> Source: https://chinaipmark.com/blog/china-trademark-registration-step-by-step/ > Updated: 2026-10-10 Guide # China Trademark Registration: Step-by-Step Guide for Foreign Companies August 11, 2026 Updated October 10, 2026 By ChinaIPMark ![tm-stepbystep](https://chinaipmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/img-tm-stepbystep-1024x576.jpg) Registering a trademark in China takes about 8 months when the application is straightforward. This guide walks through search, classes, documents, filing and the certificate, so nothing surprises you. ## Step 1: Search before you file China is a first-to-file country, so a conflict search is not optional. A good search checks identical and similar marks in your target classes and gives you a risk rating. Every [plan](https://chinaipmark.com/pricing/) includes a search of CNIPA records and a written risk note before you pay any official fees. ## Step 2: Choose the right class and goods Chinese trademarks are filed per class, with up to 10 goods or services included in the official fee of 270 RMB (about $39). Choosing the wrong class is one of the most common and expensive mistakes. A typical case: a clothing brand files in class 35 thinking it covers clothing. Class 35 covers services, not garments, and the application is refused before it gets anywhere. A five-minute class review catches that. ## Step 3: Prepare your documents For foreign applicants the required documents are simple: - Passport scan (individuals) or certificate of incorporation (companies) - Brand name or a high-resolution logo - Signed power of attorney, using the template your agent provides We send you a ready-to-sign power of attorney; most clients return it the same day. No notarization or embassy legalization is needed for a standard filing. ## Step 4: File through a licensed Chinese agency Foreign applicants must file through a CNIPA-registered Chinese agency. The agency prepares the translation, submits the application and handles official correspondence. You receive the application number on the day of filing. ## Step 5: Track examination and respond if needed Formal examination takes about 1 month, and substantive examination about 4 months. If CNIPA issues a refusal, a well-prepared response can overturn a meaningful share of initial refusals. Our Standard and Registered or Refunded plans include a written assessment of whether to take a refusal to review. ## Step 6: Receive your certificate When the mark passes, CNIPA publishes it, waits for the opposition window, and issues the registration certificate, typically about 8 months from filing. Your registration is valid for 10 years and renewable. See the [pricing page](https://chinaipmark.com/pricing/) for renewal and monitoring options. ## 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 - [Should You File a Defensive China Trademark?](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/defensive-trademark-china/) - [Protect Your Logo in China Manufacturing](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/protect-logo-china-manufacturing/) - [Do EU or US Trademarks Protect You in China?](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/overseas-trademark-china-protection/) - [China Trademark for Cosmetics and Skincare Brands](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/china-trademark-cosmetics-brands/) - [How to Claim Trademark Priority in China](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/how-to-claim-trademark-priority-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 16, 2026 ### [Should You File a Defensive China Trademark?](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/defensive-trademark-china/) A defensive filing holds a class or a lookalike you are not using. Worth it in crowded classes,… [Read guide](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/defensive-trademark-china/) October 16, 2026 ### [Protect Your Logo in China Manufacturing](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/protect-logo-china-manufacturing/) A logo needs its own application. File the word mark first, then the visual asset. What CNIPA needs,… [Read guide](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/protect-logo-china-manufacturing/) October 16, 2026 ### [Do EU or US Trademarks Protect You in China?](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/overseas-trademark-china-protection/) A US, EU, UK or Australian registration has no legal effect in China. What your overseas mark can… [Read guide](https://chinaipmark.com/blog/overseas-trademark-china-protection/)