UK IPO announces first trade mark fee increase in nearly three decades
The Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) has announced it will raise fees for UK trade marks and designs from April 2026, marking the first increase for trade marks since 1998.
The UK IPO confirmed on 5th November that it plans to increase fees by an average of 25% across patents, trade marks and designs, subject to parliamentary approval. The changes represent the first fee adjustment for designs since 2016 and for patents since 2018.
Trade mark fee changes
Trade mark application fees will rise under the new structure. The fee for filing a trade mark application online will increase from £170 to £205, whilst paper applications will rise from £200 to £250.
Renewal fees will see increases across the board. The fee for renewing a trade mark registration at the 10-year mark will rise from £200 to £245 for both online and paper applications.
Opposition proceedings will become more expensive. The fee for filing a notice of opposition based solely on Section 5(1) or 5(2) grounds will increase from £100 to £125, whilst oppositions on other grounds will rise from £200 to £250. Fast track opposition fees will increase from £100 to £125, and the fee for adding grounds to an opposition will rise from £100 to £125.
Applications to start invalidation proceedings will increase from £200 to £250, whilst applications to revoke a mark for non-use or other reasons will also rise from £200 to £250.
Click here to see the full fees
Design fee changes
Registered design fees will also increase. Online applications for a single design will rise from £50 to £60. Multiple design applications filed online will see fees increase across all tiers: up to 10 designs will rise from £70 to £85, up to 20 designs from £90 to £110, up to 30 designs from £110 to £135, up to 40 designs from £130 to £160, and up to 50 designs from £150 to £185.
Paper applications for a single design will increase from £60 to £75, with each additional design in the same application rising from £40 to £50.
Design renewal fees are set to rise across all renewal periods. The first renewal will increase from £70 to £85, the second renewal from £90 to £110, the third renewal from £110 to £135, and the fourth renewal from £140 to £170.
Applications to invalidate a registered design will increase from £48 to £60.
Implementation timeline
The UK IPO has committed to publishing full guidance early in 2026 to assist customers whose fees may be due around the implementation date. Current fees will remain in place until 1st April 2026, when the new structure is scheduled to take effect, subject to parliamentary approval.
The UK IPO attributed the increases to accumulated inflation over multiple years and rising operational costs that it can no longer absorb through efficiency measures or existing reserves.
The UK IPO stated that the fee increases will enable it to continue investing in its systems and maintain service quality.
The office has updated its payment information, including terms and conditions for deposit account holders, on its website.
The changes will also affect patents, with fees increasing across the full range of patent services from the same date, including application fees, search and examination fees, and renewal fees.
| Trade marks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Service | Current fee | New fee (from April 2026) | Increase |
| Application (online) | £170 | £205 | £35 |
| Application (paper) | £200 | £250 | £50 |
| Each additional class | £50 | £60 | £10 |
| Series fee | £50 | £60 | £10 |
| 10-year renewal | £200 | £245 | £45 |
| Renewal additional class | £50 | £60 | £10 |
| Late renewal | £50 | £60 | £10 |
| Restore and renew | £100 | £125 | £25 |
| Opposition (Section 5(1)/5(2) only) | £100 | £125 | £25 |
| Opposition (other grounds) | £200 | £250 | £50 |
| Fast track opposition | £100 | £125 | £25 |
| Add grounds to opposition | £100 | £125 | £25 |
| Invalidation proceedings | £200 | £250 | £50 |
| Revocation (non-use) | £200 | £250 | £50 |
| Revocation (other reasons) | £200 | £250 | £50 |
| Record change of ownership | £50 | £60 | £10 |
| Record licensee | £50 | £60 | £10 |
| Certification/collective mark regulations | £200 | £250 | £50 |
| Registered designs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Service | Current fee | New fee (from April 2026) | Increase |
| Single design (online) | £50 | £60 | £10 |
| Single design (paper) | £60 | £75 | £15 |
| Up to 10 designs (online) | £70 | £85 | £15 |
| Up to 20 designs (online) | £90 | £110 | £20 |
| Up to 30 designs (online) | £110 | £135 | £25 |
| Up to 40 designs (online) | £130 | £160 | £30 |
| Up to 50 designs (online) | £150 | £185 | £35 |
| Each additional design (paper) | £40 | £50 | £10 |
| First renewal | £70 | £85 | £15 |
| Second renewal | £90 | £110 | £20 |
| Third renewal | £110 | £135 | £25 |
| Fourth renewal | £140 | £170 | £30 |
| Late renewal (month 6) | £120 | £150 | £30 |
| Restore registration | £120 | £150 | £30 |
| Invalidation application | £48 | £60 | £12 |