China’s trademark authority is moving its application, examination, adjudication and official correspondence processes fully online.
From 1 July 2026, trademark matters handled through agencies must, in principle, be filed electronically and online filings will benefit from reduced official fees.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Announcing authority | Trademark Office, China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) |
| Announcement date | 9 May 2026 |
| Effective date | 1 July 2026 |
| Transition period | 9 May 2026 – 30 June 2026 |
| What changes | Agency-handled trademark matters must, in principle, be filed electronically; paper filings no longer accepted |
| Filing channel | Trademark Online Service System (China Trademark Website) |
| Fee incentive | Online trademark change matters: free of charge. All other online filings: 10% discount. |
The Trademark Office of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has announced the full digitalisation of its trademark services. Under the announcement, the acceptance, examination, adjudication and official correspondence stages of trademark matters will move onto the Trademark Online Service System. CNIPA states that the change is intended to improve public trademark services, simplify procedures for applicants and trademark agencies, and increase examination efficiency.
What is changing on 1 July 2026?
From 1 July 2026, trademark matters handled through a trademark agency amust, in principle, be submitted electronically through the Trademark Online Service System. Paper documents will no longer be accepted for these matters. Where a trademark matter requires the submission of electronic evidence, that evidence must comply with the Guidelines for Submission of Electronic Evidence in Trademark Matters.
In practice, this means that agency-handled filings — which account for the bulk of trademark activity by foreign applicants and rights holders in China — will need to be routed through the online system as the default channel rather than on paper.
Are online trademark filings in China cheaper?
Yes. Applications submitted online through the Trademark Online Service System will receive fee reductions set in line with the relevant regulations of the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission. The headline incentives are:
• Online applications for trademark change matters are free of charge; and
• Other online trademark applications receive a 10% discount on the official fee.
The reductions apply to the official fees payable to CNIPA and are designed to encourage electronic filing during and after the transition. Applicants should consult the Trademark Fee Payment Guide on the China Trademark Website for the detailed, item-by-item fee schedule.
| Online trademark matter | Effect on official fee |
| Trademark change applications | No charge |
| All other trademark applications filed online | 10% reduction |
| Paper filings (where still permitted) | Standard fee, no reduction |
What is the transition period?
A transition period runs from the date of the announcement, 9 May 2026, through 30 June 2026. During this window, trademark agencies are encouraged to make the necessary preparations and are urged to prioritise electronic submission of trademark materials through the online system, in accordance with the Guidelines for Submission of Electronic Evidence in Trademark Matters.
The transition period gives agencies time to adapt internal workflows, onboard staff to the online system and clear any paper-based backlog before the electronic-filing requirement takes full effect on 1 July 2026.
What happens to paper applications already filed?
For paper applications filed before the announcement was issued, responses and supplemental materials may still be submitted in paper form. CNIPA is currently upgrading its systems and will subsequently introduce a function to convert paper documents into electronic format. Once that feature is live, responses and supplemental materials for paper-based applications may also be submitted through the Trademark Online Service System.
What this means for trademark owners and agents
The shift to mandatory electronic filing aligns China with the broader global trend toward digital-first IP administration. For trademark owners and their representatives, the practical takeaways are straightforward:
• Agency-handled matters should be prepared for electronic filing as the default from 1 July 2026, with paper retained only for legacy paper applications until the conversion function launches.
• Evidence must be formatted to meet the electronic-evidence guidelines, so internal templates and document-handling processes may need updating.
• The fee incentives free change applications and a 10% reduction on other online filings — create a clear cost reason to move filings online promptly.
• Brand owners with portfolios in China should confirm their local agents are ready to file through the Trademark Online Service System ahead of the deadline.
Protect Your Brand in China with Legacy Partners
Talk to Our China Trademark Team : info@legacypartners.global
