The trademark application form in Nepal is filed with the Department of Industry (DoI) under the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965. It's a single-page form where you declare the applicant, the mark, and the goods or services you want to protect — one NICE class per application — and attach a notarised Power of Attorney and specimens of the mark.
Key Takeaways
- The form is a Schedule 1(c) application under the PDTA 1965, filed at the Department of Industry.
- One form covers one NICE class only — a multi-class brand needs multiple applications.
- You must submit four specimens of the mark, a notarised Power of Attorney, and company documents.
- Every field matters — an incomplete applicant address or wrong class number causes delays.
- Foreign applicants file the same form but attach a certified copy of the home registration certificate.
- After filing, the DoI examines, publishes the mark in the Industrial Property Bulletin, and opens a 90-day opposition window.
- A correctly filled form is the single biggest factor in keeping your timeline to 12–14 months.
What exactly is the trademark application form in Nepal?
The trademark application form is the Schedule 1(c) document prescribed under Sec. 17 of the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965. It's the official request you submit to the Department of Industry asking the government to examine and register your mark. The form collects the applicant's identity, a representation of the mark, the NICE class and list of goods or services, and a declaration of use or intent to use. Without this form — correctly completed — no trademark registration can begin in Nepal.
Who files this form, and can a foreign business file it directly?
Any individual, firm, or company — Nepali or foreign — can file the Schedule 1(c) form. However, a foreign applicant must file through a Nepal-based agent or representative holding a notarised Power of Attorney. Nepal is not a member of the Madrid System, so there is no international single-form route into the country. The foreign applicant also attaches a notarised certified copy of the home-country registration certificate in English. If you're based outside Nepal, our team can help you prepare and lodge the form — reach out here.
Field-by-field breakdown of the Nepal trademark application form
While the exact layout can vary slightly, the DoI's Schedule 1(c) form consistently asks for the following information. Treat every field as mandatory unless noted, and double-check spellings — the registration certificate will mirror what you submit.
| Field | What to enter | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant name | Full legal name of the individual or company that will own the mark. | The certificate is issued in this name. A mismatch with your company registration creates ownership disputes later. |
| Applicant address | Complete physical address: street, city, country. For a company, use the registered office. | All official DoI correspondence — including examination objections — goes here. An incomplete address means missed deadlines. |
| Nationality / country of incorporation | For individuals: citizenship. For companies: country where incorporated. | Determines whether domestic or foreign-filer rules and fees apply. |
| Type of mark | Word mark, logo/device, combination, or three-dimensional mark. | Defines the scope of protection. A word mark protects the text regardless of styling; a logo protects only that specific design. |
| Representation of the mark | For a word mark, type it exactly as used. For a logo, attach a clear printed specimen. | This is what gets published in the Industrial Property Bulletin and examined for conflicts. Any difference from what you actually use weakens enforcement. |
| NICE class number | A single class number from the NICE Classification — Classes 1–34 for goods, 35–45 for services. | Nepal requires one application per class. Filing in the wrong class means the mark isn't protected where you sell. |
| Description of goods/services | Specific, concrete terms matching the chosen NICE class — not vague phrases like "all goods in Class 25." | Defines the legal boundaries of your protection. Overly broad descriptions invite oppositions; overly narrow ones leave gaps. |
| Use declaration | State whether the mark is already in use in Nepal or you have a bona fide intention to use it. | If you register but don't use the mark within one year, the DoI may cancel it under Sec. 18C of the Act. |
| Priority claim (if any) | Country, application number, and filing date of the earlier foreign application. | Must be supported by a certified copy. If you claim priority under the Paris Convention, you have six months from the foreign filing date. |
| Agent details (if filed through one) | Name, address, and contact of the Nepal-based agent. | Required for all foreign filers. The agent receives all DoI notices and must be named in the Power of Attorney. |
If any field confuses you, use our NICE Class Finder to pinpoint the correct class before you fill in the goods description. A class error is the single most common reason applications stall.
Documents you must attach to the form
The Schedule 1(c) form is never submitted alone. For a Nepali applicant, you attach a notarised Power of Attorney signed by the applicant and attested by two witnesses, a board resolution of the company (if a company), four specimens of the mark, and a copy of the company registration or industry certificate plus the latest tax clearance letter. For a foreign applicant, you add a notarised certified copy of the home trademark registration certificate in English. Missing even one document triggers a DoI query that adds months to your timeline.
How do you submit the completed form?
