Trademark Registration Number Explained (Nepal)

Your trademark registration number in Nepal is the unique identifier the Department of Industry (DoI) assigns to your mark the moment it is officially registered — it appears on your Schedule 2(c) certificate and is the legal proof that you own exclusive rights to that brand under the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965.

Key Takeaways

• A trademark registration number is the official number on your DoI registration certificate — it confirms your mark is legally protected in Nepal.
• Do not confuse the application number (received at filing) with the registration number (issued only after examination, publication, and the 90-day opposition window).
• The registration number is how you prove ownership, file for renewal every 7 years, and enforce your rights against infringers.
• Nepal follows a first-to-file system — the first valid applicant who completes the process gets the registration number and the rights.
• You receive the number only after passing DoI examination, publication in the Industrial Property Bulletin, and surviving the opposition period.
• One registration number covers one NICE class; a brand filed in multiple classes gets multiple registration numbers.
• You can verify any registered mark's number and status through IP Sewa's trademark database search.

What is a trademark registration number in Nepal?

A trademark registration number is the official serial identifier the Department of Industry prints on the Schedule 2(c) registration certificate under Sec. 18 of the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965. This number is the conclusive evidence that your mark has passed examination, survived publication in the Industrial Property Bulletin, and completed the 90-day opposition window — it's what turns your brand from a pending application into an enforceable registered trade mark.

In everyday terms, it's the government-issued proof that you own that brand. You'll quote this number when you renew the mark every 7 years, when you send a legal notice to an infringer, and when you record a change of ownership with the DoI. Without it, you don't have a registered mark — you just have an application in progress.

How is a registration number different from an application number?

This is the single most common point of confusion we hear from business owners. The application number is a temporary tracking reference the DoI issues the moment you file your Schedule 1(c) form and pay the application fee. It means your paperwork is in the queue — nothing more. The registration number is a different, permanent number assigned only at the end of the process, after examination, publication, and the 90-day opposition window have all been cleared. An application number gives you a seat at the table; a registration number gives you ownership.

Where do you find your trademark registration number?

Your registration number is printed prominently on the Schedule 2(c) certificate the DoI issues. It's typically near the top of the certificate, alongside the registered proprietor's name, the representation of the mark, the NICE class it covers, and the date of registration. If you lose the certificate, you can request a duplicate from the DoI — but it's far easier to keep a digital scan from day one.

You can also look up a registration number through IP Sewa's trademark database search. Our search covers DoI records and lets you verify a mark's current status, its registration number, class, and owner details — useful if you're checking a competitor's claims or doing due diligence before a deal.

Why does the registration number matter legally?

Nepal is a first-to-file jurisdiction. Rights flow from registration, not from first use. Under Sec. 16 of the PDTA, title to a trademark is acquired only upon registration. The registration number is the linchpin of that title — without it, you cannot claim the ® symbol (Sec. 18B makes it an offence to use "registered trademark" without a registration), you cannot file an infringement action with real teeth, and you cannot record the mark with customs or at the Office of the Company Registrar to block conflicting company names.

Passing-off claims — the common-law-style protection for unregistered marks — do exist in Nepal, but they are harder, slower, and more expensive to win than a straightforward infringement case that leans on a registered mark. The registration number shortcuts that entire fight. It's the difference between proving "this is my brand" and spending months proving reputation and goodwill.

How do you get a trademark registration number in Nepal?

The path to that registration number is a single process managed by the Department of Industry, governed by Sec. 17–21A of the PDTA. Here are the steps — and the registration number only arrives at the very end.

1. Search the DoI database. Before you file, check whether an identical or confusingly similar mark already exists in your class. Use our trademark search or the conflict checker to spot risks early.
2. Identify your NICE class. Nepal uses the 45-class NICE Classification, and one application covers exactly one class. If your business spans multiple classes, you'll file multiple applications — and receive multiple registration numbers. Our NICE class finder helps you get this right.
3. Prepare the documents. You'll need the application form, a notarised Power of Attorney, four specimens of the mark, a board resolution (for companies), and, for foreign applicants, a notarised copy of the home registration certificate.
4. File the application and pay the fee. At filing, the DoI issues an application number. This is your first official acknowledgment.
5. Examination by the DoI. The examiner checks for distinctiveness, conflicts with existing marks, and any grounds for refusal under Sec. 18 — marks that hurt someone's prestige, damage another's goodwill, or offend public morality won't pass.
6. Publication in the Industrial Property Bulletin. If the examiner is satisfied, the mark is published. This opens a 90-day window (under Sec. 21A) during which any third party can file an opposition.
7. Registration and certificate. If no opposition is filed — or if an opposition is resolved in your favour — the DoI issues the registration number and the Schedule 2(c) certificate.

