Burkina Faso
Trademark Registration in Burkina Faso - Protect Your Brand Nationwide
Burkina Faso, a landlocked country located in the heart of West Africa, is a nation with a growing economy and a population of approximately 23 million. Bordering Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso sits at a strategic crossroads for trade within the West African region, making it an increasingly important jurisdiction for brand owners seeking to protect their intellectual property.
Introduction
Burkina Faso's legal system is rooted in civil law, reflecting its French colonial heritage. French is the official language of government, commerce, and the judiciary, and all trademark proceedings are conducted in French.
Critically, Burkina Faso does not operate its own national trademark registration system. As a founding member of the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), Burkina Faso has fully delegated its industrial property powers to the OAPI. This means that no national trademark office exists in Burkina Faso; all filings must go through OAPI headquarters in Yaoundé, Cameroon. A single OAPI trademark registration automatically covers all 17 member states, including Burkina Faso, providing a "one-stop" registration solution for brand owners seeking protection across Francophone Africa
Why Trademark Registration in the Burkina Faso Is Important for Brand Protection?
Exclusive Rights: Grants you exclusive legal ownership and control over your trademark for the registered goods/services throughout Burkina Faso.
Legal Enforcement: Enables you to take action against infringement, counterfeiting, and unauthorized use through the OAPI system and relevant courts.
Nationwide Protection: Secures trademark protection across the entire territory of Burkina Faso.
Regional Protection Advantage: Through OAPI membership, a single trademark registration provides protection across multiple member countries in Africa.
Trademark Registration Procedure in Burkina Faso
Here is the step-by-step process followed for trademark registration in Burkina Faso
Search
While not mandatory, conducting a prior art search through the OAPI database is strongly recommended before filing. OAPI offers a prior art search service that helps identify potential conflicts with existing trademarks. A comprehensive trademark search can be completed within approximately 18 days and is a critical pre-filing analysis to assess registrability and avoid wasted fees.
Filing
The application is submitted to OAPI headquarters in Yaoundé, Cameroon, or through the National Liaison Structure in Burkina Faso. Applications may also be submitted electronically through the OAPI online filing portal. Upon filing, the applicant receives a filing receipt with an application number and filing date. Multi-class applications are permitted.
Examination
Applications undergo formal examination and limited substantive examination (primarily on absolute grounds), while conflicts with prior rights are generally addressed through opposition.
Publication and Opposition
If the application meets all formal and substantive requirements, the trademark is published in the OAPI Official Bulletin for opposition purposes. For trademark applications filed from 1 January 2022, the opposition period is three months from the publication date, and this deadline is not extendable. For trademarks with filing dates prior to 1 January 2022, the opposition period remains six months from the date of publication
Registration Certificate
Following the opposition period, if no opposition is filed or any opposition is resolved in the applicant's favor, the trademark proceeds to registration, and a registration certificate is issued. The grant of registration is also published in the OAPI Official Gazette to notify third parties of the registration and the statutory rights secured by the trademark owner
Validity & Renewal
Renewal: Indefinitely renewable for successive 10-year periods. A renewal application may be filed within 12 months before the expiry date. A grace period of 6 months after expiry is available for late renewal, subject to payment of a late fee. Restoration is not possible if the grace period is missed. A trademark registration takes effect from the filing date.
Governing Law
Legal Framework
Trademark protection in Burkina Faso is governed by the legal framework of OAPI, a regional intellectual property organization serving 17 member states:
• The Bangui Agreement — the foundational treaty establishing OAPI, which was originally signed on 2 March 1977 and revised most significantly by the
Bangui Agreement of 24 February 1999 (entered into force on 28 February 2002).
• Annex III of the Bangui Agreement — the specific annex governing trademarks, service marks, and related rights within the OAPI system.
• Regulations implementing the Bangui Agreement — detailed procedural regulations adopted by the OAPI Administrative Council.
The Bangui Agreement is a supranational legal instrument that applies uniformly across all OAPI member states. Member states, including Burkina Faso, have ceded their sovereignty in industrial property matters to OAPI and may not enact national legislation inconsistent with the Agreement. The legal framework is TRIPS-compliant and aligns with the Paris Convention and other international IP treaties.
Competent Authority
Trademark applications for protection in Burkina Faso are filed with the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) headquarters in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Applications may also be filed through the National Liaison Structure (Structure Nationale de Liaison — SNL) in Burkina Faso, which is the intellectual property department within the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts.
OAPI handles all aspects of trademark examination, registration, opposition, and record maintenance for its 17 member states. Applications may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically through the OAPI online filing portal
Trademark Services Available in Burkina Faso
Attorney-Assisted Search
In-depth legal search for conflicts.
Trademark Registration Services
Full filing and application management
Trademark Renewal Services
Easy renewals to maintain your Burkina Faso trademark protection.
Watch & Monitoring Services
Continuous monitoring of Bosnia and Herzegovina trademarks to spot potential conflicts.
Ownership Transfer / Assignment
Efficient handling of trademark ownership changes in the Burkina Faso
Licensing & Franchising Support
Expert guidance to license or expand your Burkina Faso
Documents for Filing
Power of Attorney
Simply signed (no notarisation or legalisation required). A private Power of Attorney is sufficient if the applicant is represented by an attorney. If a Power of Attorney is needed, it must be filed within 3 months of the filing date
Applicant's Details
Specimen of the Mark
List of Goods/Services
Fees are indicative and subject to change. Contact us for the latest details.
**Last updated on: March 17, 2026
Timeline
Total filing to registration (with opposition) is approximately 12 to 24 months and timelines can vary depending on the complexity of the application, any oppositions filed, and administrative delays at OAPI.
Validity & Renewal
Renewal: Indefinitely renewable for successive 10-year periods. A renewal application may be filed within 12 months before the expiry date. A grace period of 6 months after expiry is available for late renewal, subject to payment of a late fee. Restoration is not possible if the grace period is missed.
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