Trademark Registration in Nepal for Korean Companies

South Korean companies can register a trademark in Nepal by filing an application with the Department of Industry (DoI) under the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965. Nepal follows a first-to-file system — the first valid applicant owns the right, not the first user — and protection lasts seven years, renewable indefinitely.

Key Takeaways

• Korean companies must file through a Nepal-based agent with a notarised Power of Attorney.
• Nepal is not a member of the Madrid System — you cannot extend a Korean trademark to Nepal via WIPO.
• One application covers one NICE class; a brand spanning multiple classes needs multiple applications.
• Registration takes about 12–14 months from filing to certificate when unopposed.
• Your Korean home registration certificate must be submitted — notarised and translated into English.
• The DoI publishes accepted marks in the Industrial Property Bulletin, opening a 90-day opposition window.
• A registered mark is valid for 7 years and can be renewed for further 7-year terms, unlimited times.

Can a Korean company register a trademark in Nepal without a local office?

Yes, a South Korean business does not need a physical office or subsidiary in Nepal to file for brand registration. Nepal's Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965 permits foreign applicants to file directly, but you must act through a Nepal-based agent or legal representative. A notarised Power of Attorney, signed by an authorised company officer and attested by two witnesses, gives that agent the authority to handle the entire process with the Department of Industry on your behalf. No local incorporation is required.

Why Korea's trademark rights do not automatically cover Nepal

Nepal is not a member of the Madrid System, so a Korean trademark registered through KIPO or extended internationally via WIPO's Madrid Protocol does not cover Nepal. You cannot simply designate Nepal as a contracting party in an international application. There is no mutual recognition arrangement between Korea and Nepal for intellectual property. A separate, independent Nepali application must be filed with the DoI to secure rights. Even if you hold a valid KIPO registration, your brand is unprotected in Nepal until you file locally. The Paris Convention priority right does apply — Nepal has been a Paris Convention member since 2001 — so you can claim priority from your Korean filing within six months.

Which NICE classes should a Korean company file under?

Nepal uses the NICE Classification — 45 classes split into goods (Classes 1–34) and services (Classes 35–45). One application covers exactly one class. A Korean electronics exporter, for instance, might file in Class 9 for smartphones and gadgets, while a K-beauty brand typically needs Class 3 for cosmetics and Class 35 for retail services. Think about every angle: the product itself, any packaging design, the retail or online-sale service, and the business name as a standalone mark. If you file in only one class, you have no protection in others. Before committing, you can use our NICE class finder to check which goods or services fall where, or speak with our team through contact to map out your class strategy.

What documents does a Korean company need to file?

Foreign applicants face a slightly longer document checklist than domestic ones. Beyond the standard application form, you need a notarised Power of Attorney (signed, sealed, and witnessed by two people), a board resolution of the Korean company authorising the filing, clear specimens of the mark (ideally four copies), and — critically — a notarised and certified copy of the Korean home registration certificate, translated into English. If you claim Paris Convention priority, include a certified copy of the Korean priority application. All documents must be in English or accompanied by a notarised English translation. Missing or incomplete documents are a common reason applications stall. For a complete checklist, see our documents guide.

How do Korean companies register a trademark in Nepal — the step-by-step process

Filing through the Department of Industry follows a fixed statutory sequence under the PDTA 1965. Here is the exact order of stages, from preparation to certificate in hand.

1. Appoint a local agent. Engage a Nepal-based representative and execute a notarised Power of Attorney.
2. Search the trademark database. Before committing to a mark, check the DoI records for identical or similar existing registrations. You can run a preliminary search on our trademark database.
3. Prepare and file the application. Submit the completed Schedule 1(c) form with four specimens, the PoA, board resolution, home registration certificate, and the government application fee.
4. DoI examination. The Department examines the mark for distinctiveness, conflicts with prior registrations, and compliance with public-morality standards under Sec. 18 of the Act.
5. Publication in the Industrial Property Bulletin. If the DoI accepts the mark, it is published, triggering the opposition period.
6. Opposition window. Any third party has 90 days from publication to file an opposition. If nobody objects, the process moves forward.
7. Pay the registration fee and receive the certificate. Once cleared, you pay the registration fee and the DoI issues the Schedule 2(c) registration certificate.

How long does trademark registration take for a Korean business?