How long does it take to get the registration number?

In practice, the full timeline from filing to holding that registration certificate typically runs about 12 to 14 months when the process is unopposed. In the smoothest cases, where the DoI examination moves quickly and no objections are raised, you might see it in 6 to 8 months — but that's the favourable end, not the norm. The 90-day opposition window alone adds three months to the back end, and examiner queries mid-process can pause the clock. Plan for a year, and treat anything faster as a bonus.

How long does a registration number stay valid?

A trademark registration in Nepal is valid for 7 years from the date of registration, renewable indefinitely for further 7-year terms under Sec. 23B of the PDTA. Your registration number doesn't change when you renew — the same number stays on the certificate, just with an updated expiry date. You must file for renewal within 35 days of expiry; there's a 6-month grace period after that, but waiting triggers late fees and risks automatic cancellation if you miss it entirely.

What are the most common mistakes that delay or block a registration number?

We see the same handful of missteps trip up applicants again and again. The first is skipping the pre-filing search — filing a mark that conflicts with an existing registration wastes months and money because the DoI will reject it at examination. The second is picking the wrong NICE class. A restaurant that files only under Class 43 for services forgets it may also need Class 30 for its branded spice blends or Class 35 for its franchise offering — and each missing class means a missing registration number. The third is treating the application number as if it's already a registration and printing ® on packaging. That's an offence under Sec. 18B and can hurt your credibility if challenged.

Another common slip: not providing a proper notarised Power of Attorney with two witnesses, especially for foreign applicants. The DoI is strict on documentation. And finally, ignoring the Industrial Property Bulletin during the opposition window — if someone opposes and you don't respond, your application dies. Our team can help you handle oppositions if one arises.

A real-world example: how a Kathmandu clothing brand gets its registration number

Imagine a young entrepreneur launches a streetwear label called "Yeti Threads" in Patan. She's printing the name on t-shirts, hoodies, and caps — all Class 25 goods. Before she invests in nationwide retail, she runs a trademark search and finds no conflicting "Yeti" mark in Class 25. She files her application with the DoI through an agent, receives an application number the same week, and waits.

Six months in, the DoI examiner queries whether "Yeti" could be considered descriptive of Himalayan-themed apparel. Her agent argues successfully that it's fanciful for clothing — no different from naming a brand after a mythical creature. The mark clears examination and is published in the Industrial Property Bulletin. Ninety days pass with no opposition. The DoI issues her registration number on a Schedule 2(c) certificate. She can now print ® next to "Yeti Threads," enforce her rights if a copycat appears in Bhatbhateni, and renew the mark in 7 years. That registration number becomes the legal backbone of her entire brand.

How does a registration number fit into renewals and assignments?

Your registration number stays with the mark for life. When you renew — every 7 years, for as many terms as you like — the DoI updates the expiry date but keeps the same registration number. When you assign (transfer) ownership of the mark to another person or company, the DoI records the change against that same number. If you need to amend details on the certificate — a change of address, for instance — again, the same number anchors the record. Think of it as the permanent identity document of your trademark in Nepal's IP registry.

Our renewal calculator can help you project renewal dates and understand what's due and when, so you never let a registration number lapse by accident.

In short

A trademark registration number is far more than a string of digits on a certificate — it's the legal difference between "I use this brand" and "I own this brand" under Nepali law. It unlocks the ® symbol, enforcement rights, and the ability to build a business around a protected asset. Getting one takes planning, the right class choice, and patience through the DoI's examination and opposition process, but once you have it, it's renewable indefinitely and forms the foundation of your brand's legal protection in Nepal.

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Ready to check if your brand is available? Start with a free trademark search or use our conflict checker to spot risks. If you already have an application number and want to know where things stand, reach out to our team — we'll help you navigate the path to your own registration number.