File a new or amended trademark or certification mark application

Follow the step-by-step process to file a new or amended trademark or certification mark application.

Introduction

Welcome to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) Trademarks e-Filing service. With this online service, you can file a new or amended trademark or certification mark application. Once you have paid your application fee, you will immediately receive your application number.

Important Notice: Enhancements in entering the statement of goods and services

You can now select pre-approved goods and services from the CIPO Goods and Services Manual when filing your trademark application online. For more details, please review the Updates to Trademarks online tools page. -->

1. Before you apply

• Read the trademarks guide.
• Review the trademark application process.
• Consult the list of trademark agents should you wish to hire a registered trademark agent to handle your file.
• Search trademarks using the Canadian Trademarks Database.
• Use the Goods and Services Manual to search for acceptable goods and services terms in Canada for trademark applications.

2. Application requirements

A trademark application that has the following will receive a filing date and application number:

• An implicit or explicit indication that registration of a trademark is being sought;
• the name and contact information of the applicant;
• a representation or description of the trademark (such as a drawing);
• the goods or services that the trademark is associated with; and
• the application fee

3. After you apply — Filing an amended application

You may have to file an amended trademark or certification mark application after having received an examination report.

• Use the amendment online service only if you have already filed a trademark or certification mark application and have a CIPO filing receipt.
• Certain amendments to your application are not allowed. Check which changes are allowed by reading section 35 of the Trademarks Regulations .

Telephone amendments expanded practice — Trademark amendments without an examiner's report

Effective on February 19, 2021 , we are expanding our practice on telephone amendments. You or your appointed agent might get a call from a trademark examiner asking for:

Verbal permission to amend your application

A trademark examiner might call to ask for verbal permission to:

• Adding the statement "pantone is a registered trademark" to a colour claim where reference is made to the Pantone colour system.
• Add missing disclaimers related to the use of a trademarked colour system or the 11-point maple leaf

A trademark examiner might call to ask you to send an amended trademark application if:

• Deleting a TM, MC or registration symbol from the trademark representation.
• Properly linking priority claims to amended statements of goods or services.
• Amending typographical errors contained in a statement of goods or services.
• Amending errors in punctuation contained in a statement of goods or services.
• Requesting a minor amendment to a statement of goods or services for compliance with paragraph 30(2)(a) of the Trademarks Act and section 29 of the Trademarks Regulations.
• Amending the classification of goods or services that are incorrectly classed according to the Nice classification.
• Requesting a minor change to goods or services for compliance with subsection 30(3) of the Trademarks Act.
• Requesting minor changes to the description of a colour claim.
• Requesting a visual representation of the trademark in colour or in black and white.
• Requesting a clearer visual representation of the trademark.
• Requesting a translation or transliteration of the trademark.
• Requesting a modification to an incorrectly identified trademark type.
• Requesting minor changes to a trademark description.
• Requesting more information for an incomplete mailing address.

4. Send a general correspondence

You may have to send correspondence to the Registrar on a variety of trademark topics to the Office through the e-General Correspondence, as an alternative to facsimile or postal mail.

Examples of the types of correspondence that can be sent to the Office include appointment or revocation of a trademark agent; cancellation or withdrawal of a registration or application; change of name or address; division of an application, and requests for extensions of time and will also allow clients to pay a fee, when applicable.

5. Use our online services (you must log in)

• The online service is on a secure server on the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada website.
• You need a My Canada Business Account to use the Trademark e-filing application.
  • Don't have an account? Visit the login page and follow the steps to create an account.
  • You can pay any fees by credit card or by deposit account.

  Are you an active Trademark agent licenced with the College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents who created a new agent account for correspondence purposes for use with CIPO's Trademarks and Trademarks Opposition Board online services?

  If so, please complete this form to link your CIPO username (not GCKey username) to be able to submit transactions as a Trademark Agent to the Trademarks Office and Trademarks Opposition Board.

  To find out your CIPO username, log in to any CIPO online service. Once you've logged in, your CIPO username will be shown at the top of the page where it says "Signed in as [username]."