End-to-End Trademark Registration in South Africa

The cost to register a trademark in South Africa is US$ 590 for the first class, plus US$ 590 for each additional class. This fee includes both the official government filing costs and iGERENT’s professional service fees.

In South Africa, a final registration fee of US$ 400 applies for the first class and US$ 300 for each additional class. This payment will only be due in case of successful registration.

When you register your trademark with iGERENT, our team handles everything for you: from preparing and filing your application to tracking progress and updating you at every step.

You’ll benefit from:

• A dedicated trademark consultant to guide you throughout the process
• Complete management of forms, filings, and communications with the trademark office
• Transparent pricing, with no hidden costs or surprise add-ons

With iGERENT, your trademark registration in South Africa is simple, secure, and fully compliant.

To register a trademark in South Africa, you must provide a scanned copy of a signed Power of Attorney (PoA) authorizing a local representative to act before CIPC.

In practice, your representative will also need:

• Full details of the applicant (name, address, nationality/legal form).
• A clear representation of the trademark (word, logo, or combined).
• A list of goods and/or services according to the Nice Classification.

The PoA does not need to be legalized or notarized beyond what is stated (only signed and scanned), unless specifically requested in a particular case.

The average timeframe for a straightforward trademark application in South Africa is about 21 months from filing to registration.

This is only an estimate and may vary, for example if:

• The examiner raises formal or substantive objections (e.g. lack of distinctiveness, conflicts with earlier marks).
• There are delays in responding to office actions.
• Oppositions are filed by third parties after publication.

Once your trademark is registered in South Africa:

• It is protected for ten (10) years from the application date.
• It may then be renewed indefinitely for further periods of ten (10) years.

Renewal:

• Can be requested as early as six (6) months before the expiry date.
• Can also be requested during a grace period of one (1) month after expiration, subject to payment of a late renewal fee.

The registration certificate and entry on the register provide official proof of your rights, which can be enforced in administrative or court proceedings, and used for licensing or other commercial arrangements.

Yes. If a third party files a trademark application that is identical or similar to your mark for related goods or services, you may file an opposition.

• Opposition period: an opposition may be filed within three (3) months from the date the application is published in the trademarks journal.
• In certain circumstances, it is possible to obtain an extension of this deadline.

The chances of success of an opposition will depend on, among other things:

• The strength of your prior rights.
• The similarity between the marks.
• The similarity of the goods/services.
• The evidence and arguments you can provide.

A trademark does not need to be in use in South Africa in order to be filed or to proceed to registration. However, use becomes crucial after registration.

If the mark is not used for a continuous period of five (5) years after registration:

• It becomes vulnerable to cancellation actions for non-use brought by third parties.

To avoid this:

• The mark should be used genuinely and on a commercial scale in South Africa, for the goods/services covered.
• It is advisable to keep evidence of use (invoices, advertising, website pages targeting South African consumers, catalogues, etc.).

Choosing iGERENT for your trademark application in South Africa means working with a team that values transparency, reliability, and practical results.

• We provide clear quotes that include both official fees and our professional fees, so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
• We’ve managed trademark filings and portfolios for businesses of all sizes, from startups to established international brands.
• We keep you in the loop with regular status updates, not just at filing, but all the way to registration.

Don’t just take our word for it, see why businesses trust iGERENT as the best trademark registration service.