# European Union Trademark Registration (EUTM) Guide

> EU trademark registration: one EUIPO filing for 27 countries, the EUR 850 filing fee, the 3-month opposition period, the EEA representative rule and Madrid.

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- Last updated: 2026-10-11
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EU trademark registration means obtaining a single right valid in all 27 member states, the EU trade mark (EUTM), through one application to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). **The right is unitary: an obstacle in a single member state can stop the entire application.** A registration is valid for 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely for further 10-year periods.

Below you will find what an EU trade mark gives you, how a direct EUIPO filing differs from designating the EU through Madrid, the official fees, the procedure from filing to registration, the representation rule for Turkish businesses, the risks of the unitary system and the situation after Brexit.

## What Is an EU Trademark (EUTM) and What Does It Give You?

An EU trade mark is a single, indivisible trademark right with the same effect in every member state of the European Union. Its unitary character means that the right is granted for the whole EU by one decision, kept in one record and renewed in one step; an EU trade mark cannot be granted for Germany and refused for France.

This brings an exporter two concrete benefits. First, a company selling to several countries in the EU market obtains protection in 27 states with one file instead of filing country by country. Second, transactions such as renewal, assignment and licensing run through a single record. According to EUIPO, the rights conferred by an EU trade mark can be asserted against third parties from the date the registration is published.

Protection is limited to the EU's geographic borders. European countries that are not EU members, such as Switzerland and Norway, are outside its scope, and the United Kingdom has not been covered by EU trade marks since 2021. A Turkish registration, for its part, gives no protection in the EU at all; we explain why protection must be obtained country by country in our guide to [international trademark registration and the Madrid Protocol](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/international-trademark-registration-madrid-protocol).

## What Routes Lead to an EU Trademark?

An EU trade mark can be obtained in two ways: by filing directly with EUIPO, or by designating the European Union through the Madrid System based on your Turkish mark. Both routes end in protection valid across the whole EU; the differences lie in the filing prerequisite, representation, the currency of the fees and dependence on the Turkish mark.

### Filing directly with EUIPO

An application can be filed using EUIPO's online filing form and does not require any prior application or registration in Turkey. The filing language must be one of the EU languages; you also choose a second language, different from the first, from EUIPO's five languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish), and EUIPO points out that your mark could be challenged in opposition or cancellation proceedings in that second language.

### Designating the EU through Madrid

For a mark that has been filed or registered in Turkey, the European Union is designated in an international application filed through TÜRKPATENT (Turkish Patent and Trademark Office). EUIPO examines the designation as it would an EU trade mark application and may notify WIPO of grounds for refusal within 18 months. The international application is filed on the WIPO form in English, French or Spanish, and designating the EU also requires indicating a second language from the EUIPO languages. Side by side, the two routes look like this:

| Criterion | Direct EUIPO filing | Designating the EU through Madrid |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Where and how is the application filed? | With EUIPO, using the online form | With WIPO through TÜRKPATENT, selecting the EU |
| Prior Turkish filing required | No | Yes; the Turkish application or registration is the basic mark |
| Representation | For holders domiciled outside the EEA, an EEA-based representative is mandatory in all proceedings other than filing and paying the application fee | Generally not required; if EUIPO issues a provisional refusal, an EEA-based representative must be appointed |
| Fees and currency | Paid to EUIPO in euros (EUR) | Turkish lira to TÜRKPATENT, Swiss francs (CHF) to WIPO |
| Language | First language: one of the EU languages; second language: one of EUIPO's five | English, French or Spanish, plus a second language from the EUIPO languages |
| Dependence on the Turkish mark | None | Yes for the first 5 years; if the basic mark falls, it can be transformed into a direct EU trade mark application |
| Opposition period | 3 months from publication | 3 months starting 1 month after republication by EUIPO |

The practical rule is this: if you target only the EU, or your Turkish mark carries opposition risk, a direct filing stands out; if you target other Madrid member markets alongside the EU and your Turkish mark is solid, designating the EU through Madrid comes to the fore.

