I. Legal Basis and Application Requirements

Where an applicant wishes to claim priority right under Article 4 of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property when applying for registration of the same trademark in other member countries within six months after filing a trademark registration application in China, it shall apply to China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) for the issuance of a priority document.

II. Application Channels

(I)The applicant may submit an electronic application on its own.

The applicant may submit a priority application through the online service system. For details on the methods to submit an application, please refer to the "Online Application" section.

Website of the online trademark service system: https://toas.sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/toas-extra-prod/login

(II)The applicant may file a priority application at the following locations:

1. The trademark business acceptance windows established by local departments for market regulation or intellectual property upon the authorization of the Trademark Office of CNIPA. For the addresses of such windows, please visit https://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn.

2. The Trademark Examination Cooperation Centers established by the Trademark Office outside Beijing.

3. The Trademark Registration Hall of the Trademark Office.

Office address of the Trademark Registration Hall: 1 Chama South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100055, China.

Business hours: 8:30-11:30 and 13:30-16:30 on weekdays

Inquiry telephone number: +86-10-63218500

(III)The applicant may entrust a trademark agency recorded at CNIPA to handle its application.

III. Application Process

(I) For an application via the online service system, the applicant shall log in to the system, select "Application for Priority Documents" in the "Subsequent Trademark Applications" section, and complete the application form before submitting it.

(II) For an in-person application at the Trademark Registration Hall, the applicant shall submit the required documents at the acceptance windows.

(III) For an application at the trademark business acceptance window, the applicant shall submit its application materials online, subject to the specific requirements of the staff at the window.

(IV) For an application handled through a trademark agency, the applicant may voluntarily choose any agency recorded with CNIPA to file the application on its behalf. All recorded trademark agencies are published in the "Trademark Agencies" section of https://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn.

IV. Required Documents

To apply for a priority document, the following documents shall be submitted:

Documents such as the priority application may be submitted in writing or via electronic data transmission. For specific requirements regarding electronic data transmission, please visit https://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn and refer to relevant provisions in the "Online Application" section.

(I) An Application for Priority Document, which shall follow the uniform format prescribed by CNIPA

1. Where the application is submitted in paper form, it shall be typed or printed out.

2. Where the applicant is a legal person or other organization, its official seal shall be affixed to the designated space on the application. Where the applicant is a natural person, he shall confirm the application by signing in the designated space with a pen.

3. Regarding detailed requirements for completing the Application for Priority Document, please refer to the instructions attached thereto.

(II)A copy of the applicant's ID document (Only one copy is required if the same applicant handles multiple priority applications simultaneously)

1. Domestic Applicant

Where the applicant is a legal person or other organization, it shall provide an ID document bearing the Uniform Social Credit Identifier, such as the Business License, the Legal Person Registration Certificate, the Legal Person Certificate of Public Institution, the Legal Person Certificate of Social Organization, and the Law Firm Practice License. Please note that documents such as the journal license, the school operating license or the sanitation license cannot be used as proof of identity for the applicant.

Where the applicant is a natural person, he shall provide a copy of its valid ID document, such as his ID Card, passport, or household registration certificate.

2. Foreign Applicant

Where the applicant is a legal person or other organizations, it shall provide a copy of the registration document issued by its country/region of registration. Please note that a copy of the registration certificate of a foreign enterprise's office or resident representative agency in China is not acceptable as a copy of the ID document. Where the above document is in a foreign language, a Chinese translation shall be provided together with it. A failure to provide such translation will be considered as non-submission of the document.

Where the applicant is a natural person who handles the priority application on his own, he shall provide a copy of his passport and a copy of its Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, Residence Permit for Foreigner or Foreigner's Residence Permit with a remaining validity period of at least one year issued by the public security authority.

(III) A Power of Attorney for Trademark Matters, in case that a trademark agency is entrusted to handle the priority application

1. The Power of Attorney for Trademark Matters shall specify the scope and limits of the authorized power.

2. Where the applicant is a foreign national or foreign enterprise, the Power of Attorney for Trademark Matters shall indicate the applicant's nationality.

3. The notarization and authentication of the Power of Attorney for Trademark Matters and related supporting documents submitted by a foreign national or foreign enterprise shall follow the principle of reciprocity.

(IV) Where any document, certificate or evidence submitted by the applicant is in a foreign language, a Chinese translation shall be provided. A failure to provide such translation shall be deemed as non-submission of the document, certificate or evidence.

V. Fee Payment

To apply for the issuance of a priority document, a fee shall be paid. For details regarding the amount and payment method of the fee, please refer to the relevant section.

VI. Issuance of Priority Document

Where all formalities for the priority application are complete, the application documents are filled out as required, the fee has been paid and the application is found to comply with relevant provisions after review, CNIPA will issue a Priority Document to the applicant.

VII. Important Notes

Where the name of the original applicant has changed, an application for name change shall be filed first, and the priority application shall then be filed.

The above provisions were revised in February 2024. In case of any later change or inconsistency with the requirements of the staff in the Trademark Registration Hall, the requirements of the staff shall prevail.