How to register a trademark with CIPO in Canada
Apply to register a trademark or certification mark in Canada through the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. In 2026, an online trademark application costs $491.06 for the first class of goods or services plus $149.04 for each additional class. Learn what to prepare, how to file, how CIPO examines the application and what happens before registration.
CA Canada
Business ~ 9 min read
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Updated 2026-08-25
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To register a trademark in Canada, search for potentially conflicting marks, identify the trademark and the goods or services it will cover, classify those goods or services under the Nice Classification, and submit an application to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. In 2026, an application filed online costs $491.06 for the first class plus $149.04 for each additional class. CIPO's August 2026 forecast is approximately 8.1 months before examination, while its 2026-2027 performance target is to send a first office action within 14 months for national applications. If approved, the application is published and may be opposed for two months before registration.
What you need
- An indication that registration of a trademark is being sought.
- The applicant's name and contact information.
- A representation or description of the trademark.
- A statement of the goods or services associated with the trademark.
- Goods and services grouped according to the Nice Classification.
- The required application fee.
- Any additional information required for the particular type of trademark being filed.
- For a certification mark, the applicant must satisfy the special eligibility rules that apply to certification mark owners under the Trademarks Act.
Eligibility
An individual or organization may apply to register a trademark in Canada if the proposed mark and application comply with the Trademarks Act and Trademarks Regulations. Registration is not mandatory to use a trademark, but federal registration provides registered rights across Canada. A certification mark is subject to an additional rule: it may be adopted and registered only by a person who is not engaged in manufacturing, selling, leasing or hiring the goods, or performing the services, of the kind for which the certification mark is used or proposed to be used.
How to do it
- Search the Canadian Trademarks Database for existing applications and registrations that could conflict with the proposed trademark. CIPO recommends searching before filing, although a search is not mandatory.
- Choose the exact trademark you want to register and prepare the required representation or description.
- Identify the goods and services that will be associated with the trademark.
- Use CIPO's Goods and Services Manual to prepare acceptable descriptions and group the goods and services according to the Nice Classification.
- Calculate the application fee according to the number of classes. For an online application in 2026, the fee is $491.06 for the first class and $149.04 for each additional class.
- File the application through CIPO's Trademark e-Filing service or another accepted filing method. Online filing has the lower first-class application fee.
- Pay the required application fee. An application that meets the filing-date requirements receives a filing date and application number.
- Monitor the application during examination. If CIPO issues an examiner's report, respond to the objections or requirements within the deadline stated by CIPO. CIPO's current guidance provides six months to respond to an examiner's report.
- If the application is approved, wait for publication in the Trademarks Journal. Other persons have two months from advertisement to file an opposition.
- If there is no successful opposition and all registration requirements are satisfied, the trademark proceeds to registration and CIPO issues the registration certificate.
How to register a trademark in Canada
Trademark registration in Canada is administered federally by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, commonly known as CIPO. An individual or business can apply directly to CIPO for an ordinary trademark, and eligible applicants can also apply for a certification mark.
For an application and fee submitted online in 2026, the official filing fee is $491.06 CAD for the first class of goods or services and $149.04 CAD for each additional class. The fee is based on the classes covered by the application as of the filing date.
What should you do before filing a Canadian trademark application?
CIPO recommends searching the Canadian Trademarks Database before filing. A preliminary search can reveal registered trademarks, pending applications, official marks and other records that may affect whether the proposed trademark can be registered.
A search is not legally required before filing, but it can help identify identical or confusingly similar marks before you spend money on an application.
Choose the exact trademark you want to register
Your application must contain a representation or description of the trademark. A trademark may consist of words, designs or other forms recognized under Canadian trademark law. Certain non-traditional trademarks require additional descriptions or representations.
The proposed trademark must comply with the Trademarks Act. CIPO examines applications to determine whether the trademark is registrable and whether there are legal objections to registration.
