Your trademark protects an important business asset: your brand identity. You may have spent years building recognition around your company name, logo, product name or service brand. But trademark registration in India is not permanent. Under Section 25 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, a registration is valid for 10 years and can be renewed repeatedly for further periods of 10 years. The problem is that many businesses discover their renewal requirement too late — and the good news is that the law provides more than one opportunity to deal with a missed renewal.

What Is Trademark Renewal in India?

Trademark renewal is the process of extending the registration of an existing trademark for another 10-year period. It is different from applying for a new trademark: you are not restarting the registration process, you file the prescribed renewal request and pay the applicable official fee. This means a brand can potentially remain protected for decades, as long as the proprietor continues to comply with renewal requirements. Renewal should be treated as part of trademark portfolio management rather than an administrative task to handle at the last minute. If you have not yet registered, start with our guide to trademark registration in India.

How Long Is a Trademark Valid in India?

There is no general limit on the number of renewal cycles, which is why businesses that have built significant goodwill around their brands should maintain a proper renewal calendar.

When Is the Trademark Renewal Date?

The renewal date is linked to the expiry of the existing registration. Section 25 provides that renewal extends the registration for another 10 years from the expiry of the original registration or the last renewal. The safest way to determine your actual date is to check the current trademark record rather than relying on an old certificate or an internal spreadsheet. Verify the following:

• Trademark number and registration date
• Expiry date and current status
• Proprietor name and address for service
• Class or classes covered
• Renewal history

This is particularly important when ownership or business details have changed.

Can You Renew a Trademark Before It Expires?

Yes. Rule 57 allows an application for renewal to be filed not more than one year before the expiration of the last registration, giving brand owners a substantial window to plan ahead. Early filing helps you identify issues such as an incorrect proprietor name, an old address, missing records, multiple classes, expired agent details, portfolio consolidation needs or document inconsistencies — months before the expiry date rather than after the registration has already lapsed.

What Form Is Used for Trademark Renewal?

The primary form is Form TM R. The current official form covers renewal before expiry, renewal within six months after expiry, and restoration and renewal after removal from the register. It asks for the applicant details, trademark number, class or classes and the type of renewal request. The practical distinction is between a normal renewal and a late renewal or restoration — the right option depends on the position of the trademark at the time of filing.

What Are the Trademark Renewal Fees in India?

The current IP India fee schedule lists the following government charges per class:

These are government fees only. A professional service provider may separately charge for status review, document preparation, filing, portfolio review, Registry communication, restoration work and representation. When comparing quotes, always ask for a clear breakdown between government fees and professional charges.

Is the Renewal Fee Charged Per Class?

Yes. The official fee schedule states the renewal fee is payable for each class.

This matters for businesses with large portfolios, where the total bill can be substantial even though the single-class fee looks straightforward. To understand how classes work, see our explainer on trademark class search in India.

What Is the Trademark Renewal Grace Period in India?

Yes, there is a grace period. Section 25 provides a post-expiry period during which the Registrar should not remove the trademark if the prescribed renewal application, fee and surcharge are submitted within the relevant six-month period. The structure is: normal renewal before expiry; late renewal within six months after expiry with surcharge; and restoration after the six-month period and within one year from expiry, subject to statutory conditions and the Registrar’s consideration. The word “grace period” should not be confused with an unlimited extension — the six-month period is a defined statutory window.

What Happens If a Trademark Expires?

An expired trademark should not simply be ignored. Under Section 25, if renewal requirements are not completed, the Registrar may remove the mark from the register after the relevant period. The Act also creates a restoration mechanism after removal, subject to Section 25(4). The practical consequences can include:

• Loss of active registration status
• Increased government fees
• Need for restoration and additional documentation
• Commercial uncertainty
• Possible issues involving new applications by third parties
• Additional professional work

For a valuable brand, waiting can turn a straightforward renewal into a complicated recovery exercise.

Can You Renew a Trademark After Expiry?

Yes. A trademark can generally still be renewed after expiry during the prescribed six-month period by paying the applicable renewal fee and surcharge. If that period has passed, the mark may have been removed from the register, and the proprietor can seek restoration and renewal within one year from the expiry of the last registration, subject to the Registrar being satisfied that restoration is justified. That is a very different position from normal renewal.

What Is Trademark Restoration?

Restoration is the process of seeking to bring a trademark back onto the register after it was removed because the renewal fee was not paid. Section 25(4) provides that after six months and within one year from the expiration of the last registration, the Registrar may restore and renew the trademark if satisfied that it is just to do so, while considering the interests of other affected persons. Restoration is not simply another name for late renewal.

What Happens If You Miss the Six-Month Grace Period?

If renewal is not completed within the six-month period after expiry, the trademark may be removed from the register. The law then provides a restoration route after six months and within one year from expiry. The restoration application is time sensitive, and a proprietor should not assume there will always be another opportunity after the one-year period. The commercial risk also increases because the mark is no longer in the position of a continuously maintained registration. If a valuable brand has passed the six-month point, obtain professional review immediately.

What Happens After One Year of Trademark Expiry?

The statutory restoration window under Section 25(4) runs from after six months to within one year from expiry. Once it has passed, the old registration cannot be assumed to be restorable through the same process, and a fresh trademark application may become necessary. A new application creates a different legal situation and can be exposed to new applications by others, earlier third-party rights, examination objections, opposition proceedings and different market conditions. For context on those risks, read our guides on trademark objection vs opposition and trademark objection reply. Maintaining an existing registration is generally preferable to letting a valuable mark lapse.

Trademark Renewal Process Online: Step by Step

What Documents Are Required for Trademark Renewal?

