Trademark Registration Cost in Nigeria: The Complete 2026 Fee Breakdown
Trademark registration in Nigeria costs between ₦150,000 and ₦350,000 all-in for one class when using a professional agent — covering the availability search, IPONIGERIA filing fee, Trademark Journal publication fee (₦50,000 per class), and the registration certificate. Self-filing through the IPONIGERIA online portal costs ₦55,000 to ₦60,000 in government fees only. Registration is valid for seven years from the filing date under Section 23(1) of the Trademarks Act LFN 2004 and renewable for further fourteen-year periods.
The single most common complaint Nigerian business owners have about trademark registration is unexpected costs. Many agents advertise headline fees of ₦30,000 to ₦80,000 — but the Trademark Journal publication fee alone is ₦50,000 per class, charged separately after acceptance, and not always disclosed upfront. This guide gives you the complete, stage-by-stage cost breakdown so you can budget accurately and recognise an incomplete quote when you see one.
Why Costs Vary So Widely Between Agents
Trademark registration in Nigeria involves fees at four different stages, paid to two different parties — IPONIGERIA (the government registry) and your trademark agent or lawyer. The total cost is not paid all at once, which is why a low headline quote is almost never the real total.
The variation between agent quotes reflects three things: whether the agent is quoting government fees only or the all-in total; the level of professional service being provided (a ₦30,000 quote for a trademark application does not include the kind of prior art search, specification drafting expertise, and opposition monitoring that a ₦250,000 professional engagement includes); and the complexity of the mark itself (a complex logo or composite mark requires more technical work than a simple word mark).
The Four Fee Stages You Must Budget For
Stage 1 — Trademark availability search
Before filing any application, a trademark availability search must be conducted at IPONIGERIA to confirm that the same or a confusingly similar mark is not already registered in your target class or classes. An unexamined application filed without a prior search risks rejection on the basis of an existing identical or similar mark — wasting the filing fee and months of processing time.
Government fee: ₦5,000 to ₦10,000 for an official search at IPONIGERIA
Professional search fee: ₦15,000 to ₦50,000 for a thorough search conducted by an IP agent covering registered marks, pending applications, and common law marks
Stage 2 — Application filing
The trademark application is filed at IPONIGERIA using Form TM2, either through the IPONIGERIA online portal (iponigeria.com) or through an accredited trademark agent. The application must include a clear representation of the mark, a specification of the goods or services in the relevant class, and the applicant’s details. Foreign applicants must use an accredited Nigerian trademark agent — this is a legal requirement, not optional.
Government filing fee: IPONIGERIA’s official filing fee schedule is published on their portal. Fees vary by mark type and class.
Professional agent filing fee: ₦50,000 to ₦150,000 depending on agent experience and mark complexity
Stage 3 — Trademark Journal publication
Once IPONIGERIA accepts the application after examination, the mark is published in the Trademark Journal for a two-month opposition period. This fee is charged at the publication stage — after acceptance — and is separate from the filing fee.
Government publication fee: ₦50,000 per class — this is fixed regardless of agent. Every trademark must pass through this stage to proceed to registration. It is non-negotiable and non-refundable.
Stage 4 — Registration certificate
Following the two-month opposition period without a successful opposition, IPONIGERIA issues the certificate of registration. There is a government certificate fee payable at this stage.
Government certificate fee: As published on the IPONIGERIA fee schedule
Agent certificate handling fee: ₦10,000 to ₦30,000
Complete Cost Breakdown: DIY vs Professional Registration
| Cost component | DIY (self-filing via IPONIGERIA portal) | Professional registration (IP lawyer or agent) |
|---|---|---|
| Availability search | ₦5,000–₦10,000 (official search only) | ₦15,000–₦50,000 (comprehensive search including common law marks) |
| Application filing fee | Government fee only (check IPONIGERIA portal for current rates) | Government fee + professional fee: ₦50,000–₦150,000 total |
| Trademark Journal publication | ₦50,000 (fixed — same for all) | ₦50,000 (fixed — same for all) |
| Registration certificate | Government fee (check IPONIGERIA portal) | Government fee + handling: ₦10,000–₦30,000 additional |
| Opposition monitoring | Your responsibility — you must monitor the Journal during the 2-month window | Included in professional engagement — agent monitors and alerts you |
| Total estimated cost (one class) | ₦55,000–₦70,000 in government fees only | ₦150,000–₦350,000 all-in depending on agent and complexity |
| Realistic timeline | 12–18 months (same process — self-filing does not accelerate examination) | 12–18 months for straightforward applications |
Multi-Class Registrations: How Costs Scale
Nigeria uses the 45-class Nice Classification system. A trademark registered in one class protects you only for the goods or services in that class. A business that operates across multiple product or service categories needs registrations in each relevant class — and each class carries its own filing and publication fees.
