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Trademark renewal South Africa

In South Africa, every 10 years a trademark should be renewed, otherwise the legal rights on it will be lost.

The 10-year validity term is calculated from the application date.

A trademark can be renewed an unlimited number of times based on payment of the fee and submission of the relevant request during the last 6 months of the certificate's validity.

If the deadline is missed, an additional 6-month period is provided (grace period). In this case, the amount of the fee increases for each month the deadline is missed.

If the rights to a trademark expire, other persons may apply for similar designations without restrictions.

Foreigners must carry out all trademark registration activities through a licensed South Africatrademark attorney.

There is no need to provide evidence of using a trademark during the registration or renewal procedures.

Costs of renewing a South African trademark

CIPC publishes a schedule of official fees. For trademarks, the TM5 renewal fee is R 260 per class. If the renewal is filed within one month after the expiration date, a late‑renewal penalty of R 48 is added. Renewals filed after the first month but within the six‑month grace period still incur the penalty. Should the mark be removed for non‑payment, a restoration fee of R 145 is payable in addition to the renewal fee. Professional service providers and attorneys will charge additional fees for preparing and filing the renewal; these vary depending on the firm.

Service	Official fee (ZAR)
Renewal of trademark registration (TM5) per class	R 260
Additional fee for late renewal (within one month after expiry and during the six‑month grace period)	R 48
Restoration fee for a mark removed for non‑payment	R 145

Note: The official fees are charged per class. Because South Africa uses single‑class registrations, the total renewal cost depends on how many separate registrations are maintained.

The commission of Pocket IP for trademark application service is 200 USD per trademark.

Payments are accepted in USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, and PLN (at the client’s request). Both bank payment and card payment are available.

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Advantages of trademark registration with Pocket IP

With Pocket IP all trademark renewal procedure takes a few minutes and a couple of clicks.

The costs for the procedure are transparent and shown straight away.

Current trademark status and information are shown immediately for free. The status of a trademark could be checked on your own 24/7.

Add a trademark to the list of your objects and receive a notification when the trademark renewal procedure becomes available and never miss the deadlines.

How to renew a trademark in South Africa online

Pocket IP offers trademark renewal services in South Africa.

Firstly, add the information on your trademark to our service.

The service will offer the option to request a renewal if a trademark is in a renewal period. The fees are calculated automatically according to the current exchange date.

For renewal of trademark, a simply signed POA is required, scanned copy (draft POA and instructions will be provided by service).

Trademark renewal timeline

6 months before expiration

Trademark renewal period is open

You may file a TM5 form and pay R 260 per class.

Expiration date

Last day to renew a trademark with a regular fee

After this, the mark’s status becomes unpaid.

1 month after expiration

Renewal remains possible for five further months (total six months).

6 months after expiration

Grace period to restore the rights on a trademark

If the renewal fee and penalty are not paid, the Registrar advertises the non‑payment.

7 months after expiration

Restoration requires a special application and an additional R 145 fee.

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FAQ

Do I need a South African attorney to renew my trademark?

If you are not resident in South Africa, you must appoint a local trademark attorney with an address for service to file the renewal. If your representative changes or you are not the recorded proprietor, you must file a power of attorney. For residents, the renewal can be filed directly through CIPC’s IPOnline portal.

How do I confirm that my trademark has been renewed in South Africa?

After the renewal fee is paid, CIPC updates the trademark register. The office sends written confirmation to the proprietor or their attorney, and the updated expiration date is published in the official records. Owners using professional services or docketing systems also receive confirmation through those platforms.

How do I know the renewal deadline in South Africa?

The expiration date appears on your trademark certificate and can be checked using CIPC’s public trademark search. The Registrar also sends a reminder before expiry. Many owners use docketing systems or attorney services to receive automated reminders.

Is evidence of use required for renewal in South Africa?

No. The renewal application does not require evidence that the mark has been used. However, if the mark is not used for five consecutive years, it may be cancelled for non‑use.

When should I renew my South African trademark?

CIPC allows renewals to be filed six months before the expiration date up to six months after the expiry. To avoid penalties, renew before the expiration date. Filing after the expiry incurs a R 48 penalty, and the renewal must be lodged within six months of expiry.

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