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Trademark renewal United Kingdom

Understanding the UK trademark system

A registered trade mark gives its owner exclusive rights over distinctive logos, words or other signs for the goods and services listed in the registration. In the United Kingdom, trade marks are governed by the Trade Marks Act 1994 and administered by the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO). Like EU and international registrations, a UK trade mark does not last indefinitely; the initial term is ten years from the application date. To keep a mark on the register and maintain exclusive rights, the owner must renew the registration every 10 years. Failure to renew on time can lead to removal from the register, loss of legal protection and the risk that competitors file similar marks.

A trade mark’s ten‑year term applies to both national UK marks and comparable UK trade marks that were created after the EU–UK separation (e.g., EU marks converted into UK rights). Official UKIPO guidance confirms that “trade marks must be renewed every 10 years” and that renewal can occur within the six months before expiry and up to six months after.

How long does a UK trade mark last?

Trade marks registered in the UK remain valid for 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed indefinitely for additional ten‑year periods. The UKIPO’s trade mark timeline states that once a mark is registered, “Your trade mark will last 10 years – you can renew your trade mark every 10 years”. Because a registered trade mark is a valuable commercial asset, renewing the registration on time ensures uninterrupted protection and avoids the costs and risks of refiling.

Visual renewal timeline

The following infographic summarises the UK trade mark renewal timeline. It depicts the 10‑year registration period, the six‑month renewal window before expiry, the six‑month grace period after expiry with a late fee, the point of removal from the register, the additional six months available for restoration via TM13, and the final point when rights are irretrievably lost.

Renewal fees and cost structure

The cost of renewing a trade mark in the UK depends on the number of classes of goods and services covered. Official guidance from GOV.UK sets out the fees:

Renewal action	Official fee	Source
Renewal of trade mark registration (first class)	£200	The UK government’s renewal page states that renewal costs £200 for the first class of goods/services.
Each additional class	£50	The same guidance notes that an extra class costs £50.
Late renewal fee	£50	If you renew in the six‑month grace period, a late fee of £50 is added.
Restoration fee (TM13)	£100	When a registration is removed, the TM13 form requires a restoration fee of £100 in addition to the renewal fees.

All fee‑bearing forms must be accompanied by payment. Payments may be made by debit/credit card via the UKIPO’s secure fee website, deposit account, cheque, or bank transfer. Form TM11’s payment section instructs applicants to use the online payment system and provide a 10‑character reference code and lists bank details for transfers. Businesses should ignore invoices from third‑party companies; the government warns that fraudulent companies may send fake renewal invoices and urges applicants not to pay them.

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 United Kingdom online

Pocket IP offers trademark renewal services in United Kingdom.

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

Standard renewal window

6 month period before expiry

The UKIPO opens the renewal period six months before the 10‑year anniversary. During this time, the proprietor can pay the regular renewal fee to extend protection for another decade. The official renewal guidance explains that you can renew a trade mark “in the 6 months before it expires”. Businesses often diarise the nine‑and‑a‑half‑year mark to ensure timely renewal.

Grace period

up to 6 months after expiry

If the renewal deadline is missed, the UKIPO allows a six‑month grace period after the expiry date. Renewal is still possible in this period, but a late‑renewal fee of £50 is charged in addition to the standard renewal fee. The government’s renewal page states that you can renew “up to 6 months afterwards” and that a late renewal fee is payable.

Removal and restoration

6 months after removal

A trade mark that is not renewed by the end of the six‑month grace period is removed from the register. Once removed, the owner’s rights lapse and the registration ceases to protect the mark. However, the UKIPO offers one more opportunity to restore the registration: a restoration period lasting six months from the date the mark was removed (which equates to up to one year after the original expiry). To restore a removed trade mark, the proprietor must file form TM13 and pay both the renewal fee and a £100 restoration fee. The applicant must also submit a written statement explaining why the renewal was missed, and the UKIPO will only reinstate the mark if satisfied with the explanation. If the mark is not restored within this period, the only remaining option is to file a new trade mark application, risking loss of priority and potential conflicts.

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FAQ

Do I have to prove that I’m using my UK trademark to renew it?

No. The UK does not require proof of use for renewal. The International Comparative Legal Guide notes that proof of use is not required for registration or renewal. However, a mark that is not used for five consecutive years can be revoked for non‑use, so it is prudent to maintain evidence of use.

Do I need a UK attorney or representative to renew my trademark?

You do not always need an attorney, but you must provide a valid address for service in the UK, Gibraltar, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Overseas owners often appoint a UK trade mark attorney or use a digital renewal service to handle communications, calculate fees and ensure compliance. A representative is particularly important if your mark may face opposition or if you need to restore a removed mark.

Do I need a local representative in the UK?

Foreign applicants must provide an address for service in the UK, Gibraltar, or the Channel Islands. If you do not have such an address, you should appoint a UK‑based representative. A valid address ensures you receive IPO correspondence; without it, your application may be treated as withdrawn.

Do I need to prove use when applying or renewing trademark in the UK?

No evidence of use is required to file or renew a trade mark. However, if the mark is not used in the UK on the registered goods or services within five years of registration or for any continuous five‑year period, it may be revoked. Keep records of use to defend against non‑use challenges.

How do I know that my UK trademark has been renewed?

After processing your renewal, the UKIPO will send you a written confirmation. You can also check the updated expiry date using the UKIPO’s “Track a trademark” service or through IP management platforms, which synchronise with the UKIPO database. Always retain confirmation receipts and update your IP records.

Is a UK trademark valid in Europe?

No, a UK trademark is not automatically valid in Europe after Brexit. A separate application must be submitted to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in order to protect a trademark in the EU.

What happens if I forget to renew my UK trademark on time?

If you miss the initial deadline but file within the six‑month grace period, you can still renew by paying the late fee. After the grace period, the trademark is removed from the register. You have a further six months (up to one year after expiry) to restore the mark using form TM13 and paying an additional £100 restoration fee along with the renewal fees. You must provide a statement explaining the delay, and restoration is at the UKIPO’s discretion. If not restored, you must submit a new application.

When should I renew my UK trademark?

You can renew up to six months before the expiry date and up to six months afterwards. Renewing early avoids the risk of late fees and ensures continuous protection. A late renewal filed within six months after expiry incurs a £50 surcharge.