You submit the completed Schedule 1(c) form, along with all attachments and the government application fee, at the Department of Industry in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu. The DoI's Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Section handles the intake. In practice, most applicants file through a local agent or IP professional who presents the documents in person, obtains the filing receipt, and tracks the application number through examination and publication. That application number becomes your reference for everything that follows.
- Complete the Schedule 1(c) form. Fill every field using the table above as your guide. Triple-check the NICE class and the goods description.
- Prepare all supporting documents. Notarise the Power of Attorney, obtain the board resolution, print four clear specimens of the mark, and gather the company documents.
- Submit at the DoI. Lodge the form and attachments in person or through your agent at the Department of Industry, Tripureshwor. Pay the application fee.
- Receive the filing acknowledgement. The DoI issues an application number and receipt. Keep this safe — it's your proof of the filing date under Nepal's first-to-file system.
- Respond to any examination queries. If the DoI examiner raises an objection or requests clarification, reply promptly with the supporting evidence or amended description.
- Publication and opposition. Once cleared, your mark is published in the Industrial Property Bulletin. Third parties have 90 days to oppose.
- Pay the registration fee and get your certificate. If unopposed, pay the registration fee. The DoI issues the registration certificate — your mark is now protected for seven years.
How long does it take after you file the form?
From the day you submit the completed trademark application form in Nepal, a typical registration takes 12–14 months end to end. In favourable cases with no examiner objections and no opposition, it can complete in about 6–8 months. The DoI examination phase is the biggest variable — an incomplete form or wrong class number easily adds several months of back-and-forth. Publication in the Industrial Property Bulletin triggers a mandatory 90-day opposition window that no one can shorten.
What does it cost to file the form?
The cost of filing the trademark application form in Nepal has two parts: the government application fee paid to the DoI, and the professional service fee if you use an agent or IP firm. Government fees follow a per-class, per-application structure — remember, one class means one form and one fee. A multi-class brand multiplies both. The total also depends on whether the applicant is domestic or foreign, because foreign-filer government fees are higher. For a current figure specific to your situation, try our fee calculator or ask our team.
Common mistakes people make on the form
Mistakes on the trademark application form in Nepal aren't just clerical — they cost time and can cost the application itself. A common mistake we see is picking the wrong NICE class because the business description sounds close enough; "Class 35" covers retail services, but the actual goods you sell belong in Classes 1–34. Another is describing goods too vaguely — "clothing" instead of the specific articles — which triggers an examiner's query. Leaving the address field incomplete or not matching it to the company registration is a frequent cause of correspondence delays. For foreign filers, the biggest pitfall is submitting the home registration certificate without notarisation or a certified English translation. Always search the DoI database first to check for conflicting marks before you lock in your description.
A realistic example: a Kathmandu coffee roaster
Imagine a Kathmandu-based coffee-roasting business called "Himal Bean" that sells packaged coffee beans and also runs two cafés. The owner fills out the Schedule 1(c) form as the applicant — a private limited company — and selects a word mark for "Himal Bean" because she wants to protect the name regardless of the logo she later designs. She files in Class 30 for "coffee; roasted coffee beans; ground coffee" and, in a separate application, Class 43 for "café and coffee-shop services." She attaches a board resolution, four printed specimens showing the name as used on packaging, a notarised Power of Attorney, and the company registration certificate. The Class 30 application clears examination in four months, publishes in the Industrial Property Bulletin, and — with no opposition — the certificate arrives in month 13. The Class 43 application takes 14 months. She now has two registered marks covering both sides of her business.
What happens if you get the form wrong?
An error on the form doesn't end the road, but it does slow things down. The DoI examiner issues an official query — essentially a letter asking for a correction or clarification. You respond in writing with the corrected information or supporting documents. If the examiner decides the mark itself isn't registrable — say, it's confusingly similar to an existing registered mark — the application is rejected. You can challenge that rejection through the DoI's quasi-judicial process. A properly completed form avoids all of this; our trademark registration service includes a pre-filing review that catches errors before they become examiner queries.
In short
The trademark application form in Nepal is the Schedule 1(c) document you lodge with the Department of Industry, one NICE class per form. Fill every field with care — applicant name, mark type, class number, and goods description — attach the notarised Power of Attorney and four specimens, and file through a local agent if you're abroad. Get the form right, and your mark moves cleanly through examination, publication in the Industrial Property Bulletin, and the 90-day opposition window to a seven-year registration certificate. Get it wrong, and you'll spend months answering examiner queries.
Before you put pen to paper, search the Nepal trademark database to see if your mark is clear, and use our free NICE Class Finder to confirm the correct class. When you're ready to file, contact our team — we'll review your form and documents and handle the submission at the DoI.
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