Many Bangkok businesses discover the trademark question too late, when a supplier, ex-partner or copycat files their brand first. This guide explains how the Thai system works in 2026, what it costs, how long each stage takes and when to pay a professional. If you are still forming your company, start with our company registration guide, because the company is often the best owner for the mark.
Why registration matters in Thailand#
Trademark rights in Thailand come mainly from registration, not from use. As one Bangkok IP firm puts it, protection "is not granted automatically upon use or creation of a mark" (TMP Intellectual Property). In practice that means:
- The first applicant usually wins. If someone else files your brand for the same goods or services first, you are left with slow and expensive cancellation proceedings.
- Your company name is not protected as a brand. Reserving a name with the Department of Business Development (DBD) lets you register a company under it. It does not stop anyone selling goods or services under the same name.
The governing law is the Trademark Act B.E. 2534 (1991), substantially amended by the Trademark Act (No. 3) B.E. 2559, which took effect on 28 July 2016. That amendment introduced multi-class applications, registrable sound marks, shorter 60-day deadlines and a renewal grace period (Country Index summary of the 2016 amendments; English text of the Act).
What you can register#
Thai law covers trademarks (for goods), service marks, certification marks and collective marks. A mark can be a word, a name, a logo or device, letters, numbers, a shape, a combination of colours, or a sound, provided it is distinctive and not barred by the Act.
Common problems:
- Descriptive words. "Bangkok Best Coffee" for a café describes the service and is hard to register on its own. Invented or arbitrary words are much stronger.
- Similarity to an earlier mark. The examiner compares your mark against earlier applications and registrations in related classes.
- Foreign words. The application asks how non-Thai words are pronounced and what they mean in Thai. Errors in that translation are one of the usual reasons the registrar asks for amendments (TMP).
Run a first check on the DIP's free trademark search database, searching the word, its Thai transliteration and close spellings. A clean search does not guarantee approval, but a clear conflict tells you to change course early.
Choosing classes and items#
Thailand uses the Nice Classification of goods and services. Since 1 January 2026, the DIP applies the 13th edition of the Nice Classification (EU IP Helpdesk). Typical Bangkok examples:
| Business | Classes commonly considered |
|---|---|
| Restaurant, café or bar | 43 (food and drink services), plus 30 or 32 if you sell packaged products |
| Spa, salon or clinic | 44 (beauty and medical services), plus 3 for own-brand cosmetics |
| Online shop | 35 (retail services) plus the classes of the goods themselves |
| School or training centre | 41 |
Unlike many countries, Thailand charges by item within each class, not only by class. That makes the wording of your specification a cost decision as well as a legal one. Use the DIP's accepted wording where you can; non-standard descriptions are a common cause of office actions.
Official fees in 2026#
The government fees below come from the fee schedule of the Trademark Act and the DIP's published fee list (DIP trademark service manual, fee table; English translation of the Trademark Act with its fee schedule). The DIP's 2025 service manual still lists these fees, which date from the 2016 amendment.
| Stage | 1 to 5 items in a class | 6 or more items in a class |
|---|---|---|
| Application (filing) | 1,000 THB per item | 9,000 THB per class |
| Registration (after publication) | 600 THB per item | 5,400 THB per class |
| Renewal (every 10 years) | 2,000 THB per item | 18,000 THB per class |
Other official fees worth knowing:
- Amending a pending application: 200 THB.
- Filing an opposition against someone else's mark: 2,000 THB.
- Appealing to the Trademark Board: 4,000 THB against a refusal, a disclaimer order or an opposition decision; 2,000 THB for other appeals.
- Recording an assignment: 2,000 THB.
- Late renewal surcharge: 20% of the renewal fee.
Worked example. A brand filing in Class 3 with five items and Class 5 with six items pays 5,000 THB plus 9,000 THB, so 14,000 THB in filing fees (TMP). A café filing only Class 43 with three services pays 3,000 THB to file and 1,800 THB to register.
Professional fees are separate and vary widely. Ask for a written quote that separates official fees from service fees.
Step by step: from search to certificate#
1. Decide who owns the mark#
For most operating businesses the owner should be the Thai company, not a director or local partner, whose personal registration can become a problem if the relationship ends. Our guide to the Foreign Business Act and ownership rules explains why control of key assets matters for foreign-owned businesses.
2. File the application#
Applications can be filed in person at the DIP in Nonthaburi or through its e-filing system. With e-filing, the fees must be paid by 10:00 pm on the day after submission, and the application normally appears in the DIP database within one business day (TMP).
Applicants must have a contact address in Thailand, so foreign individuals and companies abroad need a local agent. The official fee to appoint an agent is 200 THB per application.
