Singapore Trade Mark Registration with IPOS: Process, Fees and Timeline (2026)

A trade mark is one of the most valuable intangible assets a Singapore business can own. It protects brand identity, gives the owner exclusive rights to use the mark in connection with the registered goods and services, and provides a statutory basis for stopping competitors from copying or passing off. In Singapore, trade marks are registered through the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) under the Trade Marks Act 1998.

Raffles Corporate Services works with a panel of experienced Singapore law firms who offer cost-effective and efficient legal service and advice. This article is general information only and is not legal advice.

This 2026 guide explains how trade mark registration works in Singapore: who can register, what marks qualify, the application process, fees, timelines, and how to use the Madrid Protocol to extend protection internationally.

What can be registered as a trade mark in Singapore?

Section 2 of the Trade Marks Act defines a trade mark as any sign capable of being represented graphically and of distinguishing the goods or services of one undertaking from those of others. Acceptable signs include:

• Word marks — brand names, company names, slogans, made-up words
• Device or logo marks — graphical designs, symbols, stylised text
• Composite marks — combinations of words and devices
• Three-dimensional shape marks — distinctive product shapes (e.g., Toblerone bar shape)
• Colour marks — specific colour combinations where they have acquired distinctiveness
• Sound marks — jingles, musical phrases (must be represented in musical notation)
• Motion marks — short animated sequences
• Position marks — distinctive placement of an element on a product

The mark must be distinctive — capable of distinguishing the applicant’s goods or services. Descriptive terms, generic words, and laudatory phrases (“Best Coffee”, “Premium Soap”) are generally not registrable unless they have acquired distinctiveness through use.

The Nice Classification: 45 classes of goods and services

Trade mark applications must specify the goods and/or services for which protection is sought, using the international Nice Classification. There are 45 classes:

• Classes 1–34 — Goods (e.g., Class 9 covers software and electronics; Class 25 covers clothing; Class 30 covers coffee, tea, baked goods)
• Classes 35–45 — Services (e.g., Class 35 covers advertising and business services; Class 36 covers financial services; Class 42 covers IT services)

An application can cover multiple classes, but each additional class requires an additional fee. Carefully choosing the right classes is critical — protection is granted only for the classes specified. A trade mark registered in Class 25 (clothing) does not stop a competitor from using the same mark in Class 30 (food).

Pre-application searches: avoid wasted fees

Before filing, conduct a clearance search to check for conflicting prior marks. IPOS provides a free public search tool — IPOS Digital Hub — covering the Singapore trade marks register. A professional search will also cover:

• Pending applications (not yet registered but with priority)
• Phonetically similar marks (different spelling, same sound)
• Visually similar logos and devices
• Common-law marks in actual use (which can support passing-off claims even without registration)
• Business names and ACRA company name register entries

If a clearly conflicting prior mark exists in the same class, the application is likely to fail at examination or be opposed after publication. Better to clear the path before paying the application fee.

Application fees and structure

The standard IPOS fee schedule for trade mark applications (online filing via IPOS Digital Hub) is:

• S$240 per class if the applicant uses pre-approved descriptions from the IPOS Goods and Services Classification database
• S$341 per class if custom descriptions are used (which require examination of the description itself)
• Additional fees for declaration of priority (claiming priority from an earlier foreign application within 6 months)

Renewal fees: S$380 per class for 10-year renewal. The first renewal is due 10 years from the filing date.

Other common official fees:

• Recording an assignment of registered mark: S$50
• Change of name/address of proprietor: free
• Filing notice of opposition: S$374
• Request for accelerated examination (“Fast Track”): S$240 per class

Professional agent fees are separate. Most Singapore IP agents charge S$800–S$2,500 per class for filing, plus ongoing maintenance and renewal fees.

The application process: step by step

The standard trade mark application workflow in Singapore is:

1. Filing — Submit the application via IPOS Digital Hub with the mark, applicant details, classes and specification of goods/services, and pay the application fee.
2. Formality examination — IPOS checks that the application meets formal requirements (correct fees, proper representation of the mark, valid applicant). Usually completed within 1 week.
3. Substantive examination — IPOS examines the mark for absolute grounds of refusal (descriptiveness, lack of distinctiveness, contrary to public policy, deceptive) and relative grounds (conflict with earlier marks). Examination typically completes within 4–6 months.
4. Examination report — If objections are raised, the applicant has 4 months to respond (extendable). Common responses include narrowing the specification, providing evidence of distinctiveness, or arguing legal grounds.
5. Publication — Once allowed, the application is published in the Trade Marks Journal for a 2-month opposition period. Third parties may file opposition during this window.
6. Registration — If no opposition (or opposition is overcome), the mark is registered and the Certificate of Registration is issued.

