Trademark Registration in Seychelles: Protect Your Brand Nationwide
Trademark registration in Seychelles is administered by the Intellectual Property Unit within the Registrar General’s Office, operating under the Attorney General’s Chamber of the Republic of Seychelles. The Registrar General’s Office is the competent authority responsible for the filing, examination, publication, and registration of trademarks in Seychelles. The Seychellois trademark system follows a first-to-file principle. Seychelles is a member of the Paris Convention, the World Trade Organization, the African Union, the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and its IP framework reflects its common law heritage as a former British territory combined with French civil law elements inherited from the French colonial period.
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Introduction
The Republic of Seychelles is an archipelago nation of 115 islands located in the western Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar and approximately 1,500 kilometres east of mainland Africa. Mahé, the largest island and home to the capital Victoria, is the commercial and administrative centre of the country. Seychelles has the highest per capita income in Africa and one of the most developed economies in the Indian Ocean region, driven by tourism (one of the world’s most exclusive luxury travel destinations), fisheries, and a well-established international financial services and offshore company sector. The country’s legal system uniquely combines English common law (governing commercial, company, and IP law) with French civil law (governing family and property law) — a dual heritage that distinguishes Seychelles from all other African jurisdictions. Seychelles has three official languages: English, French, and Seychellois Creole (Kreol). It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the African Union, COMESA, the Indian Ocean Commission, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Trademark protection is important for businesses in tourism, luxury hospitality, financial services, fisheries, and any sector with commercial interests in Seychelles or its strategic Indian Ocean positioning.
Why register your trademark in Seychelles
Exclusive Rights: Grants exclusive legal ownership and the right to use your trademark throughout the Republic of Seychelles for the registered goods and services, with statutory priority over later conflicting marks under the first-to-file system.
Legal Enforcement: Enables you to take action against infringement, counterfeiting, and unauthorised use through the Registrar General’s Office and the Supreme Court of Seychelles, with civil and criminal remedies available under the Trade Marks Act and related legislation.
Nationwide Protection: Secures trademark protection across the entire territory of Seychelles, including Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, and the outer islands, and supports anti-counterfeiting actions through border measures administered by the Seychelles Revenue Commission (Customs Division).
Luxury & Tourism Sector Value: Seychelles is home to one of the world’s most exclusive luxury tourism markets. Brand protection is essential for operators in premium hospitality, wellness, eco-tourism, fashion, food and beverage, and marine leisure sectors where brand identity directly drives revenue and reputation.
Our trademark services in Seychelles
End-to-end support from our licensed in-country attorneys, from the first search to lifelong protection.
Attorney-Assisted Search
In-depth legal search of the Seychelles trademark register and international databases to identify potential conflicts before filing.
Trademark Registration Services
Complete filing and application management for Seychelles national trademarks — handled by professionals experienced with the Registrar General’s Office.
Trademark Renewal Services
Hassle-free renewals to maintain your Seychelles trademark protection, with proactive deadline monitoring and docketing
Watch & Monitoring Services
Continuous monitoring of newly filed and published marks in Seychelles and across Indian Ocean and African jurisdictions to identify potential conflicts.
Ownership Transfer / Assignment
Efficient handling of trademark ownership transfers, corporate mergers, and restructuring recordals with the Registrar General’s Office
Licensing & Franchising Support
Expert guidance to license, franchise, or expand your brand within Seychelles and across Indian Ocean, Commonwealth, and COMESA markets.
Opposition & Enforcement
End-to-end representation in opposition and appeal proceedings before the Registrar General’s Office and the Supreme Court of Seychelles, and in civil and criminal infringement proceedings.
Customs Recordal & Anti-Counterfeiting
Recordal of trademarks with the Seychelles Revenue Commission (Customs Division) and coordination of border seizure actions against counterfeit goods.
Trademark registration process in Seychelles
Here is how to register a trademark in Seychelles, step by step.
Here is the step-by-step process followed for trademark registration in the Seychelles .
Seychelles Trademark Search & Application
We begin with a comprehensive availability search of the Seychelles trademark register to identify potential conflicts before filing. As Seychelles is not a member of the Madrid Protocol, all applications must be filed directly with the Registrar General’s Office in Victoria as national filings. Convention priority under the Paris Convention is available to applicants who have filed in another Paris Convention country within the preceding six months. The application is prepared in English and filed with the Registrar General’s Office.
