Thailand Trademark Registration
Thailand is examined by the DIP and usually takes 12-18 months, with a ten-year term. Thailand joined the Madrid Protocol on 7 November 2017, so you can file a national application or designate Thailand through an international registration; either way foreign applicants must appoint a licensed Thai agent.
Two differences that change the plan
First, the term: ten years, renewable in ten-year blocks. Section 53 of the Trademark Act speaks of the registration date, but section 42 deems the application date to be the registration date, so expiry is calculated from filing.
Second, the route. Thailand has been a Madrid Protocol member since 7 November 2017, so an international registration can designate Thailand, or you can file a national application. Either way a licensed Thai agent handles the local procedure.
Examination and the Thai script question
Examination is strict, with refusals commonly based on similarity to earlier marks, lack of distinctiveness, or over-broad goods. Response windows are short and missing one abandons the application.
If your brand is only registered in Latin script, someone can file the Thai transliteration and create practical obstruction in listings and enforcement. Assess the Thai form at the search stage, not after a problem appears.
| Factor | Thailand national filing | Compare: Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Madrid designation | Available since 2017-11-07 | Available since 2000-10-31 |
| Typical timeline | 12-18 months | about 9 months |
| Term runs from | 10 years (statute says registration date, deemed to be the application date) | 10 years from the application date |
| Local agent | Mandatory for foreign applicants | Can be handled from abroad |
Official fees follow the current schedule of the Thai DIP; our service fee is quoted by class and case complexity.
Use and renewal
Three consecutive years of non-use in Thailand exposes the registration to a cancellation petition. Export-only activity, with no local sale, is contested ground, so keep local distribution, customs and marketing records.
Renewal runs in ten-year blocks before expiry. Where the brand is used in Thai form on packaging, register that form too - protection follows what is on the shelf.
Timeline and where it slips
Thailand rewards early preparation: notarised or legalised applicant documents take time to arrange.
During examination, response speed matters more than in most markets because the windows are short.
| Stage | Typical duration | Who acts | Where it slips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search including Thai transliteration | 5-10 working days | We and the Thai agent | Only the Latin form checked |
| Filing and formalities | 1-2 weeks | DIP | Document legalisation takes longer than expected |
| Substantive examination | About 8-14 months | DIP | Short response windows missed |
| Publication and registration | About 2-3 months | DIP | Registration fee unpaid |
| Renewal and defence | Five-year blocks | DIP | Three-year non-use exposure |
How we work
Register plus Thai phonetic equivalents
Latin, Chinese and Thai together
With legalised applicant documents
Within the short window
Monitor and complete registration
Ten-year renewals, local use file
What you need to prepare
- Applicant identity documents (legalised or notarised as required)
- Reproduction of the mark and Thai reading
- Goods and services list
- Local agent appointment documents
- Thai distribution or sales evidence for maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Can Thailand be covered by a Madrid filing?
Yes. Thailand has been a Madrid Protocol member since 7 November 2017, so an international registration can designate it. A national Thai application is the alternative; both need a licensed Thai agent.
How long is a Thai trademark valid?
Ten years. Section 53 of the Trademark Act refers to the registration date, but section 42 deems the application date to be the registration date, so expiry is calculated from filing. Renewals run in ten-year blocks.
Why register the Thai name as well?
If only the Latin or Chinese form is protected, a third party can file the Thai transliteration and obstruct your local listings and enforcement.
How long does examination take?
Typically 12-18 months overall. Refusals with short response windows are the main reason cases run longer.
Want an assessment first?
Tell us the product and target marketplaces and we will give you a registrability opinion, a realistic timeline and a cost breakdown. Files can be submitted within 48 hours of confirmation.