Total time from filing to registration: typically 9 to 14 months for a straightforward application with no objections or opposition. Fast Track examination shortens this to about 6 months.

Absolute grounds of refusal (Sections 7 and 8 Trade Marks Act)

IPOS will refuse registration if the mark falls within any of the absolute grounds, including:

• The mark is not capable of being represented graphically
• The mark is devoid of distinctive character (purely descriptive)
• The mark consists exclusively of signs that designate the kind, quality, quantity, intended purpose, value, geographical origin or time of production of the goods/services
• The mark consists exclusively of signs that have become customary in the current language or trade practices
• The mark is contrary to public policy or morality, or is deceptive
• Use of the mark is prohibited under Singapore law
• The application was made in bad faith

Acquired distinctiveness through use can overcome objections under (b), (c) or (d) — the applicant must show that consumers actually identify the mark with their goods/services (evidence: turnover, advertising spend, market share, consumer surveys).

Opposition proceedings

During the 2-month publication period, any third party with a legitimate interest may file a notice of opposition under Sections 13–15 of the Trade Marks Act. Common opposition grounds:

• Earlier identical or similar registered mark for identical or similar goods/services (Section 8(1) and 8(2))
• Well-known mark whose distinctive character would be diluted
• Earlier rights such as copyright or passing-off rights
• Application made in bad faith

Opposition proceedings can take 12–24 months and involve evidence rounds, hearing before a Registrar’s Hearing Officer, and potential appeal to the High Court. Settlement (coexistence agreements, narrowed specifications, withdrawal) is common.

Madrid Protocol: international protection

Singapore is a member of the Madrid Protocol, which allows a Singapore registered (or pending) trade mark to be the basis for an international registration covering up to 130+ member countries via a single application filed through IPOS.

Madrid Protocol benefits:

• One application, one fee structure, one renewal cycle for multiple countries
• Designations can be added later as the business expands
• Centralised renewal and administration
• Filing language is English (or French/Spanish)

WIPO fees (excluding IPOS handling fee) start at CHF 653 (basic fee) plus designation fees of CHF 100 per class per designated country. The international registration is dependent on the Singapore base mark for the first 5 years — if the base mark is cancelled, the international registration falls with it.

Term, renewal and use requirements

A Singapore registered trade mark is protected for 10 years from the filing date and is renewable indefinitely in 10-year blocks. Renewal must be filed within 6 months before expiry; late renewal is possible within 6 months after expiry with a late fee.

Non-use risk: under Section 22 of the Trade Marks Act, a registered mark that has not been genuinely used in Singapore for a continuous period of 5 years can be revoked on application by any aggrieved party. “Use” means commercial use in the registered classes — token use does not save the mark.

Companies should periodically audit their trade mark portfolio to ensure each registered mark is in genuine use, and consider whether to consolidate unused registrations.

Enforcement: what registration gives you

A registered trade mark gives the proprietor the exclusive right to use the mark for the registered goods/services and to authorise others to use it. Enforcement options include:

• Civil action for trade mark infringement under Section 27 of the Trade Marks Act — remedies include injunction, damages or account of profits, delivery up of infringing goods
• Customs border enforcement — record the trade mark with Singapore Customs to enable detention of suspected infringing imports
• Criminal prosecution for counterfeit goods under Sections 46–53 — penalties up to S$100,000 fine or 5 years’ imprisonment
• Passing-off action at common law (available even for unregistered marks but harder to prove without registration)

Without registration, the only option is a passing-off action, which requires proof of reputation, misrepresentation and damage — a much higher evidentiary bar.

Resources and further reading

For the statutory framework, see the Trade Marks Act 1998 on Singapore Statutes Online and the IPOS Trade Marks portal for application forms, fees and the IP search tools.

For broader IP tax considerations including writing-down allowances on registered IP, see our Section 19B IP guide. For company name considerations that interact with trade mark strategy, see our Singapore Company Compliance Calendar and our sister site singaporesecretaryservices.com.

Raffles Corporate Services coordinates trade mark filings with our panel of Singapore IP agents, handles supporting corporate secretarial requirements (board resolutions for ownership transfers, recordal of changes following corporate restructurings), and integrates IP strategy with the company’s broader compliance calendar.

— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services