Step 1 — Creating Your IP India Account
1
Go to ipindiaonline.gov.in — This is the official IP India e-filing portal. Do not use any third-party portals claiming to be IP India.
2
Click 'New User Registration' — On the homepage, find the registration/login section. Click to create a new account.
3
Choose account type — Select "Applicant" if filing for yourself/your business. Select "Agent/Attorney" if you are a trademark agent filing on behalf of clients.
4
Fill registration details — Name, email address (must be active — all communications come here), mobile number, address. These details appear on your application.
5
Verify email and mobile — IP India sends OTPs to verify. Complete verification before proceeding.
6
Login and note your User ID — Save your User ID and password securely. You will need these to track your application and access future filings.
Step 2 — Filling Form TM-A
Once logged in, navigate to: e-Filing → Trade Marks → New Application → Form TM-A
| Form Section | What to Enter | Common Errors |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant Type | Individual / MSME / Company / LLP / Startup | Selecting wrong type changes fee — verify before submitting |
| Applicant Name | Exact legal name matching your PAN card | Abbreviations or nicknames cause formalities check failures |
| Applicant Address | Complete address with PIN code | Address must match KYC documents |
| Mark Type | Wordmark (text only) / Device Mark (logo) / Combined | Selecting device mark without uploading logo causes error |
| Mark Representation | Type brand name for wordmark OR upload JPEG logo for device mark | Logo must be JPEG, 300 dpi, white background |
| Class Selection | Select all relevant classes — fee calculated per class | Wrong class = wrong protection. Cannot change after filing. |
| Goods/Services Description | Specific description of your goods or services | Vague descriptions (just "software") cause objections — be specific |
| Priority Claim | If claiming Paris Convention priority from foreign filing (within 6 months) | Leave blank if no foreign priority claim |
| Use in India | Date of first use OR "Proposed to be used" | If claiming prior use, attach User Affidavit (TM-M) |
Step 3 — Document Upload
Upload these documents (all as PDF or JPEG, max 5MB each):
| Document | Required For | Format |
|---|---|---|
| PAN Card | All applicants | PDF or JPEG |
| Aadhaar Card | Individual applicants | PDF or JPEG |
| Certificate of Incorporation | Companies and LLPs | |
| Udyam Registration Certificate | MSMEs claiming ₹4,500 rate | |
| DPIIT Recognition Certificate | Startups claiming ₹4,500 rate | |
| Logo JPEG (for device/combined marks) | Logo trademark filings | JPEG only, 300 dpi, white background |
| Form TM-48 (Power of Attorney) | When attorney files on your behalf | PDF (signed by applicant) |
Step 4 — Fee Payment
After completing the form and uploading documents:
1
Review the fee summary — The portal calculates the total fee based on applicant type and number of classes selected. Verify this is correct before proceeding.
2
Choose payment method — Options: Net Banking, Credit Card, Debit Card, or UPI. UPI and Net Banking are most reliable for large amounts.
3
Complete payment — You are redirected to the payment gateway. Complete the transaction. Do not close the browser during payment.
4
Application number issued instantly — Upon successful payment, your application number appears on screen. Download and save the acknowledgment receipt immediately.
⚠ Payment Failure Tips
If payment fails after deduction: wait 30 minutes — the system usually auto-reconciles. If not reconciled, contact IP India helpdesk with your transaction ID. Do not attempt a second payment immediately as this risks double payment.Step 5 — Tracking Your Application
After filing, track your application at any time:
- Login to your IP India account → My Applications → Click on your application number
- Public search: Go to Public Search → Wordmark Search or Application Number Search (no login required)
- Status meanings: New Application → Formalities Check → Under Examination → Accepted/Objected → Advertised → Registered
- Examination Reports: When status changes to "Objected," log in to download your Examination Report PDF — it contains the specific objections and the reply deadline
- Registration Certificate: When status shows "Registered," log in to download your certificate from the Documents section of your application
Most Common Errors on IP India Portal — And How to Avoid Them
| Error | Consequence | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong applicant type selected | Wrong fee charged — may need correction | Verify type before submitting. MSME/Startup must select correctly and upload certificate. |
| Name mismatch with PAN | Formalities check failure | Use exact legal name as on PAN card — no abbreviations |
| Logo uploaded as PNG instead of JPEG | Form submission error | Convert logo to JPEG before upload. 300 dpi, white background. |
| Vague goods/services description | Examination objection on unclear scope | Be specific: "Computer software for inventory management" not just "software" |
| Wrong class selected | Protection in wrong category | Research class carefully before filing — cannot be changed after submission |
| Email not monitored after filing | Missed Examination Report → automatic abandonment | Use an actively monitored email. Add IP India to whitelist. |
Frequently Asked Questions
The portal is generally available 24/7 for form filling and status checking. However, payment gateways may have maintenance windows. For time-sensitive filings, avoid filing on the last day of a deadline and prefer business hours for payment transactions.
Yes — the IP India portal allows you to save draft applications. Log in, find your saved draft, and complete it before submission. Drafts are not live applications — no application number is issued until payment is completed.
Minor corrections (clerical errors, address changes) can be made via Form TM-16. Material changes to the mark itself are not allowed after filing. If the error is significant, you may need to withdraw and refile — losing your priority date.
Yes — you can file multiple applications in the same session. Each application goes through the form-fill and payment process separately. If filing in multiple classes for the same mark, consider a multi-class application (one form, multiple classes, fee per class).
Yes — IP India uses government-grade security and standard payment gateways (SBI ePay, Atom Technologies, etc.). All transactions are SSL-encrypted. Keep your payment receipts for future reference.
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