Go global from one base: the Madrid System for international trademarks

What this registration gives you

The Madrid System is not a standalone worldwide right — it is a filing and management mechanism. One international application, built on an existing national or regional "basic mark", lets you extend protection into any of the 100+ members of the system, covering 130+ countries (the EU counts as a single party). You then manage everything through one international registration: one number, one renewal date, fees in Swiss francs (CHF). Each designated country still decides on protection under its own law, but the Madrid System replaces a stack of separate filings with one central record that is far simpler to keep track of.

What it costs in 2026

Basic fee — black & white mark (up to 3 classes)	653 CHF
Basic fee — colour mark (up to 3 classes)	903 CHF
Each class beyond three	+100 CHF
Per designated member — complementary fee	100 CHF
Per designated member — individual fee (e.g. US, EU, UK, JP, AU)	country-set, higher
Applicants from a least-developed country	10% of the standard fees

WIPO fees are payable in Swiss francs (CHF) and have been in force since 1 February 2023. They cover WIPO's part only — each designated country adds its own fee, and your home office may charge separately to certify the basic mark. For an exact, designation-by-designation quote, use WIPO's official fee calculator.

Is it cheap? It depends on how you read the numbers. The headline 653 / 903 CHF is only WIPO's part for up to three classes; on top of it sits a per-country designation fee for every member you choose — a 100 CHF complementary fee, or a higher individual fee for territories such as the US, EU, UK, Japan or Australia. Measured against filing separately in each country with a local agent in each one, routing several designations through a single application, in one language and one currency, can keep handling and administration leaner. For just one extra country the saving is modest; the value grows with the number of markets you target and with the simplicity of one renewal date instead of many. Think of it as a cost per reach, not a flat price.

Filing basis: you need a "basic mark" first

The Madrid System always builds on something you already have. Before you can file, you need a basic mark — a national or regional application or registration (for example an EU trade mark) at your home office. That office of origin certifies the international application and forwards it to WIPO; you cannot designate your own office of origin, only other members. The international application must match the basic mark in owner and sign. One national specialty to plan for: a US designation needs an MM18 declaration of intent to use, so factor that into the paperwork from the start.

The process, step by step

1. Secure your basic mark. Own or file a national or regional application or registration — for example an EU trade mark — at your home office.
2. Prepare the international application. Use the relevant form (for example MM2), keep it matched to the basic mark, and designate at least one other member.
3. Certification by the office of origin. Your home office checks the application against the basic mark and forwards it to WIPO.
4. Formal examination by WIPO. WIPO reviews classification, fees, the image and the designations only — not whether the mark is registrable.
5. Recording, publication and notification. WIPO records the mark, publishes it in the Gazette and notifies each designated office.
6. National examination in each country. Every designated office examines under its own law and must grant or refuse within 12 (or 18) months; opposition is handled nationally.

The five-year trap

Dependency and the central attack

For five years from the international registration date, your international registration is tied to the basic mark. If the basic mark is refused, withdrawn, cancelled or limited inside that window, the international registration falls with it — wholly or partly — in every designated country at once. This is the so-called central attack: one challenge at home can unravel protection everywhere. After five years the international registration becomes independent and is no longer exposed this way. If the worst happens, "transformation" into national applications can rescue what you had. The practical lesson is simple: build on a clean, settled basic mark, not one that is still under challenge.

Keeping the mark alive: term and renewal

An international registration runs for 10 years and is renewable indefinitely, centrally through WIPO in a single action — one number, one renewal date for all your designations. You can renew from six months before expiry, and a six-month grace period follows the deadline, with a 50% surcharge on the renewal during that grace window. Because each designated country still examines and protects the mark under its own law, keep the underlying basic mark and your designations in good standing so the central record stays clean.

For your brand

Built on first-hand experience

Rabbit Marketing does not only advise on trademarks — we hold our own registered EU trademarks and have direct, hands-on experience of EUIPO opposition proceedings, including matters involving major multinational companies. That means we read these filings the way an owner does, not just an observer. We help you clear, file and protect a brand across the offices that matter to you.

Talk to us about your brand →

FAQ

Questions, answered

Is the Madrid System a single worldwide trademark?

No. It is a centralized filing and management mechanism, not a standalone right. One international application extends your existing mark into the members you designate, and each country grants or refuses protection under its own law.

Is WIPO located in Madrid?

No. WIPO is based in Geneva, Switzerland. "Madrid" is the name of the 1891 treaty and its Protocol, which WIPO administers — nothing is filed in Madrid.

Do I need a trademark before I can use the system?

Yes. You need a "basic mark" — a national or regional application or registration, such as an EU trade mark, at your home office. That office certifies and forwards your international application, and you cannot designate your own office of origin.

What does the headline fee of 653 / 903 CHF actually cover?

WIPO's part only, for up to three classes (653 CHF for a black & white mark, 903 CHF for colour). Each class beyond three costs 100 CHF, and every designated country adds its own fee — a 100 CHF complementary fee or a higher individual fee for territories such as the US, EU, UK, Japan and Australia.

Can an opposition be handled centrally at WIPO?

No. There is no central WIPO opposition. Opposition and refusal happen at each designated country, under its own law and on its own timing, after WIPO notifies that office.

Sources

Where this comes from

• WIPO — Madrid System overview
• WIPO — Madrid System fee schedule
• WIPO — How to file: the basics
• WIPO — Madrid fee calculator

Research date: June 2026. Official fees and procedures change periodically — confirm current figures on the relevant office’s website before you file. This is general information, not legal advice. Company and brand names are used for editorial reference only and imply no affiliation with Rabbit-Marketing OÜ.

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