| Number of classes | Publication fee (government) | Estimated all-in professional cost | Common business scenarios |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 class | ₦50,000 | ₦150,000–₦350,000 | Single-product businesses; service businesses operating in one sector |
| 2 classes | ₦100,000 | ₦250,000–₦550,000 | Businesses with both a product and a service offering (e.g. a software product and consultancy services) |
| 3 classes | ₦150,000 | ₦350,000–₦750,000 | FMCG brands; retailers; hospitality businesses with food, beverage, and service components |
| 5+ classes | ₦250,000+ | ₦600,000–₦1,500,000+ | Diversified brands; franchise operations; businesses protecting against squatting in adjacent classes |
Renewal Costs and Timeline
A Nigerian trademark registration is valid for seven years from the filing date — not the registration date — under Section 23(1) of the Trademarks Act LFN 2004. After the initial seven-year period, the mark must be renewed for further fourteen-year periods. If renewal is not completed, the registration lapses and the mark becomes available for registration by third parties.
The renewal process involves an application to IPONIGERIA with payment of the prescribed renewal fees. Renewal can be applied for during the year before expiry and for a short period after expiry with a surcharge. The cost of renewal includes government fees (published on the IPONIGERIA fee schedule) plus professional fees if handled by an agent.
The Hidden Costs Most Agents Do Not Disclose Upfront
- The ₦50,000 Trademark Journal publication fee. As discussed above — always charged separately, always after the filing fee is paid, rarely disclosed in the initial quote. Non-negotiable and non-refundable whether or not the mark proceeds to registration.
- Opposition costs. If a third party opposes your trademark application during the two-month publication window, responding requires legal work that is not included in a standard registration fee. Opposition proceedings before IPONIGERIA can add ₦100,000 to ₦500,000 or more to the cost depending on complexity.
- Specification amendment costs. If IPONIGERIA raises an objection to the goods or services specification, amendments are required. Each amendment request involves additional professional time not typically covered in the original quote.
- Certified True Copy fees. You will need certified true copies of your trademark certificate for various commercial purposes — attaching to licence agreements, including in investor due diligence documents, submitting to banks. Each CTC involves an IPONIGERIA fee plus agent handling time.
- Annual surveillance costs. After registration, monitoring the Trademark Journal for conflicting applications that may dilute or threaten your mark requires ongoing attention — either your own time or a professional monitoring retainer. This is not a government fee but it is a real cost of active trademark protection.
For the complete guide to what intellectual property assets your business should be protecting and in what order, read our IP Protection Blueprint for Nigerian Businesses.
Trademark Cost Calculator — Nigeria 2026
A class-by-class cost breakdown of trademark registration in Nigeria — government fees, professional fees, publication costs, and renewal timeline — so you can budget accurately before engaging any agent or lawyer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to register a trademark myself rather than using a lawyer?
In government fees only, yes — self-filing costs ₦55,000 to ₦70,000 compared to ₦150,000 to ₦350,000 all-in with a professional. But the saving comes with real risks. Self-filers who choose the wrong class, draft an inadequate goods and services specification, miss an opposition notice, or file an unclear mark representation create problems that cost more to fix later than the professional fee would have cost upfront. For a mark that is central to your business identity, professional registration is an investment in certainty, not an unnecessary expense.
Can someone steal my trademark if I have been using it for years without registering it?
Yes — and it happens. Nigeria follows the first-to-file principle for trademark priority, not first-to-use. An opportunist who registers your long-used but unregistered mark at IPONIGERIA will have a stronger legal claim to the mark than you do, despite your years of commercial use. The only protection an unregistered mark provides in Nigeria is a narrow common law passing off action — which requires proving reputation, misrepresentation, and damage, a significantly higher evidentiary bar than a registered trademark infringement action. If you have a brand that matters to your business, register it.
How long does trademark registration take in Nigeria in practice?
Realistic timelines for straightforward trademark applications in Nigeria in 2026 are twelve to eighteen months. This covers: filing and acknowledgment (same day on the IPONIGERIA portal); formal examination (weeks to months depending on IPONIGERIA’s current workload); substantive examination and acceptance; publication in the Trademark Journal (a two-month opposition window); and issuance of the registration certificate. Applications that attract oppositions, require specification amendments, or face formal objections take significantly longer. Complex applications in competitive classes can take twenty-four months or more.
Ready to Register Your Trademark in Nigeria? Get the Cost Right from the Start.
Lawberon Legals & Co. advises commercial clients across Lagos and Abuja on trademark registration, IP protection strategy, and brand enforcement.
Our team provides transparent, stage-by-stage trademark registration services — no hidden fees, no surprises at the publication stage. We will tell you exactly what it costs before we start.
Contact our team at info@lawberonlegals.com or call +234 902 552 5239.
No. 12 Thomas Laniyan Street, Anthony, Lagos State.
