EU trademark registration fees and process

Summary

The main benefit of an EU trademark is one application covering EU member states. It does not cover the UK or every European country. Before filing, confirm target countries, classes, official fee budget, and prior-rights risk.

Process

1. Confirm the mark and applicant.
2. Search for identical or similar EU marks.
3. Select classes and goods or services wording.
4. File with EUIPO.
5. Go through examination, publication, and opposition period.
6. Complete registration if no blocking issue remains.

Fees

As verified on July 17, 2026, an EUIPO online application costs EUR 850 for the first class, EUR 50 for the second class, and EUR 150 for each class from the third onward. Do not estimate by multiplying one class price by class count.

Use the fee estimator for a first-pass budget, then verify against the latest EUIPO fee page.

Comparison with US and UK filings

If your main market is the US, review the US trademark guide. If the UK is important, an EU trademark does not replace a UK trademark.

Risks

• Opposition by an earlier rights holder anywhere in the EU.
• Unclear goods or services wording.
• A mark that is too descriptive or lacks distinctiveness.

Timeline and opposition

EUIPO examines formal requirements and absolute grounds, then publishes an accepted application for opposition. A smooth application may register in several months, while classification objections, absolute-ground refusals, or opposition by an earlier rights holder can extend the process substantially.

Documents and decisions to prepare

• The exact owner name, legal form, address, and contact details.
• The word mark or design representation to be protected.
• Goods and services wording organized by Nice class.
• Priority information where an earlier qualifying filing is claimed.
• A market list showing why EU-wide coverage is commercially useful.

When a national filing may be more suitable

If the business only needs one EU country, faces a known conflict elsewhere in the EU, or has a limited launch budget, compare a national filing with an EUTM before deciding. The unitary scope is powerful, but earlier rights in one part of the EU can affect the application.