Routine renewal is generally simpler than new registration because the registration already exists. Depending on the circumstances, the applicant or representative should have access to the trademark registration number and certificate, proprietor details, current address, class details, renewal history, agent details where applicable, and a Power of Attorney or authorisation where required. If the trademark has changed hands or the proprietor’s details have changed, additional work may be necessary before or alongside the renewal.

Do You Need the Original Trademark Certificate?

Not necessarily. The important requirement is accurate identification of the registered trademark and the proprietor’s details; the current TM R form focuses on the applicant, trademark number and class information rather than requiring the original physical certificate as the sole basis for filing. Still, keep your registration records safely, because they remain useful for due diligence, licensing, assignment and enforcement.

Does Renewal Require a Fresh Examination?

Normal renewal is different from applying for a new registration. Rule 57 states that a renewal request filed within the prescribed time shall be allowed unless the trademark has been removed, cancelled or is otherwise not renewable under the Act, Rules or applicable order. Renewal continues an existing registration rather than restarting the full initial process, although complicated circumstances can still require professional review.

Does the Trademark Expire Immediately on the Exact Date?

The expiry date matters, but the law provides a specific post-expiry mechanism. If the renewal fee has not been paid, the Registrar may remove the mark subject to the statutory conditions and the six-month surcharge opportunity under Section 25. An expired mark does not mean every legal option disappears that same day — but the post-expiry period should never be a normal strategy, because longer delay means higher cost and more procedural complexity.

Does IP India Send a Renewal Reminder?

Yes. Rule 58 provides that where the renewal application and fee have not been received, the Registrar sends a notice in Form RG 3 not more than six months before the registration expires, to the address for service on record. But do not rely on it exclusively: if the address for service is outdated or business records have changed, the reminder may not reach the current decision-maker. Maintain an independent renewal calendar.

Ownership, Address and Class Issues

Why Businesses Should Renew Their Trademark on Time

A valuable trademark can represent years of brand building, advertising, customer trust, packaging investment, digital marketing, distribution relationships, marketplace presence and loyalty. Allowing the registration to lapse creates unnecessary uncertainty around an asset that may be central to the business. Timely renewal helps you maintain the registered right, avoid surcharge, reduce procedural risk, avoid restoration work, keep cleaner IP records, support licensing or assignment, and prepare for investment or acquisition due diligence.

Startups and Growing Businesses

Startups often register trademarks early and then focus on growth and fundraising; years later, renewal gets overlooked — precisely when the brand has become more valuable. Connect trademark dates to your legal compliance, corporate secretarial, domain, insurance, contract and tax calendars. Our guides on small business compliance and startup registration can help build that calendar.

Ecommerce Brands

Ecommerce brands depend on trademarks for marketplace brand pages, packaging, advertising accounts, domain names, social profiles, distributor relationships and counterfeit enforcement. Losing or weakening the registration can create avoidable complications when you need to prove ownership or enforce your rights, so renewal review should be part of the broader IP strategy.

Companies With Multiple Brands

Managing dozens of registrations from memory is risky. A structured portfolio should track each mark, registration number, owner, class, application and registration dates, expiry date, renewal window, status, agent, address for service, related marks and business importance — making it easy to see which marks need immediate attention.

Common Mistakes in Trademark Renewal

Trademark Renewal vs Trademark Restoration

What Happens After Trademark Renewal?

Once processed, the registration continues for another 10-year period from the relevant expiry date, and Rule 61 provides for notice and advertisement of renewal or restoration. Update your internal records with the renewal acknowledgement, updated status, renewal date, next expiry date, next reminder date and supporting documents. This is especially important for companies managing multiple registrations.

How Garuda Mudra Helps With Trademark Renewal

Garuda Mudra provides professional support for businesses that need trademark renewal in India and want to avoid missing important windows. The service can include trademark status verification, expiry date review, renewal eligibility assessment, Form TM R preparation, government fee calculation, electronic filing support, document review, portfolio renewal management, late renewal and restoration assistance, Registry communication support and post-filing status tracking. We can also assist with ownership transfer, trademark hearings, opposition and examination objections. Looking for local help? See our guides on trademark registration in Delhi and how to hire a trademark consultant in Delhi.

Trademark Renewal Checklist

• Trademark number
• Trademark owner
• Registration status
• Registration expiry date
• Relevant class or classes
• Address for service
• Current proprietor details
• Renewal window
• Government fee per class
• Applicable surcharge if late
• Restoration requirement if removed
• Supporting records
• Authorisation documents where applicable
• Form TM R
• Filing acknowledgement
• Updated renewal status
• Next renewal date in compliance calendar

Frequently Asked Questions About Trademark Renewal in India

Final Thoughts

A trademark is a long-term business asset, and protecting it does not end when registration is granted. A registered trademark remains valid for 10 years and can be renewed repeatedly, so a well-managed brand can enjoy registered protection for decades. The most important action is to know your renewal date and start early. Rule 57 allows filing up to one year before expiry; if the normal deadline is missed, a six-month post-expiry route with surcharge is available; and if the mark has been removed, restoration can generally be requested after six months and within one year from expiry. Check current government fees before filing — IP India currently lists ₹9,000 per class for standard electronic renewal, with additional charges for late renewal and restoration. A better approach is simple: track the expiry date, review the record early, renew before expiry whenever possible, act immediately if the mark has already expired, and use professional support for restoration, ownership changes or multiple registrations.

Related Reading

This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Trademark fees, forms and procedures change; confirm current rules and your mark’s specific position on the official IP India portal or with a qualified professional before filing. — Garuda Mudra, financial, taxation, accounting, compliance & business advisory services.