Trademark Registration in Kenya: Cost, Requirements & Process

• Business setup
• Company registration
• Trademark assignment

Last reviewed: 4 November 2026 | Sources: KIPI fees, filing guidance and trademark legislation.

Trademark registration in Kenya costs KES 12,000 in core KIPI fees for one mark in one class at the local rate, or USD 560 at the foreign rate. These figures include TM27 preliminary advice, application, publication and registration; they exclude agent appointment and professional fees. To register, choose the owner and class, search the mark, file with KIPI, complete examination and publication, and clear the opposition stage.

Cost of Trademark Registration in Kenya: KIPI Fees

The cost depends on the number of marks and Nice classes, the applicable KIPI fee rate and whether you use an agent. The tables below separate the core government charges from agent appointment, professional fees and later work.

How much does it cost to register a trademark in Kenya?

For one mark in one class, the four core KIPI stages total KES 12,000 at the local rate or USD 560 at the foreign rate. The local calculation is KES 3,000 preliminary advice + KES 4,000 application + KES 3,000 publication + KES 2,000 registration. A TM1 agent appointment adds KES 1,000 or USD 50; the agent’s professional fee is a separate charge.

What changes the final cost?

• Number of Nice classes filed.
• Whether the applicant is local or foreign.
• Whether a trademark agent is appointed.
• Whether KIPI raises objections or a third party files opposition.
• Whether amendments, renewals, assignments, enforcement or portfolio work is required.

Which fee rate applies? The schedule applies the foreign rate where the person paying, or on whose behalf payment is made, neither resides in Kenya nor has a principal place of business in Kenya. Nationality alone does not decide the rate. Source: KIPI official fee schedule. Recheck the schedule and the KIPI invoice before payment.

Important: Fees can change. Confirm the latest KIPI fee schedule before filing or payment. Professional fees, opposition handling, amendment work, enforcement and multi-country strategy are separate.

One, Two or Three Classes: Worked Government Fee Totals

Calculation: core local fees = KES 12,000 + KES 9,000 for each additional class; core foreign fees = USD 560 + USD 400 for each additional class. These are calculations from the published schedule for one mark, including TM27 preliminary advice. They exclude professional fees, taxes on professional services, payment charges, objections, oppositions, amendments, renewal and other work. The TM1 columns assume one appointment for that application.

What will your complete trademark quote include?

Total payable = applicable KIPI fees + professional fees + any applicable taxes, payment charges and agreed disbursements. For example, one local-rate mark in three classes with one TM1 appointment has KES 31,000 in the listed government charges before professional fees. BIEA’s professional fee is quoted after reviewing the mark and scope; the government-fee total is not an all-inclusive BIEA package.

A written quote should state the owner and fee rate, mark format, classes, each payment stage, VAT treatment and whether examination replies are included. Opposition proceedings, appeals, enforcement, assignments, renewals and additional countries require a separate scope unless expressly included.

Trademark Search in Kenya: TM27 Preliminary Advice

KIPI’s TM27 preliminary-advice fee is KES 3,000 for the first class and KES 2,000 for each additional class at the local rate; foreign rates are USD 150 and USD 100. Request the appropriate advice/search service before filing TM2 to assess earlier marks and registrability risks. A favourable result does not guarantee registration or prevent a third-party opposition.

Trademark Registration Requirements and Documents in Kenya

A strong filing identifies the correct proprietor, the exact mark to be protected and a precise specification of the goods or services. The owner, mark format and class strategy chosen at filing can affect examination, enforcement and future expansion.

Who can register a trademark in Kenya?

An individual, Kenyan company, foreign company, partnership, association or other legal person may apply to register a trademark if it claims proprietorship of the mark for the relevant goods or services. Foreign applicants should also comply with KIPI's local-agent requirement.

Core filing requirements

• Applicant/owner: full legal name, nationality or country of incorporation and contact/address details.
• Trademark: the exact word mark, logo, slogan, device or combined mark to be protected.
• Nice class: the correct class or classes for the goods or services.
• Specification: clear wording describing the goods or services covered by the application.
• Address for service: especially important where a foreign applicant is represented in Kenya.
• Agent authority: TM1 or other required authority where an agent is appointed.

