Japan Trademark Filing Fee: Complete Cost Breakdown for Foreign Businesses (2026)

Quick Answer

Filing fee: ¥12,000 for 1 class; +¥8,600 per additional class
Registration fee (10-year): ¥32,900 per class
Total JPO fees (1 class, 10-year): ¥44,900
Attorney fees (BrandAgent): ¥25,000 + tax at filing + ¥25,000 + tax at registration (per class)
All JPO fees are fixed by law — they are the same at every firm

Japan trademark filing fee is one of the first things foreign businesses ask about before entering the Japanese market. This guide breaks down every official JPO cost and explains what you actually pay — and when.

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What is the Japan Trademark Filing Fee

The Japan trademark filing fee is the official fee paid to the Japan Patent Office (JPO) when you submit a trademark application. It is separate from the registration fee, which is paid later if your application is approved.

Key points:

The filing fee is non-refundable — it is not returned if your application is refused
The fee is set by Japanese law and is identical at every trademark firm
It is paid at the time of filing — before examination begins
The amount scales with the number of Nice Classes included in the application

Japan Trademark Filing Fee: Full Cost Table

Item	Amount
Filing fee — 1 class	¥12,000
Filing fee — 2 classes	¥20,600
Filing fee — 3 classes	¥29,200
Filing fee — 4 classes	¥37,800
Each additional class beyond 1	+¥8,600
Registration fee (5-year, per class)	¥17,200
Registration fee (10-year, per class)	¥32,900
Total JPO fees — 1 class, 10-year	¥44,900
Total JPO fees — 2 classes, 10-year	¥86,400

Attorney and Additional Fees

Service	Fee (excl. tax)
BrandAgent filing fee (per class)	¥25,000
BrandAgent registration fee (per class)	¥25,000
Preliminary trademark search	Free
Office action response	¥25,000
Renewal fee (10-year, per class)	¥43,600 (JPO fee)

Trademark Filing Process

Clearance search — Confirm no identical or similar marks exist in your target classes (BrandAgent: free)
Select classes — Choose the Nice Classification classes covering your goods and services
Prepare application — Your attorney drafts the application in Japanese with specific goods/services descriptions
Pay filing fee and submit — Filing fee paid at submission; application number and filing date confirmed
JPO examination — 6–12 months for substantive review
Office action (if any) — Attorney responds within 3 months
Pay registration fee — Paid within 30 days of notice of allowance
Certificate issued — Registration valid for 10 years

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Timeline

Stage	Duration
Filing fee paid — application submitted	Day 1
Formal examination	1–2 months
Substantive examination	6–12 months
Registration fee paid — upon allowance	~10–13 months
Certificate issued	~10–14 months

Common Mistakes

Confusing filing fee with registration fee — The filing fee is paid at application; the registration fee is paid separately upon approval. Both are required
Choosing 5-year over 10-year registration — The 10-year option (¥32,900/class) is more cost-efficient than paying the 5-year fee twice or renewing early
Filing too many classes — Each extra class adds ¥8,600 (filing) + ¥32,900 (10-year registration). Only file classes you will genuinely use
Assuming attorney fees are included in JPO fees — JPO fees and attorney fees are completely separate. Always confirm the total cost in writing before proceeding
Not budgeting for office actions — Approximately 30–40% of applications receive an office action. Budget ¥25,000 in attorney fees as a contingency

FAQ

Is the Japan trademark filing fee refundable?

No. The filing fee paid to the JPO is non-refundable regardless of the examination outcome. This is why a clearance search before filing is essential — it minimises the risk of a refused application and lost fees.

What is the difference between the filing fee and the registration fee?

The filing fee (¥12,000 for 1 class) is paid when you submit the application. The registration fee (¥32,900 for 10-year, 1 class) is paid later — only after the JPO approves your application. Both are official JPO fees paid separately.

Do attorney fees vary by firm?

Yes. Official JPO fees are fixed by law and are the same everywhere. Attorney fees vary by firm. BrandAgent charges ¥25,000 (excl. tax) per class at filing and ¥25,000 per class at registration. Always confirm the full fee structure — including office action costs — before engaging any firm.

How much does it cost to file a trademark in Japan in total?

For 1 class with a 10-year registration term: JPO filing fee ¥12,000 + registration fee ¥32,900 + BrandAgent attorney fees ¥50,000 (excl. tax) = approximately ¥94,900 + tax on attorney fees all-in.

Conclusion

Japan trademark filing fees are transparent and fixed by law. Budget for both the filing fee and the registration fee — they are paid at different stages of the process.

Filing fee: ¥12,000 (1 class) — paid at application, non-refundable
Registration fee: ¥32,900 (10-year, 1 class) — paid upon approval
Total JPO fees: ¥44,900 (1 class, 10-year)
Total all-in with BrandAgent: approx. ¥94,900 + tax on attorney fees

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