How to Check Trademark Status Online Using IP India Portal 2026

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Learn how to check trademark status online using the IP India Portal in 2026. Understand every trademark status, track your application, and avoid common mistakes.

Introduction

Filing a trademark application in India is the beginning of a process that typically takes twelve to eighteen months or longer to reach registration. During this period, the application passes through multiple stages: filing, formalities examination, substantive examination, publication in the Trade Marks Journal, the opposition period, and finally registration. At each stage, the status of the application changes, and understanding what each status means determines what action, if any, the applicant needs to take.

The IP India portal, maintained by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, provides public access to the Trade Marks Registry database. Any person can search the database to check the status of any trademark application or registration using the application number or the trademark text. This transparency is deliberate: the public register is intended to allow both applicants tracking their own applications and third parties assessing potential conflicts to access the same information.

For trademark applicants, the ability to check the status of their application at any time eliminates the uncertainty of waiting for postal communications that may be delayed or lost. For businesses conducting due diligence on a potential brand name, the IP India portal allows a preliminary clearance search before engaging a trademark attorney. For infringement monitoring, the portal allows businesses to check whether a potentially conflicting mark has been filed or registered.

This guide explains exactly how to use the IP India portal to check trademark status, what every status code means in plain language, what action is required at each stage, and how to interpret the information provided by the portal to manage a trademark application effectively.

For trademark registration, objection replies, hearing representation, and complete trademark portfolio management, Legal Tax works with applicants and brand owners across all sectors and classes.

Accessing the IP India Portal

The IP India portal is accessible at ipindia.gov.in. The portal provides access to multiple IP services including patent search, design search, and trademark search. For trademark-related searches, the relevant section is the Trademark Public Search under the Trademarks menu.

The direct URL for trademark search is: https://ipindiaservices.gov.in/tmrpublicsearch/

What the Portal Provides

The IP India trademark search provides access to:

• The status of any trademark application by application number.
• Details of any trademark registration including the registered proprietor, the class, the goods or services description, and the registration date.
• The history of proceedings on an application.
• Copies of the trademark as filed.
• Journal publication details for published marks.
• Objection and opposition records where applicable.

The portal is updated regularly, though not always in real time. There can be a lag of several days between a procedural development at the Registry and its reflection in the online database. For critical time-sensitive matters, verifying status directly with the Registry or through a trademark attorney is advisable.

How to Search Trademark Status: Step by Step

Method 1: Search by Application Number

This is the most precise method for tracking a specific trademark application.

Step 1: Visit https://ipindiaservices.gov.in/tmrpublicsearch/

Step 2: On the search page, select the search type. For application number search, select “Application No” from the search field options.

Step 3: Enter the trademark application number in the search field. Indian trademark application numbers are typically in the format of a year followed by sequential digits, such as 5XXXXXXX or 6XXXXXXX for recent filings.

Step 4: Complete the CAPTCHA verification displayed on the page.

Step 5: Click Search. The portal displays the application details including the current status, the applicant’s name, the class, the goods or services description, and the trademark image if it is a device mark.

Step 6: Click on the application number in the search results to view the complete application history, including all proceedings and status changes.

Method 2: Search by Trademark Word

This method is useful for checking whether a specific word or phrase has been applied for or registered by any party.

Step 1: On the IP India trademark search page, select “Trade Mark” from the search field options.

Step 2: Enter the trademark word or phrase.

Step 3: Select the relevant class from the class dropdown if you want to narrow results to a specific class, or leave it as “All Classes” for a comprehensive search.

Step 4: Select the type of mark: wordmark, device mark, or all marks.

Step 5: Complete the CAPTCHA and click Search.

Step 6: The portal displays all applications and registrations that match or contain the searched word across all or the specified classes.

Method 3: Search by Proprietor Name

This method is useful for finding all trademark applications filed by a specific individual or company.

Step 1: Select “Proprietor Name” from the search field options.

Step 2: Enter the proprietor name. Note that the name should be entered as it appears in the Registry records. Variations in spelling or format may produce different results.

Step 3: Complete the CAPTCHA and search.

Step 4: All applications filed by the named proprietor are displayed with their current status.

