Trademark Registration in Canada: The CIPO Process, Costs and Timelines
Registering a trademark with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) gives the owner exclusive rights to use the mark in association with the registered goods and services across Canada. The process is well-defined but slow, and several pitfalls — descriptiveness objections, confusion citations, missed Madrid Protocol opportunities — can derail an application. This guide walks through what to expect.
Why a registered trademark matters
Unregistered marks have some protection at common law through the tort of passing off, but enforcement requires proving reputation in each geographic market — slow, expensive and uncertain. A registered trademark is presumptively valid across Canada and shifts the burden to challengers.
Registered marks are easier to license, to enforce against domain squatters and counterfeit sellers, and to use as collateral. Trademark Office records are a public deterrent that often eliminates infringement before it begins.
Goods, services and the Nice Classification
Since 2019 Canada has used the Nice Classification, which groups goods and services into 45 international classes. Each class adds to the government filing fee. Drafting a tight, accurate goods-and-services description is the most underrated step in the process — overly broad descriptions invite examiner objections, and narrow descriptions leave gaps in protection.
Use ordinary commercial terms wherever possible. The examiner will reject vague terms like 'consulting services' and require specification — 'business consulting in the field of …'.
Filing through CIPO — what happens after the cheque
After filing, the application enters an examination queue. As of 2026 the wait to a first office action is approximately 30–36 months. The examiner reviews the mark for registrability — distinctiveness, descriptiveness, confusion with existing marks — and may issue an Examiner's Report listing objections that must be answered within six months.
If approved, the mark is published in the Trademarks Journal. Third parties have two months to oppose. If unopposed (or if opposition is defeated), the mark proceeds to registration. The registration is valid for ten years and renewable indefinitely.
Realistic budget
Government fees in 2026 are roughly $478 for the first class and $145 for each additional class on online filing. Renewal is $555 for the first class and $172 for each additional class. Legal fees for a straightforward filing typically run $1,200 to $2,500, with additional time billed if objections arise.
Total budget for filing through registration on a clean two-class mark is typically $2,500 to $4,000. Opposed or objected applications can run higher.
International protection via the Madrid Protocol
Canada acceded to the Madrid Protocol in 2019. A single application filed through CIPO can extend protection to over 100 member countries. The cost per country is typically much lower than filing separately, although local counsel may still be required to respond to objections.
Brand owners with export markets should build a Madrid strategy from the start rather than file a Canadian mark first and try to backfill international protection later.