FAQ

How can foreign applicants apply for trademark registration?

1. File a trademark application via domestic route

A foreign applicant shall entrust a trademark agency established in accordance with the law to handle trademark filing issues.

Where a foreign company with no business domicile in China applies for registration of a trademark and deals with other trademark issues in China, it shall entrust a trademark agency established in accordance with the law to handle the affairs. Note: A wholly-owned branch of a foreign enterprise established in China in accordance with the law is a Chinese enterprise rather than the foreign company's business domicile in China. A local office or a representative office in China established in accordance with the law by a foreign company is not the foreign company's business domicile in China.

Please click the following link to see the list of approved trademark agencies:

http://wssq.sbj.cnipa.gov.cn:9080/tmsve/agentInfo_getAgentDljg.xhtml

A foreign national with habitual residence in China can apply at the trademark registration hall or through the trademark online application system by himself/herself. When the foreign national decides to apply directly at the trademark registration hall, the following documents shall be furnished: Application Form for Trademark Registration filled and printed according to regulations with the applicant's signature, a trademark drawing, a copy of applicant's ID card, a copy of Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card or a copy of Resident Permit for Foreigner valid for at least one year both issued by the Ministry of Public Security.

Please see the China Trademark Website (Path: Homepage>Trademark Application>Application Guidelines) for the specific requirements for the above-mentioned Application Form for Trademark Registration and the trademark drawing.

http://sbj.cnipa.gov.cn/sbj/sbsq/sqzn/

Please see the China Trademark Website (Path: Homepage>Online Application) for specific procedures for filing applications online.

2. Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks (request for territorial extension to China)

Please see the website (English) of the World Intellectual Property Organization for specific requirements and procedures.

https://www.wipo.int/madrid/en/