🇧🇪 Trademark Registration in Belgium: Benelux Fees & Guide 2027

Quick answer: trademark registration in Belgium is handled through the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP). A Benelux application covers Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg together; it is not a Belgium-only national registration. BOIP’s online filing fee for an individual trademark is €244 for one class, plus €27 for a second class and €81 for each further class. An EU trade mark through EUIPO starts at €850 for one class and covers the EU as a unitary right.

🇧🇪 What does trademark registration in Belgium cover?

BOIP administers the Benelux trademark system. One registration can protect a mark across Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. This territorial scope is useful for businesses whose customers, distributors or planned use span the Benelux region. If you need protection only in Belgium, remember that the standard BOIP route still covers all three Benelux countries.

The alternative is an EU trade mark (EUTM) filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). An EUTM covers all EU Member States as one right. This broader scope can suit businesses planning EU-wide trade, but it also means an objection or earlier right affecting one part of the EU may create a problem for the application as a whole. Read our EU trademark registration guide before choosing a route.

💶 Benelux trademark fees compared with EUIPO

The table compares official online application fees for an individual mark in one class. It excludes professional fees, searches, opposition proceedings and other costs. Confirm the current tariff with the relevant office before filing.

The final row is arithmetic only, not a promise that these costs will qualify for a future grant. EUIPO’s 2026 SME Fund call has its own published terms; do not assume that the 2027 call will use the same reimbursement rate or eligible costs. See the official SME Fund information and wait for 2027 conditions.

🔎 Search the mark and choose the right classes

Before filing, check whether identical or similar signs already exist. Search spelling variants, pronunciations, translations and logos, and consider marks used for related goods or services. BOIP provides a trademark search service; TMview can help explore participating registers. A database search is a starting point, not a guarantee that a mark is available. Our trademark risk assessment guide explains pre-filing checks in more detail.

List the products and services for which the brand will genuinely be used. They are grouped under the WIPO Nice Classification. A class number alone does not define protection: the wording in the application matters. Review the specification carefully because adding goods or services after filing may require a new application.

📝 How to register a trademark in Belgium through BOIP

1. Choose the owner. Decide whether an individual or legal entity will own the mark and use the exact registered name and address.
2. Define the sign. Prepare the word, logo or other representation you want to protect. Consider whether a word mark and a logo should be filed separately.
3. Select territory and classes. Compare Benelux protection with an EUIPO application, then draft a focused list of goods and services.
4. Search earlier rights. Review BOIP, EUIPO and relevant international records; assess confusingly similar marks before investing in the filing.
5. Submit and monitor. File online with BOIP, pay the applicable fee and monitor correspondence, publication and any opposition deadlines.

BOIP explains its trademark procedure and current requirements. Timelines depend on the application and whether the office or a third party raises an issue. Respond to notices by their stated deadlines.

🇧🇪 Benelux or EUIPO: which should a business choose?

Consider where the business operates today, where it expects to expand, and whether earlier rights exist in those markets. A Benelux application can be a focused regional route; EUIPO can provide broader EU coverage with one filing. The EU route is not automatically safer or better: its unitary character can make a conflict in one Member State relevant to the entire application. Compare cost, territory and clearance risk together.

For country-specific comparisons, read our guides to Croatia and Austria. If you are preparing an EU-wide brand strategy, our guide to transferring an EU trademark between companies covers ownership changes.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Is there a Belgium-only trademark application?

The standard national route relevant to Belgium is the Benelux system administered by BOIP, which covers Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg together.

How much does trademark registration in Belgium cost?

BOIP’s online fee for an individual mark is €244 for one class, with additional class fees. Check BOIP’s current fee schedule before filing because fees can change.

Does a Benelux trademark protect my brand across the EU?

No. It covers the Benelux countries. For all EU Member States, consider an EUTM application through EUIPO.

Can I receive a 75% SME Fund 2027 reimbursement?

That is not confirmed. Any reimbursement depends on the published 2027 rules, eligibility, remaining budget and approval. The calculation above is illustrative only.

Can a trademark application be opposed?

Third parties may have procedural options to challenge an application. Search earlier rights, monitor the application and get advice if you receive an objection or opposition notice.

Official sources

• BOIP — trademarks
• BOIP — trademark fees
• EUIPO — fees and payments
• WIPO — Nice Classification
• BOIP — procedure

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Fees and procedures can change; verify them with BOIP and EUIPO before filing. No registration or grant is guaranteed.