The realistic timeline from application to certificate is 12 to 14 months for an unopposed filing. In the smoothest straightforward cases, the process can conclude in about 6 to 8 months, but that is the favourable best case, not the norm. Delays most often happen at the examination stage or if an opposition is filed during the 90-day window. Korean companies should budget for the longer end when planning a market entry. Patience is essential — the DoI's process is methodical and there is no statutory fast-track for foreign applicants. For a full breakdown, read how long registration takes.

What does trademark registration in Nepal cost a Korean company?

Cost is built from two components: government fees payable to the Department of Industry, and professional fees for your local agent. The government charges a per-class structure — an application fee at filing and a separate registration fee when the mark is approved. Foreign applicants pay higher government rates than domestic ones. The total also depends on how many NICE classes you file. A single-class application costs less than a multi-class portfolio, but remember — one application equals one class. For a personalised calculation based on your classes and filing profile, use our trademark fee calculator or reach out through contact.

What is the legal basis for trademark protection in Nepal?

The governing statute is the Patent, Design and Trademark Act, 2022 BS (1965 AD), as amended, which covers all three industrial-property rights in a single law. The Department of Industry serves as both registrar and quasi-judicial body under the Act. Nepal is a first-to-file jurisdiction: rights belong to whoever files a valid application first, not to whoever used the mark first in commerce. Relevant international frameworks include the Paris Convention (priority claims) and TRIPS (minimum standards), though Nepal is not a Madrid Protocol or PCT member. The full English text of the Act is available at the Nepal Law Commission. The official DoI portal is doind.gov.np.

Common mistakes Korean companies make when filing in Nepal

One recurring error we see is assuming a Korean registration automatically extends protection. It does not. Nepal is outside the Madrid System, so a separate Nepali application is mandatory. Another mistake is filing in only one NICE class when the business operates across several — a cosmetics brand might file Class 3 but forget Class 35 for its retail shop in Kathmandu, leaving the shop name unprotected. Some applicants skip the pre-filing trademark search and then face an opposition from a local business with a similar mark. Finally, delays in providing the notarised home registration certificate in English translation can stall an application for months. A little preparation on the Korean side before you file saves a lot of trouble later.

A realistic example: a K-beauty brand entering Nepal

Imagine a Seoul-based skincare company, "Hanuel Glow," preparing to launch products through a distributor in Kathmandu and open a branded corner in a department store. Before shipping a single product, the company's legal team appoints a Nepal-based agent, prepares a notarised PoA and board resolution, and obtains a certified English translation of the KIPO registration certificate. They file two applications: one in Class 3 for the serums and creams, and one in Class 35 for the retail and online-sale service. After a trademark-database check through IP Sewa's search tool confirms no conflicting mark exists, the applications are submitted to the DoI. Twelve months later, with no opposition filed, Hanuel Glow holds two Nepali registration certificates. The brand now has legal standing to enforce its rights against copycat importers and can confidently invest in marketing.

Renewal and maintaining your mark

A Nepali trademark registration lasts seven years from the date of registration, renewable for further seven-year terms indefinitely. Renewal must be filed within 35 days of expiry; a six-month grace period applies with a late fee. If you fail to renew, the mark is automatically cancelled. You must also use the mark in Nepal within one year of registration — the DoI can cancel unused marks under Sec. 18C of the Act. This matters for Korean companies who may register early but launch later. Our team can assist with renewal filings — see trademark renewal services or use the renewal calculator to estimate deadlines.

Enforcement and opposition — protecting your registered mark

Once registered, the DoI acts as a quasi-judicial body for trademark disputes. If another party files a confusingly similar mark, you can oppose it during the 90-day publication window. If someone is already using your registered mark without permission — a copycat distributor selling under your brand name, for instance — you can initiate enforcement action through the DoI's Law Division. The Department can issue rulings akin to a District Court order. For opposition or enforcement matters, the process is formal and fact-specific. Our opposition and enforcement service can guide you through it, and our team is available via contact to discuss your situation.

In short, a Korean company secures trademark protection in Nepal by filing a fresh, independent application through a local agent — your KIPO registration is valuable as a priority document but does not grant rights in Nepal on its own. File early, cover every class your business touches, and keep your documents ready.

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Ready to protect your brand in Nepal? Start with a trademark database search to check if your mark is available, use our fee calculator to estimate costs, or get in touch with our team for end-to-end filing support tailored to Korean companies.