EU Trademark Renewal: EUIPO Deadlines, Grace Periods, and Costs

EU Trademark Renewal: EUIPO Deadlines, Grace Periods, and Costs

A European Union Trade Mark (EUTM) registration is valid for 10 years from the filing date. Unlike some jurisdictions that require periodic maintenance filings during the registration term, the EUTM system is straightforward: pay the renewal fee before expiry, and your protection continues for another decade across all 27 EU member states.

Missing the renewal deadline, however, can result in the permanent loss of your EU-wide trademark rights — rights that may have taken years and significant investment to build.

Pro tip: Not sure when your EUTM renewal is due? Run a free trademark check to get a comprehensive overview of your brand's registration status across jurisdictions.

EUTM Renewal Timeline

Important: The Expiry Date Rule

EUTM registrations expire on the last day of the month in which the 10-year anniversary of the filing date falls. For example:

• Filing date: March 15, 2016
• Expiry date: March 31, 2026
• Earliest renewal: October 1, 2025
• Grace period ends: September 30, 2026

Renewal Fees (2026)

These fees mirror the initial filing fees. For a 3-class EUTM, the standard renewal fee is EUR 1,050 — or EUR 1,312.50 if renewed during the grace period.

The GTC advantage: Our trademark renewal service tracks all your renewal deadlines automatically and handles the entire renewal process — ensuring you never miss a deadline and lose valuable EU-wide protection.

How to Renew Your EUTM

Online Renewal (Recommended)

1. Log into EUIPO's User Area
2. Navigate to your registered EUTM
3. Select the renewal option
4. Confirm the classes to be renewed (you can do a partial renewal)
5. Pay the renewal fee online

Paper Renewal

Submit a written renewal request to EUIPO with:

• The EUTM registration number
• The owner's name and address
• The classes to be renewed
• Payment of the applicable fees

Online renewal is faster and provides immediate confirmation.

Partial Renewal

You do not have to renew all classes in your registration. Partial renewal allows you to:

• Drop classes for goods/services you no longer offer
• Reduce costs by eliminating unnecessary class fees
• Streamline your portfolio

However, once a class is dropped during renewal, it cannot be added back — you would need to file a new EUTM application for those goods/services.

When Partial Renewal Makes Sense

• Your business model has changed since the original filing
• You have not used the mark for certain goods/services (reducing non-use cancellation risk)
• Budget constraints require prioritising core classes

EUIPO Reminder Notices

EUIPO sends a courtesy reminder to the registered owner (or their representative) approximately 6 months before the expiry date. However:

• The reminder is a courtesy only — EUIPO is not legally obligated to send it
• Failure to receive the reminder does not extend the renewal deadline
• Do not rely on EUIPO reminders as your only deadline tracking mechanism

If your contact details have changed since registration, update them with EUIPO to ensure you receive correspondence. Better yet, maintain an independent trademark monitoring system that tracks your renewal dates.

What Happens If You Miss the Renewal Deadline?

During the Grace Period (6 months after expiry)

You can still renew by paying the standard renewal fee plus a 25% surcharge. The registration is maintained as if it were renewed on time.

After the Grace Period

The EUTM registration is irrevocably cancelled. There is no mechanism to restore a lapsed EUTM. Your options are:

1. File a new EUTM application — but you lose the original filing date and seniority claims
2. Convert to national applications — under Article 139 EUTMR, you can convert a lapsed EUTM into national applications in individual EU member states, retaining the original filing date. However, this must be done within 3 months of the EUTM's removal from the Register
3. File through the Madrid Protocol — if you have a home-country base mark, designate the EU through WIPO

Losing a long-standing EUTM can be devastating — especially if competitors have since filed similar marks in the same classes.

Surrender vs Non-Renewal

If you no longer need your EUTM, you have two options:

Surrender (Active cancellation)

File a request with EUIPO to surrender the registration. This immediately removes the mark from the Register. You can surrender for all or some classes.

Non-Renewal (Passive expiry)

Simply do not pay the renewal fee. The registration expires at the end of the grace period. This is simpler but means the mark remains on the Register until the grace period ends.

In most cases, non-renewal is the simpler approach unless you need the mark removed from the Register urgently (e.g., to clear the way for a new filing).

Renewal and Genuine Use

Renewing your EUTM does not require proof of use. However, be aware that:

• A registered EUTM that has not been genuinely used in the EU for a continuous period of 5 years is vulnerable to cancellation for non-use
• Renewing a mark you are not using maintains the registration but does not protect against non-use challenges
• If you plan to resume use, renewal preserves your rights in the meantime

Renewal for International Registrations Designating the EU

If your EU trademark protection comes through a Madrid Protocol international registration rather than a direct EUTM, renewal is handled through WIPO — not EUIPO. The international registration renewal process follows WIPO's timeline and fee structure.

Best Practices for EUTM Renewal Management

1. Track deadlines independently — do not rely solely on EUIPO reminders
2. Renew early — file 6 months before expiry to avoid last-minute issues
3. Review your specification — use renewal as an opportunity to assess whether all classes are still needed
4. Update contact details — ensure EUIPO has your current address and representative information
5. Consider your entire portfolio — if you have marks in multiple jurisdictions, align renewal dates for efficient management
6. Budget for renewals — factor in the recurring 10-year cost when building your trademark strategy

Ready to Renew Your EU Trademark?

Don't risk losing your EU-wide trademark protection. Whether your renewal is due soon or you want to set up proactive deadline monitoring, professional management ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

Check your trademark status for a portfolio overview, or contact our renewal team to manage your EUTM renewals seamlessly.