Formal & Substantive Examination
The Registrar General’s Office conducts a formal examination (verifying applicant details, classification, fees, and documentation completeness) followed by a substantive examination on absolute grounds (distinctiveness, descriptiveness, deceptiveness, and public order), drawing on common law principles consistent with the English law heritage of Seychellois IP practice. Office actions, if any, must be responded to within the prescribed deadlines. Local representation by an experienced agent is recommended for foreign applicants.
Acceptance and Publication
Once the application clears examination, the mark is published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Seychelles, opening a two-month window for third-party opposition.
Opposition Period
Third parties holding prior rights may file an opposition within two (2) months from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. Grounds include identity or similarity with an earlier registered mark, well-known marks under Article 6bis of the Paris Convention, bad-faith filing, or other grounds under the Trade Marks Act. Oppositions are decided by the Registrar General’s Office, with appeal available to the Supreme Court of Seychelles.
Registration & Certificate
If no successful opposition is raised, the Registrar General’s Office registers the mark in the Seychelles Register of Trade Marks, issues a Certificate of Registration, and publishes the registration in the Official Gazette. The mark is then enforceable against third parties throughout the Republic of Seychelles.
Validity & Renewal
The trademark is valid for 10 years from the filing date and is renewable indefinitely for successive 10-year periods on payment of renewal fees to the Registrar General’s Office.
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Documents required for trademark registration in Seychelles
Applicant name & business entity
(individual or company, with registered address)
Trademark details
(word mark, figurative/logo, combined, or other mark type)
Classes of goods and/or services
(Nice Classification)
Power of attorney
(signed by the applicant; notarisation may be required for foreign applicants)
Specimen or representation of the mark
(for figurative or non-standard marks)
List of goods/services
(in English, clear and precise specification)
Priority documents
(if claiming convention priority under the Paris Convention)
Certified translation of any supporting document not in English or French
Timeline, validity and renewal
Validity and renewal
The trademark is protected for 10 years from the filing date, renewable indefinitely for further 10-year periods on payment of renewal fees to the Registrar General’s Office. A grace period may be available after expiry, subject to applicable surcharges. The trademark must be put to genuine use in Seychelles within five years of registration; failure to do so may expose the mark to cancellation on grounds of non-use upon the application of any interested third party. Given the relatively small domestic market, what constitutes genuine use in Seychelles should be assessed with appropriate legal guidance, particularly for businesses whose primary Seychellois use is in the high-value but low-volume luxury tourism and offshore financial sector
Governing Law
Trademark protection in Seychelles is principally governed by the Trade Marks Act (Cap. 261) and related intellectual property legislation, which reflects the country’s English common law heritage in commercial and IP matters. The framework is supplemented by the Civil Code of Seychelles (for property and contractual aspects of IP transactions), Customs legislation for border enforcement, and the Penal Code for criminal enforcement of trademark rights. Seychelles is a member of the Paris Convention and the WTO, making it bound by TRIPS minimum standards for trademark protection, including national treatment, most-favoured-nation treatment, and protection of well-known marks. Seychelles is not a member of the Madrid Protocol, meaning all trademark protection must be obtained through direct national filings with the Registrar General’s Office. The hybrid legal system means that practitioners draw on both English common law and French civil law principles depending on the nature of the legal issue.
Trademark Classes Seychelles (Nice Classification)
Seychelles follows the Nice Classification system, categorising trademarks into 45 classes — 34 for goods (Classes 1–34) and 11 for services (Classes 35–45). Multi-class applications are permitted. Applicants should work with experienced local agents to ensure the specification of goods and services is appropriately drafted in English and consistent with Nice Classification standards. Careful attention to classification is recommended for Seychelles’ prominent sectors: luxury tourism and hospitality, financial and offshore services, fisheries and marine products, food and beverage, and retail.
Client stories
Businesses that trust us with their brands across borders.
We had an excellent experience working with Legacy Partners for trademark registration and brand protection services in India. Their expert team guided us throughout the filing process, ensuring accurate documentation, timely updates, and seamless support. Their professionalism and intellectual property expertise gave us confidence in protecting our brand identity while supporting our expansion into new markets.
We had a seamless experience working with Legacy Partners for trademark registration services in Bahrain. Their professional team provided excellent support throughout the trademark filing process, ensuring timely updates, accurate documentation, and smooth coordination. Their expertise in intellectual property and brand protection services helped us secure our brand identity with confidence.
* Client stories are shared with permission.
Trademark registration in Seychelles: FAQ
How long does trademark registration take in Seychelles?