## How Much Does EU Trademark Registration Cost in 2026?

According to EUIPO's fee page, the basic fee for an online application is EUR 850 for one class; EUR 50 is added for the second class and EUR 150 for the third and each subsequent class. Here is how the fees break down by number of classes:

- One class: EUR 850
- Two classes: 850 + 50 = EUR 900
- Three classes: 850 + 50 + 150 = EUR 1,050
- Each additional class: EUR 150

The basic fee must be paid within one month of the application reaching EUIPO; EUIPO does not take the application into examination until the fee is paid. A party wishing to oppose someone else's application pays an opposition fee of EUR 320. The current amount of the renewal fee should be checked on EUIPO's fee page before filing. Official fees do not include a representative's or attorney's service fee.

The cost of the Madrid route is structured differently: under TÜRKPATENT's 2026 fee schedule, forwarding the international application to WIPO costs TRY 3,850 (item 02.01.19), while WIPO's basic fee and the fee for designating the EU are paid in Swiss francs and calculated with WIPO's fee calculator. When comparing the two routes, factor in the other countries you are targeting; Madrid's advantage only becomes clear in a multi-country plan.

## How Does the Process Work From Filing to Registration?

For a direct filing, the process consists of the application, examination on formalities and absolute grounds, publication, a three-month opposition period and registration. Step by step:

1. **Application:** You enter the representation of the mark, the applicant's details, the two languages and the list of goods and services. The list can be drawn from EUIPO's database of pre-accepted terms.
2. **Payment:** The basic fee is paid within one month. Applications paid at the time of filing that use pre-accepted terms can benefit from EUIPO's accelerated Fast Track processing.
3. **Formalities examination:** If any information required for a filing date is missing, EUIPO sets a two-month time limit that cannot be extended; the filing date becomes the day on which all mandatory information, including payment, is complete.
4. **Absolute grounds examination:** EUIPO examines distinctiveness, descriptiveness and similar grounds for refusal; an application that passes this stage is published.
5. **Publication and opposition:** Holders of earlier rights can file an opposition within three months of publication.
6. **Registration:** If no opposition is filed, or if the opposition is rejected, the mark is registered and the registration is published.

### Does EUIPO examine similar marks on its own initiative?

No. EUIPO does not examine relative grounds for refusal, such as conflicts with earlier marks, ex officio; they come up only through oppositions by third parties or cancellation proceedings after registration. In Turkey, by contrast, TÜRKPATENT treats an identical or indistinguishably similar earlier mark for identical or same-type goods and services as an ex officio ground for refusal (Article 5(1)(ç) of Industrial Property Law No. 6769, known as the SMK).

This difference means the burden of searching in the EU lies with the applicant: EUIPO's silence does not mean the way is clear, because oppositions arrive only after publication. On request, EUIPO prepares a free EU search report, but that report shows earlier EU trade mark applications and international registrations designating the EU; it does not cover the national marks of the member states.

## What Is the Representation Rule for Turkish Businesses?

An applicant with no domicile or place of business in the European Economic Area (EEA) must be represented by a representative established in the EEA in all proceedings other than filing an EU trade mark application and paying the application fee. Companies established in Turkey and people living in Turkey fall within this rule.

In practice, this means that even if you file the application yourself, you need a representative when EUIPO sends a deficiency or refusal letter, when you respond to an opposition, or when you oppose someone else's application; EUIPO sets a time limit for appointing one. When the EU is designated through Madrid, a representative is generally not needed; if EUIPO issues a provisional refusal, or direct correspondence with the Office becomes necessary, the normal representation rules apply, and if no representative is appointed in time, the refusal is confirmed to the extent notified.

## What Are the Advantage and the Risk of the Unitary System?

The unitary system concentrates protection in one file, and it concentrates the risk there too: an obstacle arising in one member state can stop the application for the whole EU.

### An obstacle in one country stops the whole application

The obstacle comes in two forms. The first is an absolute ground: according to EUIPO, an application is refused even if the ground for refusal exists in only part of the EU; it is enough for the mark to be descriptive, or to lack distinctive character, in just one of the EU's official languages. A name that looks invented in Turkish, say "Lunavo," causes a problem if it matches a word describing the goods in one of the EU languages (the name is an example). The second is a relative obstacle: an opposition based on an earlier trademark right valid in only one member state can block registration of the EU trade mark.