Understanding Trademark Status Codes

The most important information provided by the IP India portal is the current status of the trademark application. Each status code indicates a specific stage in the trademark prosecution process. Understanding what each status means and what action, if any, is required determines how the applicant should respond.

New Application

What it means: The application has been received by the Trade Marks Registry and assigned an application number. No examination has taken place yet. This status is typically displayed immediately after filing.

Action required: None. Wait for the examination process to begin.

Typical duration at this stage: 3 to 9 months before examination.

Formalities Check Pass

What it means: The Registry has completed a preliminary formalities check to verify that the application form is complete and the prescribed fees have been paid. The application has passed this initial administrative review.

Action required: None. The application will proceed to substantive examination.

Formalities Check Fail

What it means: The Registry has identified a deficiency in the application’s formalities: a missing document, an incorrect fee, or an incomplete form.

Action required: Address the deficiency promptly. The Registry will typically issue a notice specifying what needs to be corrected. Failure to respond within the specified period may result in the application being treated as abandoned.

Marked for Exam / Marked for Vienna Codification

What it means: The application has been queued for substantive examination by a Trademark Examiner. Vienna Codification refers to the classification of figurative elements in device marks under the Vienna Classification system.

Action required: None. Wait for the examination report.

Under Examination

What it means: The application is being actively reviewed by an examining officer. The examiner is assessing the mark’s registrability (distinctiveness, compliance with Section 9 absolute grounds) and conducting a search for conflicting earlier marks (Section 11 relative grounds).

Action required: None. The examination report will be issued once the examination is complete.

Examination Report Issued or Objected

What it means: The examining officer has issued an Examination Report raising one or more objections to the registration of the mark. The objections may relate to the mark’s distinctiveness, similarity with earlier marks, or other grounds under the Trade Marks Act.

Action required: This is the most time-critical status for applicants. A response to the examination report must be filed within 30 days of the report date. The 30-day deadline is strict, and missing it can result in the application being treated as abandoned.

The examination report is visible in the IP India portal. The applicant should download and review it in full, prepare a comprehensive written response addressing each objection, and file the response before the deadline.

For trademark objection reply drafting, Legal Tax provides complete objection reply services.

Hearing

What it means: The written response to the examination report has been filed but the examiner has not been satisfied with the written submissions. A Show Cause Hearing has been scheduled at which the applicant or their attorney can present arguments in person or virtually before the examining officer.

Action required: Attend the scheduled hearing or appoint a representative to attend. Prepare comprehensive oral and documentary submissions to address the examiner’s remaining concerns. Missing the hearing can result in the application being refused.

For trademark hearing representation, Legal Tax provides complete hearing support including preparation and representation before the Trade Marks Registry.

Accepted

What it means: The examining officer has accepted the trademark application for registration, either because no objections were raised or because the applicant’s responses to objections were accepted. The mark will now be published in the Trade Marks Journal.

Action required: None required from the applicant at this stage. The Registry will publish the mark.

Accepted and Advertised Before Acceptance

What it means: The Registry has advertised the mark in the Trade Marks Journal, inviting any third party who objects to the registration to file an opposition within four months of the publication date.

Action required from the applicant: Monitor the four-month opposition window. If an opposition is filed by a third party, the applicant will receive notice and must file a Counter Statement within two months of receiving the opposition notice.

What third parties should note: The four-month period from the publication date in the Journal is the window to file an opposition to prevent registration of the mark. Missing this window forfeits the right to oppose at the Registry level (though a cancellation petition may still be available after registration).

Opposed

What it means: A third party has filed a Notice of Opposition during the four-month opposition window, challenging the registration of the mark on specified grounds.

Action required: The applicant must file a Counter Statement responding to the opposition within two months of receiving the opposition notice. Failure to file a Counter Statement results in the application being treated as abandoned.

The opposition proceedings then continue with evidence stages, hearing, and ultimately a decision by the Registrar on whether the mark should proceed to registration or be refused.

Registered

What it means: The trademark has been entered in the Trade Marks Register. The applicant is now the registered proprietor of the mark with full statutory rights under the Trade Marks Act. The registration is valid for ten years from the application date.

