Trademark Registration in France: Fees & 2027 Guide 🇫🇷

Trademark registration in France costs €190 online for one class, plus €40 for each additional class under the INPI fee schedule in force from 27 April 2026. A French national trademark protects the mark in France; an EU trade mark filed with EUIPO starts at €850 for one class and covers all EU Member States as one unitary right. This guide explains how to register a trademark in France, the national filing process and fees, and how to compare French and EU-wide protection. Recheck official fees before a 2027 application.

🇫🇷 What does a French trademark registration protect?

A French national trademark registration gives its owner an exclusive right in France for the sign and the goods or services listed in the application. Applicants may seek protection for a word mark, logo, or another eligible sign that can be represented clearly in the register. Registration does not automatically protect a brand in other countries. If your plans include several EU markets, compare a French application with a European Union trade mark (EUTM) before choosing a route.

Protection is defined by the mark itself and the goods and services claimed. Those goods and services are organised into Nice classes. Choosing classes is a business and legal decision: a list that is too narrow may miss important activities, while an unnecessarily broad list can increase costs and invite objections. The INPI advises applicants to prepare their list carefully, because an application generally cannot be expanded after filing.

💶 The cost of trademark registration in France vs the EU

The INPI’s published filing tariff in force from 27 April 2026 sets the individual French trademark application fee at €190 for one class and €40 for each additional class. A collective or guarantee mark has a different tariff. EUIPO’s current online fee for an individual EU trademark is €850 for one class, €50 for the second, then €150 per additional class. These are official office fees only; representation, clearance searches and other professional services are separate.

*Illustration only: this multiplies the current official one-class fee by 25%, assuming a hypothetical 75% reimbursement. SME FUND 2027 is unconfirmed. Do not rely on a grant or file before checking the official call’s rules, dates, eligible costs, limits and whether approval is required in advance.

Compare this guide with our country pages for Belgium, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Denmark and Croatia.

🔎 Search earlier marks before filing in France

Search for identical and similar marks before submitting an application. Consider spelling, pronunciation, meaning, visual impression and overlap between goods and services. Search the French National Trademark Register and relevant EU and international records. A search is a risk-screening step, not a guarantee of registration or freedom to operate.

The INPI examines applications and publishes them in the Bulletin officiel de la propriété industrielle (BOPI). Earlier rights holders may oppose an application during the statutory period. An opposition or an office action can delay or prevent registration, so assess likely conflicts and make a reasoned filing plan. Read the INPI’s official key steps for filing a trademark, then search INPI Data, TMview and the EUIPO availability-search guidance.

📝 How to register a trademark in France: filing steps

1. Confirm the applicant and owner

Decide whether the mark should be owned by an individual, company or other eligible organisation. Use the legal name and contact information that should appear in the register. Check ownership before filing: transferring a mark later may require paperwork, fees and updates to the register.

2. Choose the sign you want to protect

Identify whether the application covers a word, logo, combined word-and-device sign or another registrable type. Submit a clear representation that matches the mark for which protection is sought. If you intend to protect a word independently of its graphic styling, assess whether a word-mark filing is appropriate; a logo registration may protect the exact visual version instead.

3. Define the goods and services

Write a clear list of the goods and services for which the mark will be used and classify them under the Nice Classification. Check official classification tools and accepted wording. Do not add goods or services simply to “cover everything”; a focused specification is easier to manage and can help limit exposure to objections.

4. File online with the INPI and pay the fee

Submit the French application through the INPI’s online procedures portal. Review the applicant details, representation of the mark, list of goods and services, and claimed priority before paying. The published 2026 tariff is €190 for an individual mark in one class and €40 for each additional class. Verify the current tariff and instructions on the INPI applicant and cost page and the INPI tariff page before a 2027 filing.

5. Monitor examination and publication

Watch for notices from the INPI and respond by the deadline if it requests a correction or raises an issue. Once published in the BOPI, the application enters a two-month opposition period. The INPI’s opposition guidance explains the process. If an opposition is filed, the parties exchange arguments and evidence through the online procedure; the outcome may affect some or all of the goods and services claimed.

🇫🇷 French trademark or EU trademark: which route fits?

A French national application may be appropriate when protection is needed mainly in France. An EUTM may suit a business seeking one registration across EU markets, but it is a unitary right: an earlier right in one Member State can create a problem for the application as a whole. Territorial reach alone does not determine the best filing strategy; costs, prior rights, planned markets and the consequences of a refusal should all be considered.

There is no universally best route. A clearance review can help identify earlier rights and clarify the geographic scope you need. Read our trademark risk assessment guide before selecting a filing path, and compare our guides to Estonia and Finland.

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming a French registration also protects a brand in Belgium, Germany or elsewhere.
• Filing without checking French, EU and international earlier rights.
• Choosing classes without reviewing the precise goods and services wording.
• Using an applicant name that does not match the intended brand owner.
• Assuming a filing fee includes professional clearance or representation.
• Missing an INPI notice or the two-month opposition period after publication.
• Planning around SME FUND 2027 as though a reimbursement has already been approved.

❓ Frequently asked questions

How much does trademark registration in France cost?

The INPI tariff in force from 27 April 2026 lists €190 for an individual French trademark application in one class and €40 for each additional class. Check the official INPI tariff before filing because amounts can change.

Does a French trademark protect my brand in the whole EU?

No. A French national registration protects the mark in France. An EU trade mark is a separate application that provides unitary protection throughout EU Member States, subject to its rules and potential conflicts.

How long does trademark registration in France take?

Timing depends on examination, publication and whether an opposition or office action arises. Following BOPI publication, third parties have two months to oppose. Check your INPI file for deadlines and current status rather than relying on a fixed estimate.

Can a foreign company file a trademark in France?

Applicants may file directly or through a representative, subject to the INPI’s applicant and representation rules. Check the INPI portal for the requirements that apply to the applicant’s domicile or establishment.

Can I add goods or services after filing?

Do not assume that you can expand the list after filing. Prepare the specification carefully; an additional application may be needed for goods or services that were not included.

Will SME FUND 2027 refund 75% of the French trademark fee?

That has not been officially confirmed. The table’s 75% example is arithmetic only, not an assurance of funding. Any future grant would depend on the official programme rules, eligible costs, application timing, caps, budget and approval.

🇫🇷 Summary: trademark registration in France

Trademark registration in France currently costs €190 online for one class, plus €40 for each additional class under the INPI tariff effective 27 April 2026. A French national registration covers France; an EU trade mark starts at €850 online for one class and provides unitary EU coverage. Search earlier rights, define goods and services carefully, monitor INPI notices, and recheck prices before filing in 2027. SME FUND 2027 remains unconfirmed, so any 75% reimbursement shown here is only a hypothetical scenario. This article provides general information and is not legal advice.

Official references: INPI official fee tariff, applicable 27 April 2026 · INPI applicant and trademark cost guidance · INPI filing steps · INPI opposition procedure · INPI Data register · EUIPO fees and payments · TMview search.