Documents and information to prepare

Word Mark, Logo or Combined Mark?

The filing format should reflect what the business most needs to protect. A word mark and a stylised logo are not always interchangeable from a protection strategy perspective.

The appropriate filing strategy is fact-specific. A search and class review should be completed before deciding whether one or multiple applications are commercially justified.

How to Register a Trademark in Kenya

To register a trademark in Kenya, follow the stages below. Search and class selection help define the application; filing alone does not mean that KIPI has accepted or registered the mark. The statutory examination and publication requirements still apply to online applications.

1. Define the mark and owner. Decide whether to protect a word mark, logo/device, slogan or combined mark, and confirm the correct legal proprietor.
2. Choose the Nice class and specification. Match the filing to the goods or services the business actually provides or genuinely plans to provide.
3. Conduct the TM27 trademark search. Check for identical or confusingly similar earlier marks and assess distinctiveness before filing.
4. Prepare the TM2 application. Include the applicant details, mark representation, class and goods/services specification; prepare TM1/authority where an agent is appointed.
5. File with KIPI and pay the official fee. Use the KIPI trademark filing portal, follow its payment instructions and retain the application reference and receipt. Check the applicant name, mark and specification before submitting.
6. Respond to KIPI examination. Deal with any formality, similarity, descriptiveness, disclaimer or specification issues raised by the Registry.
7. Proceed to publication and opposition. If accepted, the application is advertised in the Industrial Property Journal and exposed to a 60-day opposition period.
8. Complete registration. If there is no successful opposition, pay the applicable registration-stage fee and obtain the trademark certificate.

Can you register a trademark online in Kenya?

Yes. KIPI’s Trade Mark Online Filing System supports online applications and payments. The official launch notice dated 26 October 2026 directs applicants to trademarkonline.kipi.go.ke/efiling/. KIPI’s website also provides an eCitizen payment link. Follow the current portal instructions for the service selected and keep the invoice and receipt. Source: KIPI online filing notice.

Trademark Processing Time, Opposition and Renewal in Kenya

BIEA planning estimate: allow roughly 10–16 months for a straightforward, uncontested application. This is a practical planning range, not a KIPI service guarantee. Examination workload, objections, publication cycles, applicant response times and opposition proceedings can materially extend the timeline.

What is the 60-day opposition period?

After acceptance, the trademark is advertised in the Industrial Property Journal. A person with grounds to challenge the registration may lodge a notice of opposition within the prescribed 60-day period. If an opposition is filed, the application moves into a contested procedure and the overall timeline and cost can increase substantially.

Legal basis: Trade Marks Rules, Rule 46. The opposition period runs from advertisement; it is not the full registration timeline.

How long does a Kenya trademark last?

A Kenya trademark registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed for further 10-year periods. Section 23 of the Trade Marks Act governs duration and renewal. Diarise the registration and renewal dates shown in the record; keep owner and address-for-service details current. The published TM10 renewal fee is KES 4,000 for the first class plus KES 3,000 for each additional class, or USD 200 plus USD 150 at the foreign rate. Renewal is separate from the initial registration cost. Sources: Trade Marks Act and KIPI official fee schedule.

What Happens if KIPI Objects to the Application?

An examination objection does not always mean the application is lost. The correct response depends on the ground raised and the commercial importance of the mark.

Common causes of delay

• Filing a descriptive, generic or confusingly similar mark.
• Choosing the wrong class or using an unclear goods/services specification.
• Inconsistent owner details or incomplete agent authority.
• Slow responses to KIPI examination queries.
• Third-party opposition after publication.
• Late payment of the next official fee stage.

Trademark Registration in Kenya for Foreign Applicants

Foreign individuals and companies can register trademarks in Kenya. KIPI states that a foreign applicant's application must be processed by a local agent. For fee purposes, KIPI's published schedule distinguishes the foreign rate by residence or principal place of business; the applicable rate should therefore be confirmed from the applicant's filing circumstances rather than nationality alone.

