How to register a trademark in Canada in 2026
You register a trademark in Canada by filing an application with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). In 2026 the online filing fee is about CAD 491 for the first class and CAD 149 for each extra class, and registration usually takes 12 to 24 months.
A registered trademark gives you the exclusive right to use your brand for the goods and services listed, across Canada, for ten years at a time. A business name or corporate name does not.
The six steps
- Search. Check the Canadian Trademarks Database and the market for the same or a confusing mark. Professional clearance searches typically cost CAD 100 to 1,500 (SiLaw, 2026).
- Choose your classes. List your goods and services and group them under the Nice classes. Each class adds a fee, so list what you sell or plan to sell, not everything.
- File online with CIPO. The 2026 online fee is CAD 491.06 for the first class and CAD 149.04 for each additional class; there is no separate registration fee (SiLaw, 2026; confirm on CIPO's fee page before filing, as fees adjust each January).
- Examination. An examiner reviews the application. The wait for a first examination has been about 7 to 8 months for 2026 filings.
- Advertisement and opposition. Approved marks are published so others can oppose.
- Registration. With no successful opposition, the mark registers. From application to registration usually takes 12 to 24 months.
Costs at a glance
| Item | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| CIPO online filing, first class | 491.06 |
| Each additional class | 149.04 |
| Registration fee | None (applications filed after 17 June 2019) |
| Professional clearance search (optional) | 100 to 1,500 |
Who can file for you
You can file your own application. To represent someone else before the Trademarks Office, a person must be a licensed trademark agent or legal counsel providing authorized legal services (College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents Act, s. 71). The Accounting Doc does not file trademarks; we register your business and its name, and help you prepare the brand decisions before you or your agent files.
When to file
File before you spend on signage, packaging or a website. Canada does not require you to have used the mark before filing, so an early filing secures your date.