You register a UK trade mark by filing a TM3 with the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), getting examined on absolute grounds, then published for a two-month opposition window. Typical unopposed filings take about 4 to 6 months. The application fee is £205 for one class and £60 for each further class under the schedule that took effect on 1 April 2026. Registrations last 10 years and can be revoked for non-use after five.
I will walk you through the exact steps, the fees, timing you can plan around, and the post-Brexit coverage traps we still see founders miss. For a shorter overview, see our United Kingdom country guide.
What does it cost to file in the UK in 2026?
The UKIPO changed its fee schedule on 1 April 2026. Under the current schedule:
| Item | UKIPO fee |
|---|---|
| Application, one class | £205 |
| Each additional class | £60 |
| Renewal (10 years) | £245, plus £60 per additional class |
| Opposition (TM7) | £250 |
| Recording an assignment (TM16) | £60 |
Two practical notes we give clients:
- Fees differ by route. A national TM3 is priced as above; a Madrid designation of the UK is priced through WIPO's fee calculator instead.
- Class add-ons and post-filing actions have separate fees. Budget beyond the first class if you plan multi-class protection. Our attorney fee for a UK filing is listed on the pricing page.
Does an EU trade mark still cover the UK after Brexit?
No. An EU trade mark does not protect the UK. If you need rights in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland, you must file nationally in the UK or designate the UK via the Madrid Protocol.
Is the UK first-to-file, and what does that mean for you?
Yes, the UK is generally first-to-file. Earlier filings usually beat later ones for the same or confusingly similar marks. Prior use can still matter in opposition or passing-off cases, but it will not create a registration priority by itself. This is why we push clients to file once the brand name is settled.
Which route should you use, national UK filing or Madrid designation?
You have two common paths:
- Direct national filing: File a TM3 with the UKIPO. Official language is English. You deal with the UKIPO for the life of the mark.
- Madrid Protocol route: File an international application through WIPO designating the UK. The UKIPO still examines the UK portion, but your management starts with WIPO.
When to choose what:
- If the UK is your only or first market, a national TM3 is usually faster to start and simpler to manage.
- If you plan multi-country coverage from day one, Madrid can centralize filings, renewals, and ownership updates.
Step-by-step: how a UK trade mark filing runs in 2026
Here is the process we use for most UK filings.
1) Clear the mark before you file
- Search for identical and confusingly similar UK marks. Look for spelling tweaks, plurals, and sound-alikes. Google is not enough. Our free trademark check is a quick first pass against the UK register.
- Check business names and domains for passing-off risk.
- If you are planning multi-market filings, align your check with EU and US plans so you do not box yourself in later.
- Helpful read: Trademark Searches: Beyond Google.
2) Choose the right classes and draft goods/services
- The UK uses the Nice Classification. Pick the classes that match what you will sell in the next 12 to 24 months. Class Assist turns a plain description of your business into the class numbers you need.
- Write goods and services that are specific, not vague. Over-broad lists can trigger objections and later non-use attacks.
- Helpful read: Nice Classification: How to Choose the Right Trademark Classes.
3) File the application (TM3 for national route)
- Applicant and address for service details. Applicants outside the UK need a UK, Gibraltar or Channel Islands address for service. We act as address for service for many foreign applicants.
- Mark representation: word mark, or upload a clear logo for a figurative mark.
- Classes and goods/services list.
- Fee payment: £205 for the first class and £60 for each further class.
4) Examination by the UKIPO
- The UKIPO examines on absolute grounds before publication. This is where descriptiveness, lack of distinctiveness, or prohibited signs are raised.
- On relative grounds, the UKIPO can identify earlier marks and notify their owners. Conflicts are typically resolved during the opposition window.
5) Publication and opposition
- If the application is accepted, it is published for opposition. Third parties have two months from publication to oppose, and can extend that by one month by filing a notice of threatened opposition. Treat that period as an active risk window.
6) Registration and certificate
- If no opposition is filed, or an opposition is defeated or settled, the mark proceeds to registration. There is no separate grant or certificate fee.
