What Documents Are Needed to Register a Chinese Trademark
Abstract: Incorrect document preparation is one of the main reasons for office actions and delayed application timelines for overseas applicants registering trademarks in China. This article sorts out the four essential documents for China trademark application: entity qualification documents, translated entity documents, trademark registration power of attorney, and trademark logo files, helping foreign applicants complete document preparation correctly at one time.
1. Entity Qualification Documents
Entity documents are used to verify the legal qualification of trademark applicants.
- Overseas Companies: Submit official company registration certificates to prove legal business status.
- Foreign Individuals: Provide valid personal identity documents such as passports.
Foreign-language original documents cannot be accepted directly by CNIPA. Complete Chinese translated versions are mandatory for submission.
2. Chinese Translation of Entity Documents
This is the most common mistake made by overseas applicants. All foreign-language entity materials submitted to the China National Intellectual Property Administration must be equipped with official and complete Chinese translations.
- All information including company name, registered address and certificate number must be strictly consistent with the original file. No free translation or abbreviation is allowed.
- Translations can be completed by authorized IP agencies without embassy certification. Incorrect translations will trigger official corrections and delay the application process.
- Translations can be completed by authorized IP agencies without embassy certification. Incorrect translations will trigger official corrections and delay the application process.
3. Trademark Registration Power of Attorney (POA)
According to Chinese IP regulations, overseas applicants without a local Chinese business address must authorize a licensed Chinese IP agency for trademark filing, which requires a signed trademark registration power of attorney.
- The POA must clearly state the applicant’s full name, address and authorized agency scope.
- Company applications require official company seal; individual applications require the applicant’s signature.
4. Trademark Logo File
Provide high-quality trademark files, including word marks, graphic marks and combined marks.
- File Standard: High-definition images without borders, watermarks or irrelevant decorations; maximum size: 10×10cm.
- Black & White Mark: Submitting a black-and-white logo allows unlimited color protection in future commercial use.
- Color Mark: A color logo submission is restricted to the exact colors in the filed image.
- For pure word trademarks, confirm the standard font to avoid limited protection scope caused by font differences.
Additional Tips
After preparing all required documents, confirm the specific goods and service subclasses for trademark protection. Complete and accurate documents effectively avoid official corrections and greatly improve trademark application efficiency and approval rate.
Keywords: China trademark application documents, overseas trademark registration, trademark power of attorney, trademark logo requirements, entity document translation