Trademarks in Mexico are registered before IMPI (Mexican Institute of Industrial Property). Mexico is first-to-file, and no prior use is required. The official fee is MXN 2,813.77 per class for online filings (2026, VAT included). Without objections, registration typically takes 4 to 8 months. Registrations last 10 years from grant, and a declaration of use must be filed within three months after the third anniversary of grant, or the registration lapses.
What you need to file
- Applicant details: full name or company name, address and nationality.
- The mark: word mark, logo, or both. Mexico also accepts three-dimensional, sound, scent and other non-traditional marks.
- Classes and goods or services, described in Spanish under the Nice Classification.
- Power of attorney: for trademark applications, a simple power of attorney signed before two witnesses is generally sufficient, without notarization or apostille. Litigation (cancellation, invalidity, infringement) requires a notarized and apostilled power.
- Official fee per class.
The process, step by step
- Clearance search against registered and pending marks, including phonetic and conceptual similarity.
- Filing before IMPI. Your filing date gives you priority from day one.
- Publication in the Industrial Property Gazette, which opens a one-month opposition period for third parties.
- Formal and substantive examination. If IMPI raises an objection or there is an opposition, the applicant has two months to respond; otherwise the application is considered abandoned.
- Registration and issuance of the certificate.
Official IMPI fees (2026)
| Item | Fee (MXN, VAT incl.) |
|---|---|
| Trademark application, online (per class) | $2,813.77 |
| Trademark application, paper filing (per class) | $3,126.41 |
| Opposition | $4,296.74 |
| Declaration of use | $1,143.38 |
| Renewal (per class) | $3,013.41 |
Reference fees under IMPI's fee schedule in force in 2026. IMPI updates them periodically; the amount on the payment form at filing prevails.
The third-year declaration of use
This is the requirement foreign owners miss most often. Within the three months following the third anniversary of the grant, the owner must file a declaration stating the mark is in real and effective use in Mexico, listing the goods or services where it is used. If it isn't filed, the registration lapses automatically, and protection is kept only for the goods or services declared.
Renewal
Registrations are renewable for successive ten-year periods. Renewal is requested within the six months before expiry, with a six-month grace period afterwards, and requires declaring use again.
Frequently asked questions
How long does trademark registration take in Mexico?
Typically 4 to 8 months when there are no oppositions or office actions. Objections can extend the timeline.
How much does it cost to register a trademark in Mexico?
The official IMPI fee is MXN 2,813.77 per class for online filings in 2026 (VAT included), plus professional fees.
Does Mexico require use before registration?
No. You can file and register without prior use, but you must file a declaration of use within three months after the third anniversary of grant.
Does the power of attorney need to be notarized or apostilled?
For trademark applications, a simple power of attorney signed before two witnesses is generally enough. Litigation before IMPI or the courts requires a notarized and apostilled power.
Planning to enter Mexico?
Send us your mark and the goods or services. We'll run a preliminary search and send a fixed quote, in English.
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