> Source: https://chinaipmark.com/blog/china-trademark-document-checklist/ > Updated: 2026-10-24 Guide # China Trademark Documents: A Foreign Applicant Checklist October 24, 2026 By ChinaIPMark ![Passport, company certificate and trademark application forms](https://chinaipmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/china-trademark-document-checklist-1024x576.webp) A China trademark application needs fewer documents than most foreign applicants expect. The difficult part is not collecting a large file. It is getting the applicant name, the power of attorney, the mark image and the goods list to match exactly. Small mismatches create correction notices and delay. ![Passport, company certificate and trademark application forms](https://chinaipmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/china-trademark-document-checklist.webp) ## The four core documents For a standard application, CNIPA needs four things: proof of the applicant’s legal identity, a signed power of attorney, a clear representation of the mark, and a goods or services list. A foreign applicant also needs a licensed Chinese agency to file on its behalf. The applicant can be a company or an individual. A company provides a copy of its business registration certificate. An individual provides a passport copy. The name and address on the application should match the identity document. If the company has a long legal name, use the full name. Do not shorten it to the brand name or a trading name. The power of attorney is a short form, but it is the document most likely to cause a back-and-forth. The applicant name must match the certificate. The signatory should be a director or another person authorized to bind the company. If the company uses a seal, follow the signing instructions provided by the agency. A scanned copy is normally sufficient at filing, but the signature and date must be clear. ## Company applicant versus individual applicant | Applicant type | Identity document | Common issue | | --- | --- | --- | | Foreign company | Certificate of incorporation or equivalent business registration extract | Name or address differs from the power of attorney | | Foreign individual | Passport copy | Name order or transliteration differs between documents | | Chinese company | Business license | Applicant uses a brand name instead of the registered legal name | | Chinese individual | Resident identity card | Individual business license is confused with a company applicant | Foreign applicants should also decide whether the parent company, the operating company or the founder should own the mark. This is not a document question, but it affects every document that follows. If the applicant changes later, the trademark must be assigned, and the assignment creates another filing and another fee. ## The mark image: what CNIPA needs to see For a word mark, provide the word in plain text. Do not add a logo, a tagline or a decorative background unless those elements are part of the mark you want to protect. A word mark registration is usually the most flexible asset because it protects the name across different styling. For a figurative mark, provide a clean image with clear edges. The image should be high enough resolution to print and should not include watermarks, mockups or background objects. If the mark contains colour, decide whether colour is part of the claim. A black-and-white representation usually gives more flexibility than a colour claim, but the right choice depends on how the mark is used. If the mark contains Chinese characters, check the characters carefully. A wrong character, a simplified versus traditional variant, or an unusual font can change the scope. If the Chinese name is a translation of the English brand, decide whether you want one combined mark, two separate marks, or both. Filing only the combined version can make it harder to enforce the word alone. ## The goods and services list The goods list is part of the legal scope. A broad list is not automatically better. Each class covers up to ten items in the base official fee. Items beyond ten carry an additional official fee. More importantly, a vague or overbroad list can attract objections and may be harder to support with evidence later. Start with the products you actually sell and the services you actually provide. Use the accepted wording in the Nice classification where possible. If you sell clothing, list the specific garment types. If you run an online store, decide whether you need Class 35 for retail or e-commerce services in addition to the product class. If you offer software, distinguish the downloadable product in Class 9 from the software service in Class 42. A useful test is to ask what a customer buys and what you do around the sale. The product class covers the goods. The service class covers advertising, retail, installation, repair, design or other services. Do not use Class 35 as a substitute for the product class. ## Priority documents and certified copies If you claim priority from an earlier application in a Paris Convention or WTO member country, the priority document is separate from the basic filing documents. The claim must be made within six months of the earlier filing date. A certified copy is usually required within a set period after the China filing. Missing the priority deadline can forfeit the claim even if the application itself is accepted. Do not confuse a priority claim with a home registration certificate. A registration certificate proves that a mark is registered in another country. A priority document proves the earlier filing date of a specific application. The two documents serve different purposes. ## Documents that are