Fees & Procedure
Documents Required for Trademark Registration in India (Checklist)
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Short answer: To file a trademark application (Form TM-A) in India you need:
- the applicant's exact name, address and legal status;
- the mark itself (the word, or a clear image of the logo);
- a description of the goods or services and the class they fall in;
- the date from which you have used the mark, or a statement that it is proposed to be used.
Three more documents apply only in some cases:
- a user affidavit with evidence, if you claim use before the filing date (rule 25);
- an authorisation in Form TM-M, if an agent or advocate files for you (rule 19);
- proof of eligibility, if you claim the lower fee as an individual, startup or small enterprise.
A GST registration is not required to file.
Checklist
| Document or detail | When it is needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant's name, address, nationality and legal status (individual, firm, LLP, company, trust) | Always | Use the exact legal name. For a partnership firm, give the names of all the partners |
| The mark | Always | A word mark needs only the text. A logo (device mark) needs a clear image of the final design. See logo trademark registration |
| Goods or services and class | Always | Describe what you actually sell, in the right class. See the trademark class finder |
| Date of first use, or "proposed to be used" | Always | Rule 25 requires the period of use and the person who used it, unless the mark is proposed to be used |
| User affidavit with evidence (invoices, advertisements and the like) | If you claim use before the filing date | See our trademark user affidavit guide |
| Authorisation of agent in Form TM-M | If a trademark agent or advocate files for you | Rule 19. The old Form TM-48 no longer exists; see TM-48 vs TM-M |
| Proof that you are a startup or small enterprise | If you claim the lower official fee | Match the applicant to the definitions in Rule 2 of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017; a certificate alone is not automatically enough. See MSME and startup fee concession |
| Details of the earlier application filed abroad | If you claim priority from a foreign application | Keep the foreign application number, date, country and a certified copy ready |
Need help with this?
Filing for your own brand? See our trademark registration service: search, class selection and Form TM-A filing, handled for you. We are a trademark consultant in Ahmedabad working with businesses across Gujarat.
What you do not need
- GST registration. A trademark can be filed without a GST number. Many people search for this because they assume a business must be registered first; it need not be.
- A registered business. An individual can file in their own name for a brand they use or intend to use. Deciding who should own the mark matters more; see who should own the trademark.
- A company or LLP certificate attached to the form. The rules do not ask for one. Your agent may still ask for it to enter the exact legal name and status.
Common mistakes that cause objections or delays
- Claiming a date of use without the evidence to back it up. Weak evidence fails at the examination or opposition stage.
- Filing in the name of a brand rather than a legal person, or in a partner's personal name for a firm's brand without thinking through ownership.
- A blurred or unfinished logo. File the version you will actually use, because changing it later is limited.
- Choosing the wrong class or describing goods too broadly. See the trademark filing problems page.
Next steps: check the official fees in our trademark registration fees guide, and run a trademark public search before you file.