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Trademark Registration in Nepal

Nepal is one of India’s closest trade partners, and for Indian businesses expanding across the border, securing trademark protection there is a natural next step.

Country Overview

Nepal

Trademark Authority Department of Industry
Application Type Single Class
Local Agent Required
Registration Validity 7 Years

Protect Your Trademark in Nepal

Have a mark you’d like to protect in Nepal? Write to us at global.ipr@blueinkk.com or fill out our Connect With Us form and our team will get in touch.

Why Register Your Trademark in Nepal?

  • Growing consumer market with strong cultural and trade ties to India
  • Protects your brand from local squatting or imitation before you enter the market
  • Registration is class-specific, giving you clear, enforceable rights over your goods or services
  • A registered mark strengthens your position in case of future disputes or enforcement actions

Governing Law

Trademarks in Nepal are governed by the Patent, Design and Trademark Act, 2022 (2079), and administered by the Department of Industry (DOI), Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. This is the sole authority for examining, publishing, and registering trademarks in the country.

Who Can Apply

Any individual or business entity — Nepali or foreign — can apply for trademark registration in Nepal. Foreign applicants, including Indian businesses, must file through a locally licensed Nepali trademark agent, since the DOI does not accept direct applications from entities without a presence in Nepal. This is where Blue Inkk’s network becomes valuable — we coordinate the entire filing through our local associates so you don’t have to manage cross-border paperwork yourself.

An important limitation to plan around: Nepal does not allow multi-class applications. Each class of goods or services requires its own separate application, so if your brand covers more than one class, you will need to file — and eventually renew — each one individually.

Documents Required for Filing

To file a trademark application in Nepal, the following documents are generally required:

  1. 1

    Power of Attorney — executed by the applicant, signed and attested before witnesses, and duly notarized (authenticated where the applicant is a foreign entity)

  2. 2

    Applicant details — name, address, and status (individual, partnership, company, etc.)

  3. 3

    Representation of the mark — clear copies/specimens of the logo, word mark, or label to be registered

  4. 4

    Certified copy of home-country registration or filing — it is mandatory to attach the trademark certificate/registration of the home country while filing in Nepal; Indian applicants must submit their Indian trademark registration certificate (or filing details) as the supporting basis for the Nepal application

  5. 5

    Priority document (if applicable) — where priority is being claimed under the Paris Convention, the priority filing details and certificate

  6. 6

    Business registration proof — evidence of the applicant’s business or the license/registration under which the goods or services are offered

  7. 7

    Duly filled application form — specifying the goods/services and the single class being applied for

Documents originating from India typically need to be legalized/notarized, and in some cases apostilled or consularized, before they are accepted by the DOI.

Not sure which documents apply to your case?

Reach out to us at global.ipr@blueinkk.com or fill out our Connect With Us form, and we’ll guide you through it.

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Step-by-Step Filing Process

1

Clearance search

A preliminary search is recommended to check for identical or deceptively similar marks already on the Nepali register.

2

Filing the application

The application, along with the Power of Attorney and supporting documents, is filed with the DOI for a single class.

3

Preliminary/formal examination

The DOI checks the application for completeness and compliance with filing formalities. This stage typically takes a few weeks.

4

Substantive examination

The Registrar examines the mark on absolute and relative grounds — distinctiveness, conflict with existing marks, and compliance with public policy/morality standards under the Act.

5

Publication

Once cleared, the mark is published in the Industrial Property Bulletin/Trademarks Journal, issued periodically by the DOI.

6

Opposition window

Any third party may oppose the application within 90 days of publication. If opposed, the applicant must file a counterstatement (generally within 21 days of notice) or the application is treated as abandoned. Both sides then file evidence, and a hearing follows if the matter isn’t resolved.

7

Registration

If no opposition is filed, or if an opposition is decided in the applicant’s favour, the DOI proceeds to register the mark and issues a registration certificate.

Government Fees

Filing fee NPR 1,000

Payable per class at the time of filing the application with the DOI.

Registration certificate fee NPR 5,000

Payable once the mark is allowed and the DOI issues the registration certificate.

Time Period for Registration

12–14 Months Without opposition
18–36 Months With objections or opposition

Trademark registration in Nepal is not a quick process. On average, it takes 12–14 months from filing to registration where no opposition is filed. If the mark is opposed, or the examination raises objections, the timeline can extend to 18–36 months. This is longer than in India, so Indian brand owners planning a Nepal launch should build this lead time into their expansion plans.

Validity and Renewal

7
Years Registration validity

  • A trademark registered in Nepal is valid for 7 years from the date of registration/filing.

  • Renewal can be filed up to 1 year before expiry.

  • A grace period of 35 days after expiry is available for renewal at normal fees.

  • A further grace period of up to 6 months after that is available for late renewal, subject to an additional penalty fee.

  • If the mark is not renewed even within this extended window, the registration lapses and the mark falls into the public domain.

  • Renewals thereafter are for successive 7-year terms, and there is no cap on the number of times a mark can be renewed.

Grounds for Refusal

Renewals thereafter are for successive 7-year terms, and there is no cap on the number of times a mark can be renewed.

  • Is identical or confusingly similar to an existing registered trademark
  • Damages the goodwill or reputation of an existing mark, person, or institution
  • Is contrary to public morality, conduct, or national interest
  • Fails to meet basic distinctiveness or classification requirements
Complete Filing Support

How Blue Inkk Can Help

Filing directly in Nepal as an Indian applicant isn’t possible without a local agent — and that’s exactly the gap we fill. Blue Inkk manages the complete process for you:

  • Conducting a Nepal trademark availability search before filing
  • Preparing and notarizing the Power of Attorney and supporting documents
  • Filing the application through our associate agents in Nepal
  • Monitoring publication and handling any opposition proceedings
  • Tracking renewal deadlines so your registration never lapses

Protect Your Trademark in Nepal

If you’re an Indian brand looking to protect your trademark in Nepal, get in touch with our team for a consultation and a clear filing roadmap tailored to your goods or services. Write to us at global.ipr@blueinkk.com , or fill out our Connect With Us form and we’ll reach out to you.

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This page is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Filing requirements and timelines are subject to change under Nepali law and DOI practice; please consult us for the latest position before filing.