation of the trademark, logo, or wordmark.
• Goods or services list for the chosen NICE class.
• Company authority or board resolution, where relevant.
• Power of Attorney for a filed-by-agent or foreign application.
• Priority documents, if you are claiming an earlier foreign filing.

You can see the full document list in our guide on documents required for trademark registration in Nepal.

How long does trademark registration take in Nepal?

For an unopposed case, expect about 12–14 months from filing to certificate. The fastest straightforward cases can move in about 6–8 months, but that is the smooth end of the range, not the usual one. Delay usually comes from examination queries, bad class choice, or opposition after publication.

If you want to shorten the risk side of the timeline, start with a proper search and class review. You can track renewal timing later with the renewal calculator, but the bigger time saver is getting the filing right on day one.

What drives the cost of trademark registration?

Trademark cost in Nepal depends on how many classes you file, how much search work is needed, and whether the DoI raises an objection. The government side and the professional side are separate. A clean one-class filing is simpler than a multi-class filing, and a disputed mark costs more in time and effort.

• Number of NICE classes in the filing.
• Whether you need a basic search or a deeper clearance review.
• Whether the examiner asks for a reply or correction.
• Whether anyone opposes the mark after publication.
• Whether you file directly or through a local agent.

For a current figure, use our fee calculator or send your details to our contact team. We keep cost discussions current there, not in evergreen articles.

What law governs trademark registration in Nepal?

The main law is the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965. The Department of Industry administers trademark filings, and the Act sets the framework for first-to-file rights, class-based filing, publication, opposition, renewal, and cancellation. In practice, the DoI is the key registrar and decision-maker.

For official reading, you can check the Department of Industry and the statute text at the Law Commission. Class selection follows the NICE system, which WIPO maintains internationally.

Two provisions matter most in day-to-day filing: classing under Sec. 18A and renewal under Sec. 23B. That is why a strong filing is not just about a logo. It is also about the right class, the right description, and the right applicant name.

What mistakes cause a refusal or delay?

Most problems are avoidable. They come from filing the wrong class, picking a descriptive name, using a mark that is too close to an earlier one, or submitting weak papers. Another common issue is waiting too long after launch. In a first-to-file system, delay can cost you the brand.

• Skipping a proper search before filing.
• Using a generic or descriptive name that is hard to register.
• Filing only one class when the business actually needs more.
• Giving a vague goods or services list.
• Forgetting foreign priority papers or agent authority.
• Not replying properly if the DoI raises an objection.

If your mark is already in market use, don't assume that alone will protect it. A registered mark is stronger than an unregistered one, and a timely filing often decides who keeps the name. Our article on registered vs unregistered trademark rights in Nepal explains that gap in plain language.

What does a real Nepal filing look like?

Imagine a Kathmandu café called Chiya Adda. If it sells café services, it should look at Class 43. If it also bottles its own tea blend for sale, it may need another filing for the goods side. The same brand can need separate applications when the business grows into more than one line.

That is normal in Nepal. A wordmark may cover the name, while a logo filing can protect the design. The right strategy depends on what you sell today, what you may sell next year, and where another trader could copy you first.

What if you already use the brand but haven't filed?

Then you should move quickly. Use in the market helps your story, but it does not beat a later first valid filing by itself. If someone else files first, you may have to oppose their mark or start an enforcement dispute. That is slower and more expensive than filing early.

Edge cases matter too. Some businesses should file the name and logo together, while others should split them. Foreign companies should file through a Nepal agent. And if your brand is close to a competitor's name, a change now is usually cheaper than a refusal later.

For brand owners facing a copycat or a confusingly similar filing, our opposition and enforcement service can help you act inside the bulletin window and protect the mark you already built.

In short

To register a trademark in Nepal, file with the Department of Industry, choose the right NICE class, and clear the mark before you file. The process runs through examination, publication, a 90-day opposition period, and then registration. For a clean case, plan on about 12–14 months.

People also search for

These related guides cover logo marks, foreign filings, online filing, and the difference between registered and unregistered rights. They are the best next reads if you want to protect a brand name, logo, or wordmark in Nepal without missing a key filing step.

• How to register a logo as a trademark in Nepal
• Documents required for trademark registration in Nepal
• How foreign companies register a trademark in Nepal
• Can you register a trademark online in Nepal?
• Trademark application process in Nepal
• Registered vs unregistered trademark in Nepal
• The trademark register of Nepal explained

If you want to check whether your brand can register, start with our trademark database search, then use the conflict checker and talk to our team for filing help. If you still need class selection, the NICE class finder is a good first step.