An EU trademark (EUTM) is a single registration that gives you exclusive rights to your brand across all 27 EU member states. One application, one set of fees, one certificate — and enforceability from Lisbon to Helsinki. This is the step-by-step process to get one in 2026.

Step 1 — Clearance search

Before you spend a euro on filing, run a clearance search across the EUIPO register and national registers to confirm your mark isn't already taken or confusingly similar to an existing one. Skipping this step is the single most expensive mistake in trademark law — filing a mark that conflicts with an earlier registration triggers an opposition you will almost certainly lose, and you forfeit the government fees.

Step 2 — Define your specification (the 'classes')

Trademarks are registered for specific goods and services, grouped into 45 numbered 'Nice classes'. You pay per class. Choose too few, and competitors can register the same name for adjacent products. Choose too many and you overpay and open yourself to non-use cancellations after five years. The specification should mirror your actual business plan for the next 3–5 years.

Step 3 — File the application

The application is filed online at EUIPO. You provide the mark itself (word, logo or combination), the applicant's details, the specification, and payment of the government fees (€850 for one class, €50 for the second, €150 per class after that).

Step 4 — Formalities and examination

EUIPO checks that the application is complete and that the mark meets absolute requirements — it must be distinctive, not descriptive, not deceptive and not contrary to public order. This stage takes 1–2 months.

Step 5 — Publication and opposition window

If examination is clean, your mark is published in the EU Trade Marks Bulletin. Third parties then have 3 months to file an opposition — usually because they own an earlier similar mark. A well-run clearance search dramatically reduces the risk here.

Step 6 — Registration certificate

If no opposition is filed (or you win any that are filed), EUIPO registers the mark and issues the certificate. Total time: typically 4–6 months from filing. The registration lasts 10 years and is renewable indefinitely.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Filing without a clearance search
  • Specification too broad (invites oppositions) or too narrow (leaves gaps)
  • Filing a purely descriptive mark that will be refused as non-distinctive
  • Waiting until after launch — first-to-file rules mean speed matters

How Sayadi Law can help

At Sayadi Law we specialise in intellectual property protection tailored to your industry. We register trademarks, patents and designs internationally, monitor for infringement, and draft the contracts that turn your IP into a durable business asset. Our fixed-fee packages give you predictable pricing and direct access to the lawyer handling your file — no billable-hour surprises.

If you'd like to discuss your IP strategy, send us a message via our contact form or email us at info@sayadilaw.com to schedule a consultation.