For overseas clients (individuals or enterprises) applying for trademark registration in China, preparing the required documents is a core link that directly affects the efficiency of application acceptance and the success rate. All documents must comply with the latest official requirements of China’s State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) and be prepared according to the type of overseas applicant. Below is a complete list of documents and detailed explanations, focusing exclusively on the needs of overseas entities.

I. Basic Required Documents (Mandatory for All Overseas Applicants)

1. Trademark Registration Application Form

Adopt the unified standard form issued by China’s State Intellectual Property Office. For online electronic applications, you can fill in the form directly on the official platform; for paper applications, print the form and sign/seal it as required.

Core content to fill in: Applicant information (name, overseas address, contact information), trademark image upload/pasting area, designated goods/services categories (based on the “International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Trademarks” (Nice Classification), totaling 45 categories), and application declarations.

Requirements: Information must be true, accurate and complete, with no alterations allowed. Enterprise applicants must affix the official seal of the enterprise, and individual applicants must confirm with a handwritten signature.

2. Trademark Image

Specifications: Size ranges from 5cm×5cm to 10cm×10cm, JPG format, clear resolution, and file size ≤ 2MB.

Color requirements: If no color is specified, submit a black-and-white draft (recommended, as free color matching is allowed for subsequent use); if a specific color is designated, submit 1 colored image + 1 black-and-white draft.

Requirements for special trademarks: For three-dimensional trademarks, submit at least three views; for sound trademarks, submit a staff notation/simplified notation + text description and sound sample; for foreign-language trademarks, the Chinese meaning must be indicated.

Prohibited situations: Blurred images, inclusion of sensitive elements, or similarity to already registered trademarks.

3. Applicant’s Identity Proof Documents

All documents must be in Chinese or accompanied by a certified Chinese translation (a key point for overseas applicants, which will be emphasized later).

① Overseas Enterprises/Institutions

A copy of the overseas business registration certificate/registration certificate (with the enterprise’s official seal affixed). The certificate must be valid and clearly show the enterprise’s name, registration address, and registration date.

② Overseas Individuals

A copy of the applicant’s passport (or other valid international identity documents, such as a Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan travel permit for applicants from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions), with the applicant’s handwritten signature on the copy.

Important Reminder: All foreign-language documents (including identity proof and business registration certificates) must be accompanied by a Chinese translation. The translation must be affixed with the official seal of a qualified translation agency or signed by the applicant to confirm its authenticity. Applications without a valid Chinese translation will be directly rejected by the trademark office.

II. Additional Documents for Entrusting an Agent

It is highly recommended for overseas clients to entrust a formally registered Chinese intellectual property agency (such as our company) to handle trademark registration. The following additional documents are required:

1. Trademark Agency Power of Attorney: Adopt the official standard form, signed/sealed by the applicant, clearly stating the entrusted matters, authority and term.

2. No additional notarization is required. The agency will assist in reviewing documents, submitting applications, following up on progress, and reducing the risk of rejection, which is particularly important for overseas clients who are not familiar with China’s trademark registration rules.

III. Supplementary Documents for Special Scenarios

1. Priority Application (International/Exhibition Priority)

① International Priority: If the trademark has been first applied for in a foreign country, within 6 months from the date of the first application, it is necessary to submit a priority declaration and a copy of the first application document (to be submitted within 3 months after the Chinese application).

② Exhibition Priority: If the trademark is first used on goods displayed at an international exhibition recognized by the Chinese government, within 6 months from the date of the exhibition, it is necessary to submit an exhibition certificate and relevant information about the exhibits.

2. Trademarks Involving Portraits/Copyright

① Using Others’ Portraits: Submit a power of attorney signed by the portrait right holder; if the portrait right holder has passed away, provide inheritance proof.

② Including Original Designs/Text: If the trademark contains original designs, text or works of art, it is recommended to provide a copyright registration certificate or creation proof to avoid infringement risks.

3. Collective Trademarks/Certification Trademarks

For overseas institutions applying for collective trademarks or certification trademarks, additional documents are required: the applicant’s qualification certificate (such as an industry association registration certificate) and the trademark use management rules (clearly specifying the user, usage conditions and violation handling methods).

IV. Common Mistakes of Overseas Applicants (Key Points to Avoid)

1. Ignoring Chinese Translation: The most common reason for application rejection is the lack of a valid Chinese translation for foreign-language documents. All overseas documents must be translated into Chinese and confirmed by signature or translation agency seal.

2. Non-compliant Trademark Image Specifications: Blurred images, incorrect sizes, or failure to submit a black-and-white draft for color-specified trademarks will result in the application being refused.

3. Random Category Selection: Overseas clients must accurately select goods/services categories according to the Nice Classification. One trademark can only be applied for one category; cross-category registration requires separate applications.

4. Missing Signature/Seal: The application form and power of attorney must be signed by individuals or sealed by enterprises; documents without a signature/seal will not be accepted.

5. Using Invalid Identity Proof: Expired passports, unregistered business registration certificates or incomplete documents will all lead to application rejection.

V. Our Assistance Advantages for Overseas Clients

As a formally registered intellectual property agency in China, we provide tailored full-process document review and agency services for overseas clients:

1. Free Document Pre-review: Assist overseas clients in checking for document format errors, omissions and translation inconsistencies to ensure the application is accepted at one time.

2. Professional Category Matching: Accurately match goods/services categories according to the client’s business scope to avoid blind spots in cross-category protection.

3. Real-Time Progress Tracking: After the application is submitted, the registration progress will be synchronized in real time in the website backend, allowing overseas clients to check at any time without repeated inquiries.

4. Multilingual Support: Provide English-Chinese translation guidance and consulting services to solve communication barriers for overseas clients.

If all documents are complete and compliant, the trademark office will issue an acceptance notice in about 1-2 months and complete the review in 9-12 months. If there is no rejection or objection during the review period, the trademark will be approved for registration with a validity period of 10 years (calculated from the date of approval).