Action required: Download the registration certificate from the IP India portal or request it from the Registry. Begin using the ® symbol on all brand communications (the ® symbol may only be used after registration is granted, not during the pending period when the TM symbol is used). Calendar the renewal deadline ten years from the application date.

Refused

What it means: The Registrar has refused the application, either after a hearing in which the objections were not overcome, or following opposition proceedings that were decided in the opponent’s favour.

Action required: An applicant who disagrees with the refusal can appeal to the High Court within three months of the refusal order. The High Court reviews the matter on its merits and can overturn the Registrar’s decision.

Abandoned

What it means: The application has lapsed because the applicant failed to respond to an examination report within the required period, failed to appear for a scheduled hearing, or failed to take another required step within the prescribed timeframe.

Action required: An abandoned application cannot be revived in most circumstances. The applicant must file a fresh trademark application, which will have a new application date and lose the priority of the original filing date. Preventing abandonment by responding to all Registry communications within their deadlines is critical.

Send Back to Examiner / Remanded

What it means: An accepted application has been returned to the examining officer for re-examination, typically because a procedural issue was identified after acceptance.

Action required: Monitor the status closely. A fresh examination report may be issued that requires a response.

Withdrawn

What it means: The applicant has voluntarily withdrawn the trademark application.

Action required from the applicant: None. The withdrawal is final.

Rectified

What it means: A registered trademark has been rectified, meaning a correction or change has been made to the Register entry.

Action required: Review the rectification to understand what change has been made and ensure the registration records are accurate.

Reading the Application Details Page

When the application number is clicked in the search results, the IP India portal displays a detailed application information page. Understanding the information fields on this page helps extract maximum value from the portal.

Application Details Section

Application Number. The unique identifier for the application. This number should be quoted in all correspondence with the Registry.

Application Date. The date on which the application was filed. This is the priority date of the application: the date from which the applicant’s rights are established against later filers. For an application that was filed online, this is the date of the online submission.

Valid Upto. For registered marks, the date on which the current registration period expires. Renewal must be filed before this date.

Class. The Nice Classification class in which the mark is registered or applied for. The class determines the goods or services for which the mark is protected.

Goods and Services. The specification of goods or services covered by the application or registration. This is the description of what the trademark protects, and its breadth directly determines the scope of protection.

Proprietor Name. The name of the trademark owner as recorded on the register.

Attorney Name. The name of the trademark agent or attorney who filed or is managing the application, where applicable.

Type of Mark. Whether the application is for a word mark, device mark, sound mark, or other type.

Mark Image. For device marks (logos), an image of the mark as filed.

Proceedings History

The proceedings history section shows a chronological record of all steps taken in the application’s prosecution: the filing date, the examination report date, the date of the applicant’s response, the date of hearing (if any), the publication date, and the registration date. This history allows the applicant to track exactly where the application is in the process and what has happened at each stage.

Common Issues and How to Address Them

The Status Has Not Changed for Several Months

The Trade Marks Registry processes a large volume of applications and the examination queue can create delays of many months between filing and the first examination report. A status that has not changed for several months is often simply a reflection of the Registry’s current backlog rather than a problem with the application.

If the application has been in “Marked for Exam” status for more than nine months, following up with the Registry or through a trademark attorney to enquire about the examination timeline is reasonable.

The Examination Report Is Not Visible on the Portal

Examination reports are uploaded to the IP India portal and should be visible in the application’s proceedings history. If the status shows “Objected” but the report is not visible, try accessing the portal at different times (the portal can be slow or temporarily inaccessible), check whether the report has been sent to the attorney email on record, or contact the relevant Registry office.

The Application Shows as Abandoned Despite Responses Being Filed

This occasionally occurs due to a mismatch between the Registry’s records and the documents actually received. If an application shows abandoned but responses were filed within the deadline, gather proof of filing (the online submission acknowledgement or the physical receipt from the Registry office) and contact the Registry to have the records corrected.

The Registration Certificate Is Not Downloading

The IP India portal allows registered marks to generate a certificate of registration online. If the portal is not generating the certificate, the Registry can be contacted to issue a certified copy of the registration.

Using the Portal for Trademark Clearance Searches

Beyond tracking a specific application, the IP India portal is also a valuable tool for preliminary trademark clearance searches before filing a new application or adopting a new brand name.

