Registering a trademark in Ukraine is a predictable process once you know the steps. This guide walks the whole path — from filing to certificate — with realistic timeframes and costs. It is written for foreign applicants and IP firms who want Ukrainian protection without the guesswork.

One point comes first, before any of the steps below: a foreign applicant cannot file in Ukraine directly — the application must be filed through a registered Ukrainian patent attorney. Our team includes two registered Ukrainian patent attorneys, so we act as your representative before the office at every stage, from filing through to the certificate.

Before you file: a search and the right classes

Two things decide whether an application succeeds. The first is whether the mark is actually free — and that means more than identical earlier marks. Ukraine, like most offices, refuses signs that are confusingly similar to earlier ones for related goods, so a proper clearance looks at similar marks, not just exact matches. You can run a free preliminary check of the Ukrainian register to rule out the obvious conflicts.

The second is classification. Ukraine follows the international Nice Classification and charges per class, so the list of goods and services should be precise rather than padded — every extra class adds cost and widens the field where conflicts can appear.

What you need to file

A national filing needs four things: the mark itself (word, figurative or combined); the list of goods and services grouped into Nice classes; the applicant’s details; and a signed power of attorney. The power of attorney is straightforward: we prepare it and send it to you ready for signature. Once signed, a scanned copy is all we need — no notarisation and no legalisation.

From the moment the application is filed, your priority is fixed: in Ukraine protection is measured from the filing date, not from the date the certificate issues.

The examination stages

After filing, the application moves through two rounds of examination:

• Formal examination. The office (UANIPIO) checks that the application is complete and correctly classified — usually a matter of a couple of months.
• Substantive examination. The core stage. Examiners test the mark on absolute grounds (is it distinctive, or merely descriptive, generic or deceptive?) and relative grounds (does it clash with an earlier registration or application?).

If the examiner sees a problem, they issue a provisional refusal — an office action. This is not a final rejection: the applicant has a set period to respond with arguments, evidence of use, a narrowed list of goods, or a letter of consent from the earlier owner. In our own practice, most applications that receive a provisional refusal still go on to register — we argue each one in detail and defend our filings closely.

Publication and the certificate

Once the mark clears examination, its details are published, the final fees are paid, and the registration certificate issues. A Ukrainian trademark lasts ten years from the filing date and can be renewed every ten years indefinitely.

How long it takes

Under the standard national procedure, expect roughly 18 to 20 months from filing to certificate, assuming no office action or opposition arises. That sounds long, but the practical point is that your rights run from the filing date — the wait is for the paperwork, not for the protection. For marks brought in through the Madrid System, the timeline is driven by Ukraine’s refusal window rather than a national queue.

What it costs

There are two layers of cost: the official fees paid to the office, and the attorney’s fee for preparing and prosecuting the application. We quote flat fees per class with English reporting, so a foreign client sees the full picture before we start. The exact figure depends on the number of classes and on whether a provisional refusal has to be answered — we are glad to give a fixed quote once we know the mark and the classes.

The Madrid route for foreign holders

If you already hold an international registration, you can extend it to Ukraine by designating the country through the Madrid System instead of filing a fresh national application. Examination in Ukraine is the same either way. The catch is that if the Ukrainian office objects, it issues a provisional refusal — and answering it requires a local representative admitted before the office. That is the most common reason foreign holders and their counsel reach out to us.