Japan Trademark Renewals: JPO Deadlines and Costs 2026

Japan trademark registrations last 10 years and renew for further 10-year terms with no upper limit. You can file the renewal in the six months before expiry. Miss the expiry date and a six-month grace period follows, but the official fee doubles. This guide covers the window, the payment options, Madrid renewals, and the mistakes we see most often.

Japan trademark renewal basics: 10 years, renewable forever

• Registration term: Trademarks in Japan are valid for 10 years from the registration date. They can be renewed indefinitely in 10-year increments, so long as you meet the renewal formalities on time.
• No use required to renew: You do not need to submit use evidence for renewal. However, any mark not used for three consecutive years can be targeted in a non-use cancellation action, so keeping solid use records is still essential.
• Who files: Foreign owners generally work through a local representative to handle renewals and correspondence with the Japan Patent Office (JPO). Through our Japan trademark service, that representative is already in place.

Why this matters: marketplaces, distributors, and customs recordals in Japan all rely on an active registration. Renewing on time keeps every one of those channels open.

JPO renewal deadlines: the window and the grace period

• Standard window: File the renewal between six months before the registration's expiry date and the expiry date itself.
• Grace period: If you miss the expiry date, you have six additional months to renew by paying twice the official fee.
• After the grace period: the registration lapses. Re-filing is the only path back, and a new application starts from scratch with a new filing date.

Practical tip: Docket your portfolio so each mark is slated for review at least nine months before expiry. This avoids rush filings, avoids the doubled fee, and gives room to align renewal strategy with product roadmaps and distribution plans.

JPO renewal fees: how they work

The JPO charges its renewal fee per class. You can pay for the full 10-year term in one payment or split it into two five-year installments. The grace period doubles whichever option you choose. Professional fees for your representative are separate.

The JPO publishes the current schedule on its fee page (listed under Sources below). For the all-in cost of a GTC renewal, including the local representative, see our trademark renewal service.

Remember: Government fees are per class. When budgeting, map each mark's class count and renewal year to forecast spend by quarter.

Payment options: 10-year lump sum vs. two 5-year installments

Japan gives you a choice:

• 10-year lump sum: One payment locks protection for the full term.
• 5-year installment plan: Pay at renewal and again at year 5 of the new term.

How to choose:

• Cash flow: Installments smooth costs but introduce a second deadline mid-term. If your team lacks a reliable docket, the 10-year lump sum reduces operational risk.
• Portfolio certainty: If a product line might sunset in 4 to 6 years, installments can be sensible. For long-horizon, flagship brands, the lump sum simplifies.
• Administrative overhead: Installments add reminders, purchase orders, and possible internal approvals, friction that can snowball across multi-class portfolios.

Madrid Protocol renewals designating Japan

If your Japan protection comes through an international registration under the Madrid Protocol, you renew through WIPO, not the JPO. WIPO charges a basic renewal fee for the international registration plus Japan's individual fee for the designation, all in Swiss francs. WIPO publishes the current amounts and adjusts individual fees from time to time, so check the WIPO fee calculator when the renewal falls due.

Two points to keep straight:

• Payee and currency differ. Domestic renewals are paid to the JPO in yen. Madrid renewals are paid to WIPO in Swiss francs and cover every country in the registration at once.
• Installments are a domestic feature. Madrid renewals for Japan follow WIPO's framework and timing, so the five-year split is not available.

Your total renewal economics depend on your overall international registration structure and designated countries. Model both the timing and the per-class counts.

Pitfalls for market entrants: what trips owners up in Japan

• Grace period complacency: Relying on the six-month grace period doubles the official fee and invites last-minute errors. Build in lead time and internal sign-offs early.
• Non-use exposure: Renewal does not cure non-use. If a competitor can show three years of non-use, they can attack the registration by cancellation. Keep specimens, invoices, shipping documents, website captures, and ad proofs tied to Japan.
• Class coverage drift: Over time, product assortments change. If your commercial reality no longer matches the registration's goods and services, you may be over- or under-protected. Audit coverage a year before renewal.
• Address and name changes: Unrecorded ownership or address changes can slow or derail renewals. Record chain-of-title updates well before your renewal window opens.
• Rebranding and line extensions: When creative teams adjust brand families (new logos, refreshed word marks), counsel should assess whether new filings are needed alongside renewal.