If no objections or oppositions arise, trademark registration in Seychelles typically takes approximately 12 to 18 months from the filing date through to issuance of the registration certificate by the Registrar General’s Office. Timelines may vary depending on the office’s workload and the complexity of the application.
Do I need a local representative to file a trademark in Seychelles?
Foreign applicants are strongly advised to act through a qualified local representative experienced with the Registrar General’s Office, as the small scale of the office means that direct correspondence from overseas applicants can face practical delays. Legacy Partners provides full local representation through its network of Indian Ocean and Commonwealth IP professionals based in Victoria.
Are multi-class trademark applications permitted in Seychelles?
Yes. Multi-class applications are permitted in Seychelles. A single application may cover multiple classes of goods and/or services, with an additional official fee payable for each class.
What is the validity period of a trademark registration in Seychelles?
A trademark registered in Seychelles is valid for 10 years from the filing date and is renewable indefinitely for successive 10-year periods, subject to timely payment of the renewal fee to the Registrar General’s Office.
Can I register a trademark in Seychelles without a local company?
Yes. Individuals and foreign companies may register a trademark in Seychelles without incorporating a local entity. The appointment of a local representative to manage the filing and prosecution before the Registrar General’s Office is strongly recommended for foreign applicants.
What language is used for filing in Seychelles?
English is the most commonly used language for IP filings and commercial legal proceedings in Seychelles, though French and Seychellois Creole (Kreol) are also official languages. Legacy Partners manages all documentation in English and can accommodate French-language requirements where preferred.
What is the opposition period after publication in Seychelles?
The opposition period in Seychelles is two (2) months from the date of publication of the application in the Official Gazette. Third parties holding prior rights may file an opposition within this window.
Is Seychelles a member of the Madrid Protocol?
No. As of May 2026, Seychelles is not a member of the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks. Trademark protection in Seychelles cannot be obtained through a WIPO international registration — a direct national filing with the Registrar General’s Office is required. Seychelles’ Paris Convention membership does allow applicants to claim a six-month convention priority based on an earlier filing in another Paris Convention country.
What makes Seychelles’ legal system unusual for trademark purposes?
Seychelles has a uniquely hybrid legal system that combines English common law (governing commercial, company, and intellectual property law) with French civil law (governing family and property law). This dual heritage — a legacy of alternating French and British colonial administration before independence in 1976 — means that Seychellois IP law is rooted in the English common law tradition and will be broadly familiar to practitioners from Commonwealth jurisdictions, while the French civil law layer adds distinctive elements to property transactions and contractual arrangements. Seychelles is one of very few jurisdictions globally to operate this type of dual-heritage legal system.
What is the cost of trademark registration in Seychelles?
The total cost depends on the number of classes, the complexity of the mark, and whether office actions or oppositions arise. Fees are denominated in Seychellois Rupee (SCR). Please refer to the fee schedule above or contact Legacy Partners for a tailored quotation.
Does a Seychelles trademark protect me in other African or Indian Ocean countries?
No. A trademark registered in Seychelles provides protection only within the national territory of the Republic of Seychelles. To protect your brand in Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, or other African or Indian Ocean states, separate national filings are required in each jurisdiction. There is no regional Indian Ocean or COMESA trademark system equivalent to OAPI in West and Central Africa. Legacy Partners can manage multi-country Indian Ocean and African filing strategies on your behalf.
Does Seychelles recognise well-known marks?
Yes. As a member of the Paris Convention and the WTO, Seychelles extends protection to well-known marks under Article 6bis of the Paris Convention and TRIPS Article 16. Rights holders of internationally well-known marks may invoke this protection in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Registrar General’s Office or the Supreme Court of Seychelles.
Can I assign or licence my trademark in Seychelles?
Yes. A registered trademark may be assigned or licensed, in whole or in part. Assignments and licences should be recorded with the Registrar General’s Office in the Register of Trade Marks to be enforceable against third parties.
Is Seychelles’ offshore financial services sector relevant to trademark registration?
Yes. Seychelles is one of Africa’s most prominent offshore financial centres, with a well-developed framework for international business companies (IBCs), trusts, and holding structures. Trademark registration integrates naturally with IP holding structures, brand licensing arrangements, and cross-border royalty frameworks that are commonly implemented through Seychellois offshore entities. Brand owners using Seychelles holding companies for IP ownership should register trademarks in the name of the appropriate entity and ensure that licensing and assignment arrangements are properly documented and recorded with the Registrar General’s Office.
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This page is general information, not legal advice. Official requirements and fees can change; we confirm the current position for your matter before filing.
