International Trademark Filing Cost — Madrid Protocol Guide for Indian Businesses 2026

Verified against WIPO Madrid System fee schedule (last updated April 2026) and IP India official guidelines. Authored by Legismith Partners LLP — IP India Registered Trademark Attorneys, Pune. Author: Amar Gite (TM Attorney No. 40506).

Indian businesses expanding internationally need trademark protection in each target market. The Madrid Protocol, administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), allows Indian businesses to file a single international application through IP India and designate up to 130 countries — the most cost-effective international trademark route from India. This guide covers all fees, country-by-country costs, and when to file internationally.

Before filing internationally, you should have your India trademark filing cost covered. Most businesses file in India first, then extend internationally through Madrid. See the complete domestic trademark registration India guide for the India-first strategy.

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What Is the Madrid Protocol?

The Madrid Protocol (formally: the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks) is an international treaty administered by WIPO, Geneva. As of 2026, 130 countries are members of the Madrid System, including all major business markets — USA, UK, EU, China, UAE, Australia, Singapore, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and India itself.

For Indian businesses, the Madrid Protocol works as follows: you file a single international application through IP India (as the office of origin), pay fees to WIPO in Swiss francs (CHF), and designate the countries where you want protection. WIPO forwards the application to the trademark office of each designated country. Each designated country examines the application under its own national law. Protection in a country is granted if no objection is raised within 12–18 months of WIPO’s notification.

Why Madrid is cost-effective: Filing separately in 5 countries through local attorneys in each country typically costs ₹4,00,000–₹8,00,000 (depending on countries). Filing through Madrid for the same 5 countries typically costs ₹2,00,000–₹2,50,000 — a saving of 40–60%.

Madrid Protocol Fee Structure for Indian Applicants

All Madrid System fees are paid in Swiss Francs (CHF) to WIPO. As of May 2026, CHF 1 = approximately ₹95. Fees change periodically — verify current rates at madrid.wipo.int before filing.

Fee Component	Amount (CHF)	Approx. INR (at ₹95/CHF)
Basic Fee — Black & White Mark (1–3 classes)	CHF 653	~₹62,035
Basic Fee — Colour Mark (1–3 classes)	CHF 903	~₹85,785
Supplementary Fee (per class beyond 3rd class)	CHF 100 per class	~₹9,500 per class
India National Office Handling Fee (paid to IP India via WIPO)	Included in basic fee	Included

Country Designation Fees — Individual Fees (2026)

Most countries charge individual designation fees (set by each national trademark office) rather than the standard complementary fee of CHF 100. The individual fees below are from the WIPO Madrid System fee schedule as last updated April 2026.

Country / Territory	Designation Fee (CHF per class)	Approx. INR per class	Notes
United States (USPTO)	CHF 460	~₹43,700	Per class
United Kingdom (UKIPO)	CHF 240 (1st class) + CHF 64 (additional)	~₹22,800 / ~₹6,080	Different rate for additional classes
Singapore (IPOS)	CHF 265	~₹25,175	Per class
Australia (IP Australia)	CHF 217	~₹20,615	Per class
China (CNIPA)	CHF 220 (1st class) + CHF 110 (additional)	~₹20,900 / ~₹10,450	Different rate for additional classes
Canada (CIPO)	CHF 282 (1st class) + CHF 86 (additional)	~₹26,790 / ~₹8,170	Different rate for additional classes
European Union (EUIPO)	CHF 897 (1 class), +CHF 272 (2nd), +CHF 136 (3rd+)	~₹85,215 for 1 class	One EUIPO filing covers all 27 EU member states
UAE (MOEIC)	CHF 1,420	~₹1,34,900	High individual fee — plan carefully
India (via Madrid — inbound)	CHF 93	~₹8,835	India’s individual fee for foreign applicants designating India

Source: WIPO Madrid System individual fees schedule, last updated April 26, 2026, at wipo.int/madrid. Exchange rate CHF 1 = ₹95 approximate as of May 2026. Fees subject to change — verify at madrid.wipo.int before filing. UAE has a significantly higher individual fee than most jurisdictions; plan your UAE designation budget separately.