What a Clearance Search Involves

A preliminary clearance search on IP India checks whether any identical or similar marks have been filed or registered in the relevant class for identical or similar goods or services. The search helps identify potential conflicts before the application is filed.

Limitations of the IP India Search

The IP India portal’s search functionality has limitations that make it a starting point rather than a complete clearance tool:

It does not search phonetic equivalents automatically. The portal searches for text that matches or contains the searched word. It does not automatically search for words that sound similar but are spelled differently.

Device marks are not searchable by appearance. The portal’s image search capabilities are limited. A comprehensive clearance for a logo requires searching the Vienna Classification codes for the figurative elements, which is more complex than a text search.

Unregistered marks are not on the portal. Common law trademark rights based on prior use are not visible in the Trade Marks Registry database. A clearance search should include a broader market search for prior users.

The database may have a lag. Very recently filed applications may not yet appear in the search results.

A comprehensive trademark clearance search conducted by a qualified trademark attorney uses the IP India portal as one of several tools, combined with market searches, domain name checks, and international database searches where relevant.

For comprehensive trademark clearance searches before filing, Legal Tax provides complete trademark search and registration services.

Monitoring Competitor Trademarks and New Filings

The IP India portal can also be used to monitor competitor trademark activities: checking what marks a competitor has filed, what goods and services they are seeking to protect, and whether they have filed marks in classes that might conflict with the brand.

Regular monitoring of competitor trademark filings provides intelligence about competitor brand strategy and early warning of potential conflicts that may need to be addressed through opposition proceedings before the competitor obtains registration.

For systematic trademark watching and monitoring, including alerts for new filings that conflict with registered marks, Legal Tax provides trademark portfolio management services that include monitoring support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IP India Trademark Status Portal?

The IP India Trademark Status Portal is the official online platform where applicants can check the current status of their trademark applications filed with the Indian Trademark Registry.

How can I check my trademark status online?

You can visit the IP India trademark portal, enter your trademark application number, select the relevant national or international registration option, complete the verification if required, and view the latest application status.

Do I need to create an account to check trademark status?

No. Checking a trademark application status on the IP India Portal does not require registration or login.

Can I check trademark status using my brand name?

The trademark status is generally checked using the application number. To search by brand name, you should use the Trademark Public Search tool instead.

How often is the trademark status updated?

The IP India Portal is updated regularly as the Trademark Registry processes applications. However, updates may not appear instantly after every procedural step.

What does “Marked for Exam” mean?

It means your trademark application has been assigned to an examiner and is waiting for examination by the Trademark Registry.

What does “Objected” status mean?

An “Objected” status indicates that the Trademark Examiner has raised one or more objections, and the applicant must submit a reply within the prescribed time.

What does “Accepted and Advertised” mean?

This status means the trademark has been accepted by the examiner and published in the Trademark Journal for public opposition.

What does “Opposed” mean?

An “Opposed” status means a third party has filed an opposition against your trademark application after its publication in the Trademark Journal.

What does “Registered” status mean?

A “Registered” status confirms that the trademark has successfully completed the registration process and is legally protected under the Trade Marks Act.

How long does it take for a trademark to become registered?

The registration timeline varies depending on objections, oppositions, and examination workload, but it commonly takes between 6 and 18 months.

Can I use the ™ symbol while my application is pending?

Yes. Once the trademark application is filed, you may generally use the ™ symbol with your brand name or logo while the application is pending.

Can I use the ® symbol before registration?

No. The ® symbol can only be used after the trademark has been officially registered by the Trademark Registry.

Conclusion

The IP India trademark portal is an accessible, free, and publicly available tool that gives applicants real-time visibility into the status of their trademark applications and registrations. Understanding the status codes, knowing what action each status requires, and monitoring the application regularly ensures that critical deadlines (particularly the 30-day examination report response deadline) are never missed.

For businesses that have invested in brand building, the trademark registration and the management of the application through the Registry process are not administrative formalities. They are the legal foundation of the brand’s rights. The IP India portal is the window through which that foundation is monitored and maintained.

Check your trademark status regularly. Respond to examination reports before the 30-day deadline. Monitor the opposition period after acceptance. And download your registration certificate as soon as registration is granted.

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