7) Use, renewal, and enforcement
- Non-use: a registration is vulnerable to revocation if not genuinely used for five years. Plan to collect use evidence by class and by core goods/services.
- Renewal: registrations last 10 years and can be renewed in further 10-year periods. The renewal fee is £245 plus £60 per additional class.
- Monitoring and policing: set up a watch and act on conflicts quickly, often with an early notice letter or an opposition.
Typical timeline: In our experience, straightforward, unopposed UK filings register in about 4 to 6 months. Objections or oppositions will extend that.
Common refusal and opposition traps we still see
- Descriptiveness creep: "BERRY FRESH" for juices or "INSIGHTS ANALYTICS" for analytics software invites absolute-grounds objections. Aim for suggestive or coined terms.
- Crowded fields: Short, two-syllable tech names with shared suffixes, like "-LYTICS" or "-IFY," can collide with prior marks even if spellings differ. Our team recently redirected a SaaS client from a crowded "INSIGHTS ANALYTICS"-style name to a distinct coined term, then filed cleanly across software and data-hosting classes.
- Goods list overreach: Packing your list with everything you might someday offer can backfire. It increases conflict risk now and non-use exposure later. Draft for what you will sell.
- Late filings: The UK is first-to-file. Filing before launch keeps a competitor, distributor, or reseller from filing first.
Budgeting for 2026: what to plan for
- Application fee: £205 for one class, £60 for each extra class.
- Post-filing costs: Responses to examination issues, cooling-off and settlement in opposition, and potential appeals add time and cost. Plan a reserve for at least one round of examiner correspondence.
- Renewals and recordals: Renewal is £245 plus £60 per additional class. Recording an assignment on form TM16 is £60.
- Madrid designations: If you will designate the UK via Madrid, use WIPO's fee calculator for the UK designation fee. See also our take on recent pricing shifts: UK-EU Madrid Filings Post-2026 Fee Hikes.
Who can apply, and what if you are abroad?
Foreign applicants can file directly with the UKIPO, but need a UK address for service for the application and any proceedings. We routinely act as UK address for service and handle examiner queries, oppositions, and later recordals for overseas clients.
Maintain and enforce your rights
- Track use by class and core goods to defend against non-use attacks after five years.
- Calendar the 10-year renewal well before the deadline.
- Watch the register and marketplaces, and move early on conflicts. Acting within the opposition window is cheaper than a revocation action or court proceedings later.
- Helpful read: Trademark Monitoring and Enforcement: Protecting Your Brand After Registration.
Ready to file? Start with our UK trademark service. An attorney from our team will draft your specification, file your application, respond to UKIPO questions, and stand with you through any opposition.
Related reading:
- Filing a UK Trademark from Outside the United Kingdom: What Foreign Applicants Need to Know
- UK-EU Madrid Filings Post-2026 Fee Hikes
- Nice Classification: How to Choose the Right Trademark Classes
Sources
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to register a UK trade mark in 2026?
The UKIPO application fee is £205 for one class and £60 for each additional class, under the schedule in force since 1 April 2026. Attorney fees are on our pricing page.
How long does registration take?
Typical unopposed applications can register in roughly 4 to 6 months from filing. Timing varies with examination issues and any oppositions. Treat the 4 to 6 month span as a planning range, not a promise.
Do I need to use the mark before filing?
No. Use is not required to file. But a registration can be revoked for non-use after five years if you cannot show genuine use for the protected goods and services.
Does an EU trade mark cover the UK?
No. The UK is not part of the EU trade mark system. An EUTM does not provide protection in the UK, so you must file nationally or designate the UK via Madrid.
Can non-UK applicants file directly?
Yes. Foreign applicants can file directly with the UKIPO, but need a UK address for service. We serve as address for service for many overseas clients and manage proceedings as needed.
Is there a grant fee?
No. The UKIPO does not charge a separate grant or certificate fee. The next government fee after filing is the renewal at year 10.
What is the opposition period?
After acceptance and publication, third parties have two months from publication to oppose, extendable by one month on request. You can often request time to negotiate via a cooling-off mechanism if an opposition is threatened or filed.