How to list goods and services in a trademark application
Your application must identify the goods or services with which the trademark is associated. They must be described in specific and ordinary commercial terms and grouped according to the Nice Classification.
CIPO provides a Goods and Services Manual containing terms that have already been accepted for Canadian trademark applications. Using appropriate pre-approved terms can make it easier to prepare the application accurately.
Why trademark classes affect the filing fee
The Canadian application fee is class-based. For an online application filed in 2026, the first class costs $491.06 and every additional class costs $149.04.
CIPO states that the prescribed fee for additional classes is determined from the classes applicable to the goods and services as of the filing date. Removing goods or services after the filing date does not eliminate an additional-class fee that was already payable.
How much does it cost to register a trademark in Canada in 2026?
The 2026 CIPO fee for an application submitted online is $491.06 CAD for the first class of goods or services and $149.04 CAD for each additional class.
If the application and fee are submitted by another method, the 2026 fee for the first class is $640.10 CAD, with $149.04 for each additional class.
CIPO adjusts certain trademark fees annually. The fee that applies depends on when the Registrar receives the payment, so applicants should verify the current fee schedule immediately before filing.
What is required to receive a trademark filing date?
CIPO states that an application can receive a filing date and application number when it includes an indication that trademark registration is being sought, the applicant's name and contact information, a representation or description of the trademark, the associated goods or services and the required application fee.
Only the prescribed fee for the first class is required to obtain a filing date. If additional classes apply, the additional-class fees must still be paid before the application can be advertised.
How to file a trademark application online with CIPO
CIPO provides a Trademark e-Filing service for new and amended trademark and certification mark applications. The online process allows applicants to enter applicant details, trademark information and the goods and services covered by the application.
After the required application fee is paid through the online service, CIPO states that an application number is provided immediately. CIPO's 2026-2027 performance target for issuing a filing date for a compliant electronic application is within five business days.
How long does CIPO trademark registration take?
The complete registration process does not have one fixed processing time. An application may need to pass through filing formalities, examination, responses to examiner objections, approval, publication, the opposition period and final registration.
For a trademark application filed in August 2026, CIPO forecasts an examination wait of approximately 8.1 months. CIPO's separate 2026-2027 performance target is to send a first office action, either an approval or examiner's report, within 14 months from the filing date for national applications.
The overall process can take longer if CIPO raises objections, the applicant must amend or argue the application, or another person opposes the application.
What happens during CIPO examination?
A trademark examiner reviews the application against the Trademarks Act and Trademarks Regulations. This includes assessing whether the trademark is registrable and whether the application meets the applicable legal requirements.
If there are straightforward issues, CIPO may contact the applicant. For more complex problems, CIPO issues an examiner's report. CIPO's current process guidance states that the applicant has six months to respond.
If the application meets the requirements, CIPO sends a formal notice of approval and moves the application toward publication.
What happens after a trademark application is approved?
After approval, CIPO publishes the application in the Trademarks Journal. The Journal is published weekly.
Other persons have two months from the advertisement date to oppose the application. If an opposition is filed, the application will not proceed normally to registration until the opposition matter is resolved.
When does a Canadian trademark become registered?
If the application is approved, advertised and not successfully opposed, it can proceed to registration once the applicable requirements are satisfied.
For applications filed on or after June 17, 2019, there is no separate final registration fee. The registration fee shown on CIPO's current fee schedule applies only to applications with a filing date before June 17, 2019.
CIPO's 2026-2027 performance target for registering a trademark after receipt of a compliant electronic registration request and any applicable fee is within five business days. This target covers the final registration stage and not the full application process.
How long does trademark protection last in Canada?
A Canadian trademark registration lasts for 10 years from the registration date. It can be renewed for further 10-year periods by meeting the renewal requirements and paying the applicable fees.
A federal trademark registration provides registered trademark rights across Canada. Registration in Canada does not itself provide trademark protection in other countries.
Do you need a trademark agent to file with CIPO?