### How can conversion rescue protection?

Conversion means turning a refused EU trade mark application, or an EU trade mark that has ceased to exist, into national applications in the member states where the ground for refusal does not apply. The resulting national applications keep the filing date of the EU trade mark application. An application refused because of an earlier right in a single country, for example, can live on in the other countries with the same date; from then on, however, each country is a separate file, a separate fee and a separate set of deadlines.

The Madrid route has an additional rescue tool of its own: if the Turkish basic mark falls within the first five years and the EU designation is cancelled as a result, the international registration can be transformed into a direct EU trade mark application.

## What Should You Check Before Filing?

Because an EU trade mark carries the risk of 27 countries in a single file, preparation before filing should be broader than for a Turkish application. A checklist:

- **EU-wide search:** Screen for similar records using EUIPO's eSearch plus and TMview, which pools national offices; we explain what these tools cover in our guide to [international trademark search](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/international-trademark-search-databases).
- **Language and meaning check:** Check whether the mark has a descriptive, negative or common meaning in the main EU languages.
- **A clear and precise list:** EUIPO states that broad lists significantly increase the likelihood of opposition and cancellation, so build the list around your real business plan. You will find the method in our article on [how to draft a goods and services list](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/drafting-the-goods-and-services-list).
- **Priority calendar:** In an EU application filed within six months of your first Turkish application, you can claim priority under the Paris Convention; EUIPO also allows the claim to be added within two months after filing. Details are in our article on the [priority right](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/priority-right-in-trademark-registration).
- **Seniority:** If you hold the same mark registered in a member state, you can claim the seniority of that registration in the EU trade mark and keep your earlier rights even if you do not renew the national registration.
- **Single-country alternative:** If you sell to only one EU country, a national application may suit you better; we compare the options for Germany in our article on [trademark registration in Germany](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/trademark-registration-in-germany).

## Is the United Kingdom Covered by the EU Trademark After Brexit?

No. The United Kingdom has not been covered by EU trade marks since 2021; an EU trade mark application filed today gives no protection in the UK. A company selling to both the EU and the UK needs two separate registrations: an EU trade mark and a UK trade mark.

A separate UK application can be filed directly with the national office or through Madrid. Since the two registrations will have different renewal dates, the portfolio calendar should be set up accordingly. We cover how the UK system works in our guide to [trademark registration in the UK](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/trademark-registration-in-the-uk).

After registration, an EU trade mark lasts 10 years. EUIPO sends the owner and the representative a renewal notice six months before expiry, but the absence of that notice does not prevent the registration from expiring. Tracking renewal is therefore the owner's responsibility.

## Conclusion: Key Takeaways

- EU trademark registration gives you a unitary right valid in 27 member states through a single EUIPO filing; protection lasts 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely.
- An EU trade mark is obtained directly from EUIPO or by designating the EU in a Madrid application based on your Turkish mark; the Madrid route carries a five-year dependency on the Turkish mark.
- In 2026, the online filing fee is EUR 850 for one class, EUR 50 for the second class and EUR 150 for each further class; payment must be made within one month.
- EUIPO does not examine similar marks on its own initiative; oppositions arrive within three months of publication, so searching must happen before filing.
- Applicants domiciled outside the EEA must be represented by an EEA-based representative in all proceedings other than filing and paying the fee.

### Shall we choose the right route to the EU market together?

Working with trademark attorneys authorized before TÜRKPATENT, Webx handles the [EU trademark registration](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/hizmetler/uluslararasi-marka-tescil) process, from choosing between a direct EUIPO filing and designating the EU through Madrid to the pre-filing search and drafting the list, and it coordinates with EEA-based representatives for proceedings before EUIPO. Share your mark, your target countries and, if you have one, your Turkish application number through our [contact page](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/iletisim), and we will work out the right route with you.

## Sources

- [EUIPO — Benefits of registering an EU trade mark](https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en/trade-marks/before-applying/benefits-of-registering) (euipo.europa.eu) — Unitary character, 27 member states, 10-year protection
- [EUIPO — EU trade mark fees and payments](https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en/trade-marks/before-applying/fees-payments) (euipo.europa.eu) — Online filing: EUR 850 (1 class), EUR 50 (2nd class), EUR 150 (each class from the 3rd); payment within 1 month
- [EUIPO — Opposition to an EU trade mark](https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en/trade-marks/after-applying/opposition) (euipo.europa.eu) — 3-month opposition period from publication; opposition fee EUR 320
- [WIPO — The Madrid System (international trademark registration)](https://www.wipo.int/en/web/madrid-system) (wipo.int) — Designating the EU through the Madrid System

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can an EU trademark application be filed in Turkish?