3. Examination#
An examiner checks the formalities, the specification, distinctiveness and earlier conflicting marks. This typically takes about 6 to 11 months from filing. The DIP's own service manual allows six months for examination and a further five months for the registrar's decision (DIP trademark process manual, in Thai).
4. Office actions#
If the registrar objects, you have 60 days from receipt to respond. Minor issues, such as the item wording or the Thai translation, are fixed by amendment. If part of the mark is non-distinctive, you may be asked to disclaim it. A full refusal can be appealed to the Trademark Board, but appeals typically take years.
5. Publication and opposition#
Accepted marks are published in the online Trademark Gazette for 60 days. During that window anyone can oppose. If you receive an opposition, you have 60 days to file a counterstatement. If you do not, the application is treated as abandoned.
6. Registration fee and certificate#
If there is no opposition, or you win it, the DIP sends a notice to pay the registration fee. Pay within 60 days, or the application is treated as abandoned. With in-person payment the certificate can be issued the same day; through e-filing it typically takes three to four weeks.
Overall timeline. A straightforward application usually takes about 10 to 16 months from filing to certificate (TMP). Office actions, oppositions or appeals can stretch that to several years.
Faster route for online sellers#
Since 1 January 2026, the DIP has offered a "Fast Track 4 Month Plus+" service for e-commerce businesses, which promises a first examination result within four months of filing. To qualify, the application must be filed online, cover a single class with no more than ten items in DIP-approved wording, include all supporting documents at filing and explain the urgency, for example a plan to sell on an online platform (Zico Holdings).
Protecting your brand abroad: the Madrid Protocol#
Thailand joined the Madrid Protocol, and it entered into force for Thailand on 7 November 2017 (WIPO notification). That works in two directions:
- From Thailand outwards. A Thai applicant with a Thai application or registration can file one international application through the DIP and designate other member countries.
- Into Thailand. A foreign company can designate Thailand in its international registration instead of filing locally. Thailand has declared an 18-month period to notify a refusal, so expect a similar wait for a decision (WIPO notification).
International registrations are renewed through WIPO from six months before expiry, with a 50% surcharge in the six-month grace period (WIPO).
After registration: keep it alive#
- Term. A Thai registration lasts 10 years. On registration, the filing date counts as the registration date, so the 10 years effectively run from when you filed (Legal 500 Thailand IP guide).
- Renewal. File within three months before expiry. You can still renew within six months after expiry by paying a 20% surcharge; after that the registration is cancelled (Sections 54 and 56 of the Act).
- Use it. A registered mark that has not been genuinely used for three years can be challenged for non-use (Section 63 of the Act).
- Record changes. Record a new owner, address or licence with the DIP. A licence agreement is recorded for 1,000 THB plus 2,000 THB on approval.
- Watch the Gazette. Opposing a confusing mark within the 60-day window costs far less than cancelling it later.
Do you need a trademark agent?#
If you are abroad or your business has no Thai address, yes, because the law requires a local contact. Thai residents and Thai companies can file themselves, and a simple word mark in one class with standard wording is manageable.
Use a professional when:
- the mark includes descriptive words or is close to an existing mark;
- you need several classes or a long list of products;
- you receive an office action or an opposition;
- you plan to license, franchise or sell the brand.
When comparing firms, ask what their pre-filing search covers, whether quotes include official fees, how they track deadlines and what an office action or opposition will cost. You can compare law and IP firms in our legal and finance directory. For ongoing compliance after registration, see our annual compliance calendar and our guide to choosing an accounting firm in Bangkok.
Frequently asked questions#
How much does it cost to register a trademark in Thailand? Official fees for one class with up to five items are 1,000 THB per item to file and 600 THB per item to register. A one-class, three-item application costs 4,800 THB in government fees. For six or more items in a class, the fees are 9,000 THB to file and 5,400 THB to register. Agent fees are extra.
How long does trademark registration take in Thailand? About 10 to 16 months for an application with no objections. Office actions, oppositions or appeals add months or years. Qualifying e-commerce filings under the DIP fast track get a first examination result within four months.
Can a foreigner register a trademark in Thailand? Yes. Foreign individuals and companies can own Thai trademarks. If they have no address in Thailand, they must appoint a local agent. They can also designate Thailand through the Madrid Protocol.
Is my company name protected once my Thai company is registered? No. A company name registered with the DBD is a separate record. To stop others using the name as a brand, register it as a trademark for the relevant goods or services.
How long does a Thai trademark last? Ten years, effectively counted from the filing date, renewable for further 10-year periods. Renew within three months before expiry, or within six months after expiry with a 20% surcharge.
What happens if someone has already registered my brand in Thailand? You may be able to oppose it during publication, or petition to cancel it later, for example for non-use or bad-faith filing. These cases are slow, so get advice early.