usually not required at filing A foreign applicant does not normally need a Chinese company certificate, a Chinese bank account or a local address. Notarization and legalization are not standard requirements for a simple application. A use specimen is not required at filing in China, although use evidence can matter later in a refusal, opposition or non-use dispute. Do not add documents simply because another jurisdiction asks for them. Extra documents can create inconsistency. Follow the document list for the China application and keep the file clean. ## Common correction triggers - The applicant name on the power of attorney does not match the certificate. - The address is incomplete or uses a different format from the identity document. - The mark image is blurry, cropped or includes a background. - The goods list contains vague terms that the examiner cannot map to the classification. - The priority claim is made without a certified copy or after the deadline. - The Chinese translation of the applicant name is inconsistent across forms. A correction notice is not a refusal, but it costs time. The application may be suspended while the correction is reviewed. If the correction is not handled within the deadline, the application can lapse. This is why the documents should be checked before filing, not after a notice arrives. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does the business certificate need to be notarized? For a standard application, a clear copy is normally sufficient. A notarized or legalized document may be requested in specific cases, but it is not the default for every foreign applicant. ### Can one power of attorney cover multiple classes? Often yes, if the agency prepares it that way. The document should identify the applicant and the filings it covers. If you add classes later, check whether a new or amended power is needed. ### Can I file a logo and a word mark in one application? You can file a combined mark, but it protects the combination as shown. Filing the word and the logo separately usually gives clearer scope and more flexibility. The right choice depends on your budget and how the mark is used. ## A simple pre-filing checklist Confirm the applicant entity. Collect the identity document. Match the name and address across every form. Prepare a clean mark image. Build a goods list from the actual product and service lines. Decide whether a priority claim applies. Sign the power of attorney. Then file. If you want the document set reviewed before filing, start with the [China trademark registration service](https://chinaipmark.com/trademark-registration/). If cost is the next question, see [the per-class pricing page](https://chinaipmark.com/pricing/). If you already have a correction notice, [send us the notice and the application number](https://chinaipmark.com/contact/). ## About this guide Written by the ChinaIPMark team in Changsha, China. We help overseas brands register China trademarks and design patents, and all official filings are prepared and submitted by CNIPA-registered partner agencies. **Sources:** This guide references [CNIPA](https://english.cnipa.gov.cn/) official fee schedules and examination guidance, and [WIPO](https://www.wipo.int/) materials where an international route applies. Figures are current as of the update date shown above. **Disclaimer:** This guide is general information, not legal advice. Filing outcomes are never guaranteed. See our [Terms of Service](https://chinaipmark.com/terms/) and [Privacy Policy](https://chinaipmark.com/privacy-policy/). ## Related guides - [China Trademark Cost: What a Foreign Company Quote Includes](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/china-trademark-quote-checklist/) - [Storing Goods in China: Do You Need a Mark?](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/china-trademark-warehouse-storage/) - [China Trademark for Freelancers and Solo Founders](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/china-trademark-freelancers/) - [How to Check if Your Brand Is Registered in China](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/is-my-brand-registered-china/) - [Do EU or US Marks Stop Squatting in China?](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/foreign-trademark-squatting-china/) ## Services - [China trademark registration](https://chinaipmark.com/trademark-registration/) - [China design patent](https://chinaipmark.com/design-patent/) - [Pricing](https://chinaipmark.com/pricing/) ## Get a quote Tell us about your brand and receive a clear quote within 24 hours. [Contact us](https://chinaipmark.com/contact/) Read next ## Keep reading October 26, 2026 ### [China Trademark Cost: What a Foreign Company Quote Includes](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/china-trademark-quote-checklist/) Compare the official CNIPA fee, service scope, goods count, post-filing support and excluded costs in a China trademark… [Read guide](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/china-trademark-quote-checklist/) October 26, 2026 ### [Storing Goods in China: Do You Need a Mark?](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/china-trademark-warehouse-storage/) Bonded warehouses and free trade zones are customs statuses, not sales. Where storage creates trademark exposure anyway, and… [Read guide](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/china-trademark-warehouse-storage/) October 26, 2026 ### [China Trademark for Freelancers and Solo Founders](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/china-trademark-freelancers/) Freelancers and solo founders can own China trademarks as individuals. 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