You can file a Canadian trademark application directly with CIPO. Hiring a trademark agent is optional, although professional assistance may be useful where registrability, ownership, classification, objections or opposition issues are complex.
CIPO does not prepare an application for an applicant, provide legal or business advice, or conduct a trademark clearance search on the applicant's behalf.
How is a certification mark different?
A certification mark identifies goods or services that meet a defined standard and can be licensed for use by persons whose goods or services satisfy that standard.
Under section 23 of the Trademarks Act, a certification mark may be adopted and registered only by a person who is not engaged in manufacturing, selling, leasing or hiring goods, or performing services, of the same kind as those in association with which the certification mark is used or proposed to be used.
The owner of a certification mark may license others to use it for goods or services that meet the defined standard.
What happens after the trademark is registered?
CIPO enters the trademark in the Register of Trademarks and issues a certificate of registration. The registration lasts for 10 years and can be renewed every 10 years.
Trademark owners remain responsible for maintaining and enforcing their rights. CIPO notes that a registration may potentially be removed from the register for reasons including abandonment, loss of distinctiveness or non-use. Section 45 proceedings concerning non-use may arise after three years beginning on the registration date.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register a trademark in Canada in 2026?
For a trademark application and fee submitted online to CIPO in 2026, the official fee is $491.06 CAD for the first class of goods or services and $149.04 CAD for each additional class.
Can I apply for a Canadian trademark online?
Yes. CIPO provides a Trademark e-Filing service for new trademark and certification mark applications.
How long does CIPO take to examine a trademark application in 2026?
CIPO forecasts an examination wait of approximately 8.1 months for applications filed in August 2026. Its 2026-2027 performance target is to send a first office action within 14 months from the filing date for national applications.
How long does the full trademark registration process take in Canada?
There is no single guaranteed total time. The application must complete examination, publication, the two-month opposition period and registration. Objections, responses, amendments or opposition can extend the process.
Do I have to search existing trademarks before filing?
No. A trademark search is not mandatory, but CIPO recommends searching the Canadian Trademarks Database before filing to identify potentially conflicting marks.
What information does CIPO need to give a trademark application a filing date?
The application must indicate that trademark registration is sought and include the applicant's name and contact information, a representation or description of the trademark, the associated goods or services and the required fee.
What are Nice classes for Canadian trademarks?
The Nice Classification groups trademark goods and services into international classes. Canadian applications must group their goods and services according to this classification, and the number of classes affects the filing fee.
How long do I have to respond to a CIPO examiner's report?
CIPO's current application process guidance states that an applicant has six months to respond to an examiner's report.
What happens after CIPO approves my trademark application?
The application is published in the Trademarks Journal. Other persons then have two months from the advertisement date to file an opposition.
Is there a separate registration fee after approval?
Not for a new application filed on or after June 17, 2019. CIPO's current registration fee applies only to applications with a filing date before June 17, 2019.
How long is a Canadian trademark registration valid?
A Canadian trademark registration lasts for 10 years from the date of registration and can be renewed for additional 10-year periods.
Do I need a trademark agent to register a trademark in Canada?
No. Applicants can file directly with CIPO. A registered trademark agent is optional but may be useful for complex applications, objections or opposition matters.
Can a certification mark be registered in Canada?
Yes. CIPO accepts certification mark applications, but the Trademarks Act imposes special eligibility rules. In particular, the certification mark owner cannot itself engage in the manufacture, sale, leasing or hiring of the relevant goods or performance of the relevant services.
Does a Canadian trademark registration protect my mark outside Canada?
No. Registration with CIPO provides registered trademark protection in Canada. Protection in other countries must be obtained separately through the applicable foreign or international filing route.
Official sources
File a new or amended trademark or certification mark applicationFees for trademarksTrademarksPerformance targets 2026-2027How your trademark application is processedTrademarks guideApplication feesRegistration and renewal of trademarksTrademarks Act section 23 certification marksRelated procedures
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