How do I file a UK trade mark application myself?

Corven guide, 6 October 2026

An application can be filed online with the Intellectual Property Office. Section 32(1) of the Trade Marks Act 1994 requires the application to be made to the registrar, and the IPO's online standard application costs £205 for one class and £60 for each additional class.

What the application must contain

Section 32(2) sets out the contents. The application must contain a request for registration, the applicant's name and address, a statement of the goods or services for which registration is sought, and a representation of the mark that allows its subject matter to be determined clearly and precisely. Section 32(3) adds that it must state that the mark is being used, by the applicant or with their consent, for those goods or services, or that the applicant has a bona fide intention to use it. Under section 32(4), the application is subject to the application fee and any class fees.

Choosing the classes

Section 34(1) requires goods and services to be classified under a prescribed system of classification, and section 34(2) makes the registrar's decision on any question of class final. The IPO notes that a mark is protected only for the goods and services selected in the application, so the classes and the wording within each class decide what the registration covers.

Fees and timeline

According to GOV.UK, the online standard application costs £205 including one class, and each additional class costs £60. A paper application costs £250 for one class. The IPO's published timeline says it examines an application within two weeks and, if there are no objections, publishes it in the trade marks journal for two months; a mark that is not opposed is registered about three months after the application. A registration lasts ten years and can be renewed every ten years.

Before applying, the IPO's guidance is to check whether anyone else has already registered the mark.

This guide is general information about the law of England and Wales. It is not advice on your situation.