The role of local representatives for foreign owners

• Representation: Foreign-domiciled owners typically work through a Japanese patent or trademark attorney for filings and renewals, ensuring compliance with JPO formalities and accurate fee payments.
• Coordination: Your local representative can docket installment deadlines, track grace windows, and monitor for non-use vulnerability, all key parts of trademark maintenance in Japan.
• Evidence stewardship: While the JPO does not ask for use proof at renewal, maintaining organized evidence is vital to defend against three-year non-use claims.

Step-by-step: renewing a Japan trademark directly with the JPO

1) Eligibility check and docketing

• Confirm the registration number, owner name and address, classes, and expiry date.
• Decide between the 10-year lump sum and the two 5-year installments.

2) Data and document review

• Ensure all ownership and address records are current; record assignments or corporate name changes before filing.
• If using a representative, confirm power-of-attorney requirements and billing contacts.

3) File within the six-month window (or earlier)

• File the renewal application during the standard six-month window before expiry, or on or before the expiry date.
• If the window is missed, use the six-month grace period and expect doubled official fees.

4) Government fee payment and confirmation

• Pay the JPO renewal fee per class, according to your chosen payment schedule.
• Keep official receipts and acknowledgments for audit and finance.

5) Post-renewal housekeeping

• Update internal IP registers, license agreements, packaging and artwork trackers, and marketplace compliance files.
• Calendar the five-year installment (if selected) and the next 10-year expiry.

Cost comparison: domestic vs. Madrid designating Japan

• Domestic renewal: a per-class JPO fee, payable as a 10-year lump sum or two 5-year installments, in yen.
• Madrid renewal: WIPO's basic fee plus Japan's individual fee, in Swiss francs, with no installment option.

Key considerations:

• Multi-country math: If your international registration covers many countries, consolidating renewals through Madrid can streamline operations, but the per-class totals and WIPO-level fees decide the true cost picture.
• Installments vs. lump sum: The installment option is a domestic feature only.

Bottom line: Run a scenario analysis for each mark, by class count, renewal date, and channel strategy in Japan, to select the most efficient path.

Why renew early in Japan's competitive market

• Avoid doubled fees: Early filing within the standard window prevents the grace surcharge.
• Keep sales channels open: Marketplaces and distributors often require active registrations to onboard or keep listings active.
• Maintain enforcement leverage: Customs recordals and platform takedowns rely on current registrations.
• Budget certainty: Early renewals lock in known official fees and smooth cash flow across quarters.

FAQs: Japan trademark renewal in 2026

When can I file my Japan trademark renewal?

You can file from six months before the expiry date up to the expiry date itself. A six-month grace period follows, but it doubles the official fee.

Do I need to prove use to renew my Japan mark?

No. Japan does not require use evidence to renew. However, a mark unused for three consecutive years can be cancelled for non-use by a third party, so keep records.

What are the official JPO renewal fees?

The JPO charges per class, with a choice between one payment for the full 10 years or two five-year installments. The fee doubles in the grace period. The current amounts are on the JPO fee page under Sources, and our renewal service page shows the all-in cost with representation included.

I am a foreign owner. Do I need a local representative to renew in Japan?

Foreign owners typically work through a Japanese patent or trademark attorney to handle filings, fees, and correspondence with the JPO.

Is the grace period fee really double?

Yes. Renewing in the six months after expiry costs twice the standard official fee for the same term.

Renew with confidence

Global Trademark Company helps Japan market entrants renew on time, model costs (domestic vs. Madrid), and stay ready against non-use challenges. If your marks are within 12 months of expiry, or already in the grace period, our team can triage priorities, map installment vs. lump-sum options, and file promptly.

Renew your Japan trademark with GTC. To see the process from instruction to confirmation, read how it works, and for the wider filing picture see our Japan country guide.

Sources

• Japan Patent Office
• JPO: Trademark system overview
• WIPO Madrid System fees