A Kenya national registration covers Kenya. It does not automatically protect the mark across East Africa or all Madrid System countries. A Madrid international application must designate the markets required and attracts separate international and designation fees. The direct KIPI fees on this page do not include a Madrid application. Sources: WIPO Madrid System and KIPI guidance.

Direct KIPI filing or Madrid System?

Regional-route source: ARIPO’s Banjul Protocol contracting-state list (checked 4 November 2026).

Trademark Registration vs Company or Business Name Registration

These registrations solve different legal problems. Registering a company or business name with the Business Registration Service creates or records the business entity/name. Registering a trademark with KIPI protects the brand identifier for the specified goods or services.

If you are setting up the business as well as protecting the brand, see our separate Kenya company registration service. If an existing registered trademark is being sold or transferred, use our separate trademark assignment in Kenya page so the registration and assignment intents remain distinct.

Trademark Registration Service in Kenya

BIEA assists local and foreign applicants with trademark clearance, class/specification review, KIPI filing, registry correspondence and registration follow-up. The engagement can cover the full filing process or a defined stage, depending on the status of the mark and the client's instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Trademark Registration in Kenya

How much does it cost to register a trademark in Kenya?

For one mark in one class, core KIPI fees including TM27 preliminary advice total KES 12,000 at the local rate or USD 560 at the foreign rate. One TM1 agent appointment adds KES 1,000 or USD 50. Professional fees, applicable taxes and additional work are separate.

How much does a trademark cost in three classes?

Core KIPI fees for one mark in three classes total KES 30,000 at the local rate or USD 1,360 at the foreign rate. With one TM1 appointment, the listed government totals are KES 31,000 or USD 1,410, before professional fees and other charges.

Can I pay the KIPI fees in stages?

Yes. Preliminary advice, application, advertisement and registration are separate fee stages. Follow the KIPI invoice and instructions for each stage. Any instalment arrangement for professional fees must be agreed separately.

Does one application cover both my name and logo?

A combined mark covers the filed combination. If you want separate protection for the wording and the visual logo, assess separate applications. The fee examples on this page are for one mark; separate marks require separate budgets.

Can I register a trademark without an agent?

A local applicant may file directly with KIPI or appoint an agent. KIPI states that a foreign applicant’s application must be processed by a local agent. Confirm the applicable fee rate separately from the representation requirement.

How long does trademark registration take in Kenya?

BIEA’s planning estimate is about 10–16 months for a straightforward uncontested application, not a KIPI service guarantee. The 60-day opposition period is only one stage; examination queries, publication timing and opposition can extend the overall process.

Does a Kenya trademark cover East Africa or Madrid countries?

A Kenya national trademark registration protects the mark in Kenya. Additional countries require the appropriate separate filings or a Madrid international application designating those markets, with additional fees and examination.

Can a company or business name registration replace a trademark?

No. Company or business-name registration records the business entity or name. KIPI trademark registration protects the brand for the specified goods or services. A company name, domain name or social-media handle does not establish trademark availability.

Official Sources and Legal Basis

Sources checked: 4 November 2026. Fee examples use KIPI’s published local/foreign schedule. The online filing update follows KIPI’s notice dated 26 October 2026. The overall processing range is BIEA’s planning estimate. Recheck current fees, portal instructions and any applicable amendments before filing.

• KIPI — Trade Marks guidance
• KIPI — Trade Mark Fees: Local and Foreign
• KIPI — Patent and Trademark Forms
• KIPI eCitizen — Government Payments
• KIPI — Trade Mark Online Filing System
• KIPI — Online filing launch notice, 26 October 2026
• Kenya Law — Trade Marks Act
• KIPI — Trade Marks Act, including section 23
• Kenya Law — Trade Marks Rules
• WIPO Lex — Kenya Trade Marks Rules (including Rule 46)
• WIPO — Madrid System Members
• ARIPO — Banjul Protocol Trademark System