Worked Example — Indian Startup Filing in 5 Countries (1 Class, Black & White Mark)

Fee Component	Amount (CHF)	Approx. INR
Basic Fee (B&W, 1–3 classes)	CHF 653	~₹62,035
USA Designation (1 class)	CHF 460	~₹43,700
UK Designation (1 class)	CHF 240	~₹22,800
Singapore Designation (1 class)	CHF 265	~₹25,175
Australia Designation (1 class)	CHF 217	~₹20,615
Total Government Fee (5 markets)	CHF 1,835	~₹1,74,325
Legismith Professional Fee (Madrid filing)	—	₹30,000–₹50,000
Total Investment (approx.)	—	~₹2,04,000–₹2,24,000

This is a representative example for 1 trademark class, black and white mark, in India (base) + USA + UK + Singapore + Australia. Adding the EU (1 class, ~CHF 897) instead of one of the above would add approximately ₹85,215 to the government fee. Adding UAE (CHF 1,420 per class) adds approximately ₹1,34,900 — significantly increasing the budget. Professional fees vary by complexity and number of countries. All government fees paid to WIPO are non-refundable.

When Should an Indian Business File Internationally?

International trademark filing is a significant investment. It is most justified in four scenarios:

1. Active export markets: If your products are already being sold in a country (direct or via distributors), trademark registration there is essential. Without registration, a local party can register your brand and block your sales.
2. Imminent market entry: File 12–18 months before entering a new market — the registration process takes time in most countries, and you want protection in place before you launch publicly.
3. Investor and acquisition requirements: Series A/B investors and strategic acquirers routinely require trademark registrations in key markets as a closing condition. Filing internationally before the fund-raise typically accelerates due diligence.
4. Existing infringement abroad: If you discover someone using your brand name in another country, filing for trademark registration there immediately strengthens your position in any enforcement or negotiation.

India First, Then International

For most Indian businesses, the recommended sequence is: file in India first, then extend internationally via Madrid. There are two reasons:

• Priority date protection: The Madrid Protocol allows you to claim the priority date of your Indian application when filing internationally — provided the international filing is done within 6 months of the Indian filing. This means your international applications get the benefit of your earlier Indian filing date, not the later international filing date.
• Cost efficiency: Filing domestically (₹4,500–₹9,000 per class) and then extending internationally when needed is far more cost-effective than filing in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously without confirmation that the mark is registrable in India first.

For the domestic trademark filing cost, see the complete India trademark filing cost guide. To start the process, contact Legismith for international filing consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions — International Trademark Filing

Can an Indian business file in the USA directly without a US attorney?

No. The USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) requires foreign applicants — including Indian businesses — to be represented by a US-licensed attorney for trademark matters. However, under the Madrid Protocol, Legismith files the international application through IP India/WIPO, and only if a substantive examination issue arises in the USA does a US attorney need to be engaged. This reduces US attorney costs significantly compared to direct national filing with the USPTO.

How long does international trademark registration take?

WIPO typically processes the international application and notifies designated countries within 2–3 months of receiving the complete application and fees from IP India. Each designated country then has 12–18 months to raise objections. If no objection is raised within this period, the trademark is automatically protected in that country. Countries that raise objections follow their own examination proceedings. Total timeline from filing to protection: 12–24 months in most countries.

Does a Madrid Protocol filing cover the EU — all 27 EU member states?

Yes. Designating the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) through the Madrid Protocol gives protection across all 27 EU member states in a single designation, for a single fee (CHF 897 for the first class, approximately ₹85,215). This is highly cost-effective compared to filing separately in individual European countries. An EUIPO designation is particularly valuable for Indian exporters targeting Germany, France, Netherlands, or other EU markets.

What happens to my international registration if my India trademark is cancelled?

A Madrid international registration depends on the base India trademark for the first 5 years. If your India trademark is cancelled, opposed successfully, or surrendered within 5 years of the international filing date, the international registration can also be cancelled (this is called “central attack”). After 5 years, the international registration becomes independent of the India base mark and cannot be cancelled through the same mechanism. This is why ensuring your India trademark is registered (not just filed) before the 5-year mark is strategically important.

Is Madrid Protocol the only route for international trademark filing from India?

No. Indian businesses can also file directly in each country through local trademark attorneys in those countries — called “direct national filing.” Direct national filing gives more flexibility (no dependency on the India base mark, no risk of central attack) but is significantly more expensive, as you pay local attorney fees in each jurisdiction plus the respective government fees. For most Indian businesses filing in 3–10 countries, Madrid Protocol is more cost-effective. For a single country, direct national filing may sometimes be faster and cheaper, especially for the USA and EU where Legismith has correspondent relationships.

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Plan Your International Filing Strategy — Free Consultation

Filing internationally without professional guidance risks wrong country selection, missed priority windows, and wasted fees. Legismith provides a free international filing strategy consultation — confirming which countries to file in, in what sequence, at what estimated cost.

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