No. Turkish is not one of the official languages of the European Union, so the application must be filed in one of the EU languages. You must also choose a second language, different from the first, from the five EUIPO languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish). That second language may later be used in opposition and cancellation proceedings brought against your mark.

### Does my company have to be established in Europe to obtain an EU trademark?

No. A company established in Turkey or a person living in Turkey can apply for an EU trade mark. The difference lies in representation: an applicant domiciled outside the European Economic Area may file the application and pay the application fee alone, but must be represented by a representative established in the EEA in all later proceedings.

### What happens if an EU trademark is not used after registration?

According to EUIPO, an EU trade mark that has not been used for five years or more after registration can be revoked. That is why the list should be built around the goods and services you will actually sell, and dated evidence of use in the EU market, such as invoices, catalogs and advertising, should be kept. An unnecessarily broad list also raises the risk of opposition and cancellation.

### If my mark is registered in Germany, how does that help with an EU trademark?

For the same mark registered in a member state, you can claim seniority in the EU trade mark for the same goods and services. The claim is made within two months of filing or after registration. Seniority preserves your earlier rights in that country even if the national registration is not renewed. Seniority can be claimed only for registered marks, not for applications.

### How do you oppose someone else's EU trademark application?

An opposition is filed with EUIPO within three months of the application's publication, and the opposition fee is EUR 320. The basis may be an earlier EU trade mark or an earlier right valid in just one member state. An opponent domiciled outside the European Economic Area must be represented by a representative established in the EEA in these proceedings.

### Does an EU trademark cover Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom?

No. An EU trade mark is valid only in the 27 member states of the European Union; Switzerland and Norway are not EU members, and the United Kingdom has not been covered by EU trade marks since 2021. To protect a mark in those countries, you file a separate national application in each or, insofar as they are Madrid members, designate them separately through the Madrid System.

### If my Turkish mark is refused, is my EU protection affected?

It depends on the route. An EU trade mark application filed directly with EUIPO is independent of the Turkish mark and is not affected. When the EU is designated through Madrid, however, the international registration depends on the Turkish basic mark for the first five years; if the basic mark falls, EU protection falls too. In that case, the international registration can be transformed into a direct EU trade mark application within the time limit.

## Related Resources

- [International Trademark Registration](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/hizmetler/uluslararasi-marka-tescil): Describes trademark protection abroad via the Madrid Protocol (WIPO), the EU trade mark (EUTM) and direct national filings.
- [Trademark Search](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/hizmetler/marka-sorgulama): Provides a free tool and method for checking whether a brand name is registrable by searching similar and registered trademarks.
- [What Is International Trademark Registration and the Madrid Protocol?](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/international-trademark-registration-madrid-protocol): International trademark registration from Turkey: how the Madrid Protocol works, the TRY 3,850 TÜRKPATENT fee, the 5-year dependency and which route to choose.
- [Trademark Registration in Germany: A Guide for Turkish Exporters](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/trademark-registration-in-germany): How to register a trademark in Germany: the DPMA process, fees, opposition period, comparison with EUTM and strategy tips for Turkish exporters.
- [Trademark Registration in the UK: The New Landscape After Brexit](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/trademark-registration-in-the-uk): How to register a trademark in the UK: the UKIPO process, EU trademark status after Brexit, the opposition period, and a strategy for Turkish exporters.
- [International Trademark Search: WIPO, TMview and National Databases](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/international-trademark-search-databases): Guide to international trademark search: what WIPO Global Brand Database, Madrid Monitor, TMview, EUIPO, USPTO, UKIPO, DPMA and CNIPA show, and their limits.
- [What Is the Priority Right? The Priority Advantage in Trademark Registration](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/priority-right-in-trademark-registration): What is priority right in trademark registration? The six-month Paris Convention window, exhibition priority, and international filing planning.
- [Madrid Protocol Member Countries: Where Can You Register a Trademark?](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/madrid-protocol-member-countries): Madrid Protocol member countries: 117 contracting parties per WIPO, a region-by-region table, key markets outside Madrid and 2026 filing fees from Turkey.